Second Annual Bobcat 5K A Huge Success! (08/13/14)

(Submitted by Clarion Bobcat Cross Country)
The second annual Bobcat 5K Trail & Fun Run Hosted by the Clarion Area Cross Country
Boosters was held Saturday, August 2nd and has been declared a huge victory by
organizers and participants alike. The community event was held at Clarion County Park,
Home of Bobcats Cross Country Course and location of the 2014 KSAC Championship
Meet.

Thirty-four people participated in the 1 mile fun run which was captured by the Wenner family,
Dalton age 7 was the overall winner in a time of 8:12 closely followed by a photo finish by
brother Dane Wenner, 8 years old and Mason Gourley, 7 years old, both in a time of 8:33.
Sophie Babington, 9 was the first girl to cross the line in 9:23 followed closely by Anna
Shpakoff, 10 & Abigail Nash, 8 in a time of 9:48.

The 5K did not disappoint 130 ran the trail race and Liam Raehsler, 17 a senior at Clarion
HS was the overall winner in 18:34 followed by Sam Lander, 15 in 19:28 and Clinton
Ames, 18 in 19:56 On the Woman’s side, Morgan Ansell,17 was your overall champ in
20:43 followed by Kayce Bobnar, 17 from North Clarion HS in 21:29 and former Clarion-Limestone Lion Kelsey Leadbetter, 20 in 22:58.

One big improvement this year was the addition of “Championchip” timing from runners high giving runners almost instant access to their time and place via www.runhigh.com. Complete results and age group winners can be found there!

 
Twenty-four Bobcats, former Bobcats and Big Bobcat supporters were age group award
recipients.

Congratulations and thank you!

The booster club organizing committee wishes to thank all the sponsors, our Title Sponsor,
Hager Paving, Phoenix Rehab, Sheriff Rex Munsee’s office, Smathers Insurance, Blowfish
Book Binding, Laurel Eye Clinic, AXA Investments and Clarion MMA.

In addition to Raeshler, Clarion Cross Country runners receiving medals included Adam
Bettwy, Marshall Powers, Jimmy Smathers and Hannah Frakes.

Race Directors Keith Murtha and Nancy Mills wish to thank all the wonderful volunteers and
committee chairs Mark & Mary Jo Bettwy, Shelly Williams, Missy Craig, Steph Sprankle,
Susan Frakes, Mel Michel, Amy Skunda and Geanie Fair.

Murtha sends out a healthy thank you to all the race participants for making this such a
great event. We hope to see you again next year.

We are looking forward to hosting several more events on the course this season including
a Kickoff invite Tuesday, September 2 for area teams, a tri meet, an elementary race and
the KSAC Championship.

Most of the Bobcats will be participating in Ice Cream Race in Grove City as part of the
Pre-season camp.

(Thanks to Coach Murtha and the Cross Country Team for this article.)