Menu
Community members run, walk for sake of mental health
A brief shower and cooler temperatures greeted runners and walkers Saturday morning for the sixth annual Mental Health America Putnam County run/walk.
A record number of entrants took to the scenic trails of the DePauw Nature Park to help one of the counties lesser known organizations.
"Our organization is one that is not well known in Putnam County, but it should be," said Bobby Hopper a member of the board. "It does a lot of good things to help a lot of people."
This year, 160 runners and walkers took part in the fundraiser. One hundred percent of all the money raised Saturday stays in Putnam County to help to fund the programs which the Putnam County Mental Health Society puts on.
The runners took to the course first starting 10 minutes before the walkers as they headed out on their journey through the park. The runners made their way through the tougher part of the park working their way up and down hills around the pond and along the Rim Trail.
The runners completed a four-mile course, while the walkers completed a two-mile one.
Leading the way completing the course with a time of 23:47 was Jonathan Cripe a DePauw University Junior. Being a member of the DePauw Cross Country team, Cripe was familiar with the course.
"It seemed like they included every hill in the park," said Cripe who was competing in the event for the first time. "I wanted to use the race to see where I was before Cross Country season begins."
Cripe was on campus this summer part of the science research fellows program. He is majoring in physics and math.
Competing in this year's race was runners and walkers of all ages from Evelyn Briones, 4, of Reelsville who completed the two-mile walk with her mom, Tabatha in a little over 40-minutes. To 70-year-old Don Sublett who completed the two-mile walk in 41:59.
Evelyn's brother, Lydon, 7, also took part in the walk. After crossing the finish line all he could say is that it was long.
Mika Mozawa, 9, and Tyler Hopper, 9, were the youngest runners completing the four-mile course. Hopper with a time of 45:44 and Mozawa with a time of 54:05. Ten-year-old Iziah Whedon had the fastest time in the 10 and under division at 44:25.
Susan Stewart of the Putnam County Mental Health Society, said she was pleased with the turnout for the event.
"None of this would be possible without the help of our area sponsors," she said. "They have donated several nice prizes to give away to the runners.
"Thanks go to the DePauw Cross Country Team who also help us to put this on."
The Putnam County Mental Health Society holds monthly symposiums on different mental health issues and also is highly involved with the school system with the Puppet Power program.
Other top finishers in the 4-mile run were Charles Vonlagen who finished second with a time of 24:21. Cassie Hunt was the first female finishing contestant with a time of 26:02 coming in fifth overall. Second place female competitor was Hannah Ames at 27:09.
Damon Clements was the first walker to finish the two mile course and Mark Hammer was second. Mary Bookwalter and Mary Broadstreet were the first two females to complete the walk. Kurtes Broadstreet was the first one in the 10 and under age group to complete the walk.