Bathed in sunshine and the long-awaited warmth of spring, the annual Wildcat Race couldn’t have had better weather Saturday.
A total of 174 folks, ranging from elementary school children to senior citizens, participated in this year’s event, the course for which involved the streets of the Oxford Lakes subdivision and the middle school track.
Dylan Smith, a 2011 OHS graduate, was the first to cross the finish line in the 10-kilometer event. The 22-year-old completed the race in 42 minutes, 36.8 seconds.
He was followed by Oxford resident Shane Kerbelis, 21, who came in second with a time of 43 minutes, 21.8 seconds, and Eric Lund, 37, of Oxford, who was close behind at 43 minutes, 27 seconds.
Hats off to the small, but mighty Jack Bauman, 9, of Oxford, who came in fourth. He ran his heart out and finished the 10K in 47 minutes, 17.5 seconds. Quite impressive.
Donald Richmond, a 2004 OHS graduate who now lives in Ortonville, was the first to complete the 5-kilometer race. The 29-year-old crossed the finish line with a time of 15 minutes, 57.5 seconds.
His brother, Adam Richmond, 26, was right on his heels, finishing second at 16 minutes, 6.6 seconds. The 2006 OHS graduate resides in Commerce Township.
Finishing third in the 5K event was Suzanne Larsen, of Fenton. The 37-year-old did it in 17 minutes, 47.2 seconds.
The Wildcat Race is a fund-raiser for the OHS Senior All-Night Party and the Ray Sutherland scholarship fund.
According to OHS sophomore Jacinta Hogan, who served as race director, this year’s event earned a profit of $2,400. Of this, $400 will be used to provide two scholarships, one for a female athlete and one for a male athlete. The remaining $2,000 goes toward the senior party.
‘We had a larger outcome than expected, and all things considered, I think it went really well,? Hogan said. ‘I’m so grateful for all the participants, volunteers, and sponsors who helped this event to be successful. I could not have done it without them.?
Hogan plans to continue as race director for at least the next two years.