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Young on the run
Published March 8, 2009
The BIG Love Kids’ Runs and the Fun Run/Walk drew a record number 260 finishers Saturday with Xavier Jimenez of Lake Jackson Intermediate School leading all male runners by a wide margin, and Amanda Adamitz of Pleasanton, south of San Antonio, finishing first in the overall female competition.
Runners experienced perfect weather on the 2.9-mile course in Dickey-Bates Park, except for a stiff 20 to 25 mph wind. With no official clock, volunteers Monica Acuna, Rubi Acuna and Amanda Garza did duty at the finish line to record the first 75 runners and walkers to cross the line.
Jimenez, 14, finished the distance in 16 minutes, 59 seconds, which put him 1:46 ahead of second-place finisher Greg Jones. Jimenez was unavailable after the run to comment, but Aaron Wiggins, his Lake Jackson Intermediate coach, had some comments about his running.
“He was in typical form,” Wiggins said. “He is an awesome kid and an awesome runner. He sets high goals, and he accomplishes them.
The wind did not seem to bother Adamitz, 28, who finished the distance in 23:10.
“I’m kind of used to it,” Adamitz said. “I train with the wind with the Runaway Club in San Antonio. I was just doing this for fun and enjoying it. Since my birthday is coming up on March 21, I wanted to do well.”
Local Jones, 33, finished in 18:55.
“For the first mile, I was really close to Xavier because he made some wrong turns,” Jones said. “But after the first mile, he pulled away. The wind slowed me down some.”
Greg Olinger, 39, finished third in the pack in 19:23. Kelby Lanier finished 12th overall and second in the female competition in 24:15. Taylor Knapp, 14, finished 14th overall and third in the female competition in 24:40.
The top three male and female runners in the longer run received special awards, as well as the top three male and female runners in an earlier Little Kids’ Dash and a Kids’ Mile Run.
Brianna Rushing, Addry Patterson and Emilie Wofford were the top three girls in the dash; and Grant Beaver, Adrian Green and Beau Burns were the top three boys. Rebecca Sims, Anna Olinger and Maria Piper were the top three girls in the mile; and Adam Infaste, Cole Young and Grant Beaver were the top three boys. No times were available.
The Brook’s Incredible Gift (BIG) Fun Run, carnival, silent auction and barbecue lunch is named in honor of Brooke Phillips, who died with acute myeloid leukemia at age 5. All proceeds from the runs and walk benefit kids with cancer and their families at Texas Children’s Hospital and Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
Holy Comforter Episcopal School of Angleton received a special revolving trophy for the most donations from a school. Holy Comforter had 26 participants, but the amount the team collected was not available. According to Violet Lemons, Holy Comforter had a special interest in the fund raising: Brooke’s older sister Taylor attended the school.
Event coordinator Peni Green also has a special interest in the fundraising. Jessica and Chaney Phillips, Brooke’s parents, are Green’s cousins.
“I feel passionate about their cause,” Green said . “I love that the (organization) deals with the children and families directly. I was overwhelmed with the support today.”
Results for the first 75 5K finishers are available at www.barrahome.net.
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