Race raises college funds for former foster children
State Treasurer John Perdue’s office and Mission West Virginia will once again make the futures of former foster children brighter after a third annual SMART5.29K run/walk.
About 60 runners and walkers participated Saturday, May 20, winding along Charleston’s Piedmont Road and to the Capitol and back. The race is exactly 5.29 kilometers – to draw attention to the IRS tax code that makes such plans possible and in reference to May 29, designated each year as National College Savings Day.
Mission West Virginia and its adoption arm, Frameworks, will use the money raised from sponsorships and race fees to award families and their adopted children. Frameworks uses a selection process tailored only to families who have adopted a child out of foster care.
Last year, 12 children received $1,200 each. This year’s awards look to be in the same range.
“Once again I can’t tell you how glad I am to help lead this effort,” Treasurer Perdue said. “I know what foster children go through in the harrowing effort to merely grow up, much less go to college. I certainly hope what we do helps.”
Runners enjoyed a cool morning, dodging rain that hopped in and out of the weekend. WOWK Channel 13 provided excellent media sponsorship, with several of its employees participating.
The overall winner was Brent Garrett, 34, with a time of 20:13, good for a 6:10 three-mile pace. Taking the women’s overall crown was Carol Haid, 42, with a 26:17 time, good for sixth place overall.
Second was Eric Halperin, 23, at 23:17, which was also good for first place in the 20- to 29-year-old male group.
Third place overall went to 70-year-old Don Marco, who mocked Father Time and ran a blistering 24:31.6, followed closely in fourth by WOWK’s own Patrick Simon, 52, who turned in a 24:48 time. Both Marco and Simon won their 50- to 59 and 70- to-79 age groups, respectively.
Joe Camp, 51, logged in at fifth with a 25:46 time, missing the age group win by the misfortune of running in the same group as Simon.
The rest of the top 10:6. Carol Haid, 42, 26:177. Maggie Bonecutter, 45, 26:428. Kyle Apple, 40, 26:48.9. Catie McKinney, 15, 27:38.10. Adam Marco, 37, 28:05.
The full medal awards list, excluding the overall male and female winners:
Female13 to 19Caitie McKinney, 15, 27:38 Reilly Stowers, 19, 56:08
20 to 29Janie Reynolds, 27, 35:13 Crystal Evans, 28, 35:52 Alex Morgan, 29. 43:12
30 to 39Abigail Fiorelli, 35, 28:51 Kristen Atkins, 37, 33:38 Courtney Mitchell, 35, 37:29
40 to 49Maggie Bonecutter, 45, 26:42 Evita Saffer, 41, 40:21 Kimberly McFall, 41, 56:10
50 to 59Olga Ekberg, 52, 35:11 Lynette Childress, 50, 38:16 Sissy Laing, 58, 38:43
60 to 98Kate Owen, 69, 37:29 Henrietta Pryor, 61, 46:17 Jill Wells, 63, 55:22
Male 20 to 29Eric Halperin, 23, 23:17 Erik Taylor, 26, 29:00 Joshua Pryor, 27, 46:13
30 to 39Adam Marco, 37, 28:05 Patrick Kerr, 38, 31:49 Eric Parker, 37, 52:21
40 to 49Kyle Apple, 40, 26:48 Charles Waselchalk, 47, 28:28 Dean Campbell, 46, 30:04
50 to 59Patrick Simon, 52, 24:48 Joe Camp, 51, 25:46
60 to 98Don Marco, 70, 24:31 John Owen, 69, 29:11 Dave Thomas, 65, 31:55