Rainy weather didn’t dampen the spirits of runners and supporters of Oakdale schools who turned out by the hundreds to participate in the SOS Fun Run/Walk staged Saturday, March 26 at Cloverland Elementary School. The road course wound through neighborhoods with the starting and finish lines in front of Cloverland on Johnson Avenue.
SOS committee member Stacey Aprile said that the weather “added an extra measure of fun to the event.” Most of the 465 race registrants showed up for the event in spite of the rain. Many of the race participants competed in both the 1-mile and 5K events.
“This is about 100 more (registrants) than last year,” Aprile said. “This is a testament of the level of commitment in our community. Families arrived ready to walk or run in rain gear with umbrellas.”
The Oakdale Sports Boosters trailer was also on hand for participants to get fruit, donuts, sports drinks, or water before and after the race. An Oakdale Fire Department fire engine wound up the siren to signal the start of the first race and even Mr. Pickles showed up for moral support.
People of various ages participated by racing, jogging, walking, taking toddler steps, and pushing strollers.
SOS committee member Frank Clark reported that the Fun Run/Walk grossed more than $19,000 and netted more than $15,700, all of which will be distributed by the Oakdale Educational Foundation to teachers in the Oakdale Joint Unified School District in the form of classroom grants.
Overall winners for the 1-mile were Mike Boyer for the male division and Alexis Halsey for the female division. In the 5K race, Sean Collins won the male division and Stara Visser won the female division.
Following the 5K race, an awards ceremony took place in the school cafeteria. Overall first place winners received a plaque, a $50 restaurant gift certificate, a medal, and their names will be engraved on the perpetual plaques for the event.
All of the age bracket first place winners by gender received medals. They included a student from Cloverland, a student from Magnolia, five Sierra View students, five Oakdale Junior High students, two Oakdale High School students – one of which medaled in both races – and teachers Catherine Medlin and Michelle Duttera. The OJHS female was the one-mile overall fastest female in the race.
There were also 26 students who signed up for the team competition. They were awarded a $25 Spec Ops Live gift certificate for being on a winning team for best average time.
More than 60 students participated due to a scholarship from a generous community member. Five of those students medaled and seven won in the team competition.
Aprile said that committee members felt this aspect of the event was one of the most rewarding parts.
Some special prizes also included three iPod Shuffles to students under 18 who participated, as well as 10 Valley Sporting Goods $25 gift certificates to any participant through random drawings.
Aprile added that there were many committed volunteers, many who were OJUSD staff members and parents, as well as community members and major event sponsors A.L. Gilbert, Central Valley Association of Realtors, and Apparel Graphics who made the race possible.
Official race results may be viewed by going to www.oakdale.k12.ca.us/sierraview/sosinfo.htm.
