KERSTETTER 5K 2011 A SUCCESS

Elyria – It was one week ago that nearly 1,000 people gathered on Kerstetter Way in Elyria to participate in the 2nd Annual James A. Kerstetter 5K Run / Family Walk.

Organizers were happy to see so many people come together for the event that honors fallen Elyria Police Officer Jimmy Kerstetter. Runners came from as far away as Chicago, Washington and North Carolina. Around Ohio runners traveled to Kerstetter Way from Stow, Solon, Mentor, Fremont, Lyndhurst and Wellington.

Although the field was doubled two familiar faces received the Top Overall trophies for the male and female – Tyler Kvach of Avon crossed the finish line in 16:14, just slightly ahead of last year’s time of 16:39. Alexa Rick of Elyria crossed the finish line at 19:26 shaving off 11 seconds of last year’s time.
To see COMPLETE RACE RESULTS visit www.kerstetter5k.com and click on past events.

Special thanks to our friends at Calibr Web Design for posting the Race Results and photo gallery for everyone to review.

To keep up to date with the K5K join the facebook page today. Announcements and new photos are posted there first.

We would also like to thank our Photographers, BRIAN WOODS, BRUCE BISHOP and MATT HARTMAN for all waking up very early on a Saturday morning and doing such great work for us. The best part was all three Photographers agreed to allow the participants to download their photos at no charge. Many 5K events will have a photo page posted and sell to their participants to make a little extra cash. Woods, Bishop and Hartman all agreed with the organizers to let the participants have the memories for no charge. COMPLETE PHOTO GALLERY

Wolfey’s Bistro & Pub and Time Warner Cable, two of our top sponsors also stepped up and gave away free bananas, apples, power bars and other goodies after the race. Great Lakes Church provided free cotton candy and time in the jump house for the kids while the runners were still on the field. Corey Blaz and Matt McLaughlin of MC SOUND DJ SERVICE donated their time and provided great music for the event as well.

Jim Kerstetter gave back to the community throughout his entire life – military career, time with the Sheriff’s Department Auxiliary and the numerous kindnesses he offered as a Police Officer that were never noted publically. Jim didn’t join the service to be recognized, he wasn’t an Auxiliary to get into the newspaper and he didn’t become a Police Officer to win awards, pins or get a pat on the back. He did these things because it was the right thing to do and because he believed in the community and giving back. We are proud of the sponsors, staff and volunteers that we have assembled for the Kerstetter 5K because they too have that belief in giving back. As you look through the photo galleries and you see the people wearing K5K shirts and staff badges know that not one of them were paid anything but the shirt on their backs. The shirts and some free food during the event and if you knew Jimmy you know he would be smiling ear to ear about that one.

One more thing that I’m positive Jim was smiling about. At the end of the race the final runner was making her way down Kerstetter Way. She was struggling but saw that the end was near. As she made her way under the railroad overpass several Elyria Police Officers who had already finished the race spotted her and one by one surrounded her and escorted and cheered her onto the finish line. An amazing and memorable end to a great race.

We will see you all next year, Saturday July 14, 2012, along Kerstetter Way. Next year let’s say we double the numbers again!