Each year, the Cat Tracks 5K run/walk has grown.

So it came as no surprise that the seventh annual installment was its most successful yet.

Saturday’s event had a record turnout of 182 (beating the previous mark of 150) runners and smashed its record earnings in a single year with an estimated $3,350, which brings the event’s total amount to over $18,000 raised for the school to replace its “eyesore” of a press box at Selge Field.

“We have a beautiful new track, beautiful new field, wonderful new bleachers and then you have to look at that thing,” said outgoing event director Al Price.

“It’s fantastic to see the community come out and support the school in this fashion.”

Though the “worthy cause” nature of the event was probably the primary reason for such a large turnout, there was no doubt that the challenging layout, demanding distance and arduous terrain drew some of the area’s elite runners to the party.

None more so than Ferris State cross country runner and St. Joseph resident Lucas Copi, who came within 14 seconds of Ryan Greutman’s all-time course record en route to winning the event’s overall title with a time of 16:44.

Lakeshore High School freshman Sydney Cason was the overall winner for the ladies with a finish time of 20:44.

The Bobcats football team was also well represented at the race as 13 -members of the team hoofed it across the course with each other and in what was an assumed act of unity, finished the event with matching times of 42 minutes.

This year’s race would mark the final time that Price will head the event, which he created. Next year the school itself will partner up with the Niles-Buchanan YMCA to host the event.

Event organizers wished to thank all of the corporate sponsors, volunteers and participants of this year’s race and encourage anyone who wants to get involved with the event on any level to contact either Brandywine or the YMCA.

 

Cat Tracks 5K

at Brandywine High School

5K Run age group winners

Male overall winner

Lucas Copi, St. Joseph 16:44

Female overall winner

Sydney Cason, Stevensville 20:44

Male 7-10

Xander Long, Buchanan 45:26

Female 7-10

Megan Wieger, Niles 40:04

Male 11-14

Kole Hanke, Bridgman 22:18

Female 11-14

Sydney Cason, Stevensville 20:44

Male 15-19

Lucas Copi, St. Joseph 16:44

Female 15-19

Sarah Wieser, Lowell, Ind. 21:06

Male 20-24

Justin Price, Niles 21:49

Female 20-24

Emily Low, Niles 25:41

Male 25-29

Aaron Holy, Buchanan 27:31

Female 25-29

Liesl Muehlhauser, Niles 22:32

Male 30-34

Matthew Morrow, Niles 20:09

Female 30-34

Elizabeth Jarpe-Ratner, Oak Hill, Ill. 33:55

Male 35-39

Justin Cozadd, Buchanan 21:08

Female 35-39

Jennifer Swank-Day, Otsego 21:50

Male 40-44

Danny Balos, Niles, 23:13

Female 40-44

Trisha Stanton, Hebron, Ind. 23:44

Male 45-49

William Wilczynski, Niles 24:33

Female 45-49

Sheri Harrell, Niles 23:20
Male 50-54

Larry Holbert, Mishawaka, Ind. 23:46

Female 50-54

Kathy Holy, Buchanan 39:04

Male 55-59

Christian Davis, South Bend, Ind. 20:33

Female 55-59

Brenda Wozniak, Niles 29:16

Male 60-64

Arvil Howe, South Bend, Ind. 24:19

Female 60-64

Phyllis Schmuhl, Dowagiac 38:21

Male 65-69

Dave Ferency, South Bend, Ind. 35:33

Female 65-69

Carol Finney, South Bend, Ind.

 

5K Walk age group winners

Male overall winner

Mike Barber, Niles 40:40

Female overall winner

Julie Koch, St. Joseph 38:44

Male 6 and under

Benjamin Ratner, Oak Park, Ill. 1:07:10

Female 7-10

Gwen Schimmel, Niles 51:04

Female 11-14

Alicia Wilson, Niles 54:06

Female 15-19

Alicia Tackett, Niles 48:15

Female 20-24

Kelsey Breiler, Niles 1:08:31

Female 25-29

Jessica Crouch, Niles 57:03

Male 30-34

Jason Birchmeier, Plymouth, Ind. 47:55

Female 30-34

Brianne Dehart, Niles 44:46

Female 35-39

Lea Held, Niles 48:07

Female 45-49

Gina Schimmel, Niles 56:11

Male 50-54

Mike Barber, Niles 40:40

Female 50-54

Julie Koch, St. Joseph 38:44

Male 55-59

Gerry Zacharski, Niles 44:44

Female 55-59

Marilyn Haslett, Niles 55:00

Male 60-64

John Jarpe, Niles 1:07:10

Female 60-64

Deb Carter, St. Joseph 44:49