MANKATO — The weather was perfect, the course was fast, and the organization was just about flawless.
For the second time in as many years, the Athletes in Action 5K run/walk took place in North Mankato Saturday and, by most accounts, it was a resounding success. The inaugural race in 2008 drew 60 entrants while Saturday’s competition doubled that amount to 120.
“We’re pretty happy,” said co-race coordinator Heather Stanek. “It was a great turnout and we had a lot of great volunteers.”
To no one’s surprise, the two winners of the 5K were distance runners who currently compete in college. Both also happened to be Mankato West graduates.
On the men’s side, 19-year-old Devan Strowder clocked a winning time of 17:41. Strowder is heading back to North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City shortly to begin his second season of cross country running.
“I just found the race online,” said Strowder, who runs between 65-70 miles per week. “I was looking for something fairly easy and in town and I found this. I was hoping to get into the high 16s or low 17s with my time so I still have work to do.”
The women’s winner was 20-year-old Emily Stenzel who turned in a time of 20:48. She begins her third year of cross country competition at the University of Wisconsin-Stout this fall.
Stenzel is looking forward to her return to Stout where she plans to help in the rebuilding process of the cross country team.
“We didn’t have any upperclassmen last year so we struggled a little bit,” she said. “Now I’ll be junior and we’ll have a lot more runners back with college experience.”
Jeff Weldon, 36, took up running last spring and is already a big proponent of the exercise/sport. He started by taking a 5K training class at the YMCA in April and now runs four to five times a week. He finished 18th Saturday with a time of 24:04.
“We had about seven or eight runners here today who were in that class,” he said. “I can’t tell you how much better I feel since I took that class. I’ve lost 17 pounds since I started running.”
The organizers of Saturday’s race, which was put on by the Minnesota State chapter of the Campus Crusade for Christ, expect to come close to their goal of raising $2,000 from the event. All the proceeds will be used for scholarships for MSU students to go on Christian retreats.
“We’re very appreciative of all the businesses and the City of North Mankato who have supported us with donations and help,” Stanek said. “We stepped up our advertising this year and it looks like it paid off. Maybe next year we can double the turnout again.”
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