Mule Kick 5K and 1-Mile Trot announces winners and continues fundraising for mobile health unit
More than 500 runners and walkers participated in the 18th annual Mule Kick 5K and 1-Mile Trot at Riverwalk Park on Saturday, April 7. The event was hosted by the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation and presented by Reliant Bank.
Awards were presented to the male and female overall finishers, male and female master (age 40+) overall finishers, male and female super grandmaster (age 70+) finishers as well as to the top three finishers in each age group by gender.
John Kruckeberg logged the fastest time at 18:34, winning first place overall and in the men’s division. With a time of 18:56, Kelly Bellar placed second overall and in the men’s division. Michael Gerhart completed the top three overall and male finishers with a time of 19:08
In the women’s division, Lillian Quinn from the 10-14 age group posted a time of 22:54, placing first. With a time of 23:19, Mary Beth Robertson was the second female to cross the finish line. Jennifer Wenneker placed third in the female overall category with a time of 24:01.
Chad Middlebrooks, with a time of 21:51, placed first in the male master category for those age 40+. The female master award went to Ashley Miller with a time of 26:57.
This year’s super grandmaster category for the age 70+ goes to Donnie Clayton of Lawrenceburg as the male super grandmaster to cross the finish line with a time of 30:08. Second—and winner of the super grandmaster female category—was Hilddy Morgan of Cullowhee, NC with a time of 34:08.
The 1-mile event was full of youthful energy again this year. In the male category, Emre Seago took first position with Benaiah Wenneker in second and Alex Kirk in third. In the female category, Jasmine Kirk placed first, Chloe Pettit second and Lily Schwabb third.
For a complete list of 5K results, visit MuleKick5K.org where 5K participants are able to print a certificate with his or her time and rank as well as watch a video of 5K and 1-mile participants crossing the finish line. Photos from the 2018 event are available on the Mule Kick 5K and 1-Mile Trot Facebook page thanks to Michelle Lamont Photography.
Proceeds from the 2018 Mule Kick 5K and 1-Mile Trot totaled approximately $32,000 thanks in part to local sponsors and participants. In addition to a donation to the Wellness and Aquatic Center Endowment and a donation to the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department, proceeds from the 2018 Mule Kick 5K and 1-Mile Trot will go toward maintaining the mobile health unit that the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation purchased in 2017. The primary mission of the mobile unit is to serve at-risk, uninsured and under-insured individuals in our area. In addition to improving health education and literacy, staff in the unit will also perform routine health screenings such as blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol and BMI.
“Many individuals in our region have little or no access to health care due to lack of transportation, resources and other reasons,” said Foundation Executive Director Joe Kilgore. “This mobile unit will continue to help Maury Regional Health deliver basic health screenings and other resources directly to those who are in need.”
To learn more about the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation, make a gift to the mobile health unit fund or learn about sponsoring next year’s Mule Kick event, visit MauryRegionalFoundation.com, email MRHfoundation@MauryRegional.com or call 931.380.4075.
Sponsors for the 2018 Mule Kick 5K included presenting sponsor Reliant Bank, champion sponsors The Reserve at Spring Hill, Farm Bureau Health Plans, Maury Regional Health, The Daily Herald, Winning Moves and Vanderbilt Heart. Finish line sponsor was Advanced Foot and Ankle Care Center. Trainer sponsors included Sonic of Columbia, Quick Mart Convenience Store, Columbia Power and Water System, Advanced Financial Foundation, Mid-TN Bone & Joint, KFC, Maury County Visitors Bureau, Maury Regional Medical Group, Brown & Maguire CPA’s, McDonald’s, Michelle Lamont Photography, The City of Columbia, and Lucas Orthodontic Group. Patron sponsors included A Balloon Shop, Tennessee Coffee Company, Jones & Lang, Beck Dental Care, Columbia Pediatrics, Northside Medical Professionals, Caledonian Financial, Southern Radiology Associates, Raymond James, Redman Davis, Muletown Rec, and Ascend Federal Credit.
