UAM-CTM Sponsors Owl Fest 5K Walk/Run Marathon

Arts & Entertainment Editor

Photo by Tara Snider Coburn

Resting Easy - University of Arkansas at Monticello's College of Technology at McGehee Vice Chancellor Bob Ware rests after participating in the Owlfest 5k Walk/Run marathon held in downtown McGehee Oct. 9. UAM-CTM sponsored the event. Also pictured: UAM-CTM employee Wilburn Bowman.

   Thirty-three participants lined up in front of the McGehee downtown gazebo park Saturday, Oct. 9 to participate in the Owl Fest 5K Walk/Run marathon sponsored by The University of Arkansas at Monticello’s College of Technology at McGehee.

   The second community-wide 5K Walk/Race for UAM-CTM this year and the first for the McGehee Owl Fest, brought in out-of-town visitors as well as local citizens. From college students to mothers and grandmothers, the racers began the three-mile race at 8 a.m. with excitement and smiles.

   A McGehee resident and participant in the event Stephanie Hite walked in the race.

   “It was great to see people in the community come together and show their support at a McGehee event that only happens once a year,” Hite said.

   Chairman of the 5K committee and Practical Nursing Instructor Kim Ray worked hand in hand with Owl Fest Committee Member Jeff Owyoung in organizing the race. Owyoung, also a member of the UAM Board of Visitors, says having community support makes any event a success.

   “We could not have made it all come together without the faculty of UAM and the Owl Fest committee members working so hard,” Ray said.

   Among those who participated in the event, Vice Chancellor Bob Ware of the McGehee campus also walked in the race.

   “This event was a great activity for UAM-CTM and the city of McGehee, and we can’t wait until next year to team up and walk again,” Ware said.

   Along with Ware, many UAM-CTM students also walked in the event. Jessica Irons, Bobby Pittman and Brenda Donald completed the race.

   “Since I have been in college, I have not had much time to exercise and after I finished the race I felt 20 years younger,” Donald said.

   With early morning hot temperatures, the Desha County Ameri Corps Volunteers for Star Health/Arkansas Department of Health and staff employee Carolyn Blissett provided participants with water, fruit and energy bars.

   “The walkers and runners have to have proper hydration and foods that are quick energy foods such as fresh fruit and heart healthy bars which is great for the cardiovascular system,” Blissett said.

   With local police officers and paramedics on site, the race began on Main Street continued onto Second Street and down to Wolfe Drive. As the participants turned onto Third Street, they headed towards Seaman’s Street and wrapped back around to the finish line.

   Along the route of the race, a water station set up by the McGehee Boys and Girls Club who also provided the participants with a dose of hydration. Student volunteers and faculty members from UAM-CTM handed out water as the racers passed by.

   The race lasted approximately an hour. As the racers approached the finish line, cheers and words of encouragement were shouted from school faculty members such as Julia Hopkins Maxwell, nurse and allied health administrative assistant and Business Technology Instructor Trudy Stringfellow.

   Overall Winner David Rodella crossed the finish line, with Kendall Tipton close behind in the runner category. Rodella received an engraved brick to be placed on the donor walk located around Weevil Pond.

   Sara Henderson received the overall walker award. Henderson and other first and second place finishers in other age divisions received medallions and t-shirts.

   “It was an awesome race and I think the community ought to do more of these types of events because it brings people together,” Rodella said. “There were no losers in this race, everyone who participated is a winner.”

   With the smell of barbeque brewing in the air and traffic at a steady pace, the 5K Walk/Run ended with a successful turnout. All those participants who started the race, crossed the finish line with a smile on their face and say they look forward to next year.

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