13th Annual Sternwheel Festival 5K Memorial Run and Walk held Saturday
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MARIETTA-306 participants walked or ran in the 13th Annual Sternwheel Festival 5K Memorial Run and Walk Saturday.
Miss Genevieve Sternwheel Festival 2022 Kaylee Ullman sounded an air horn to kick off the racers at 8 a.m.
The route went down Front Street to Eaton Street, Eaton to Pennsylvania Ave, Pennsylvania to Linwood Ave, which lead to the Muskingum Boat Ramp. Participants then went down the River Trail back to the Muskingum Park Gazebo at the finish line.
The event named three overall first place winners for males and females in both the run and walk, who received a plaque. They also announced the top three finishers in age groups 12 and under, 13-15, 16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75 and older. Those winners received a medal.
Miss Genevieve Sternwheel Festival Kaylee Ullman sounds the airhorn while Little Miss Sternwheel Kolbie Gutberlet and Little Mister Sternwheel Chase Brown hold their ears at the 13th Annual Sternwheel Festival 5K Memorial Run and Walk (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
Jennifer Thomas, Race Director for the Sternwheel Festival said the event was important to the community.
"It's important for the festival, it's important for the community. Friends and family can gather to get exercise before all the cookouts," she said.
Thomas said she worked closely with Stacy Nichols, General Director of the Sternwheel Festival. Nichols said it takes effort to put on the 47th Ohio River Sternwheel Festival, which will take place September 8-10 at the Ohio River Levee.
Nichols also attested to the team effort between committees.
Participants prepare to start the race at the 13th Annual Sternwheel Festival 5K Memorial Run and Walk . (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
"We have a 5K committee and General Committee. We all work together. It's a great team effort. We help each other out and love to give back to our community."
Thomas said proceeds from the event will go towards planning the festival.
During the awards ceremony, Thomas honored Evy Bryant, the founding member of the 5K 13 years ago. She said Bryant had served the Sternwheel committee for over 30 years. However, this would be Bryant's last year since she was moving to Columbus.
Thomas also praised the weather, which was sunny and 60 degrees.
"The past few years, the weather has been rainy and nasty. We got lucky this year," she said.
Kristen Hainkel can be contacted at khainkel@newsandsentinel.com