Running Man event draws 86 students

By Donnie A. Lucas

About 100 runners clad in black attire scattered across Albany last Saturday for the 24th annual “Running Man”  sponsored by the Feed Store.

The junior class won the event, with all 13 of their runners returning to home base at The Feed store without being caught by spotlighters.

“We were pleased with the turnout since the band was still traveling back home after a contest in Amarillo,” executive director Tisha Wilkins, said. “We had great adult and student volunteers this year. I want to give a special shout out to the high school athletes who helped out by volunteering at the event even though they weren’t allowed to run.”

Wilkins said 86 students and 12 adult volunteers participated, with each class taken to different locations and dropped off with the task of getting back to the Feed Store without being spotted.

The evening began at 9:00 p.m. with runners checking in and providing the required paperwork signed by parents.

Jeff Turner, Albany Ministerial Alliance president and pastor of First Baptist Church, presented a devotional prior to the race.

“This project takes a lot of effort and I couldn’t have done it without all of the volunteers who helped me,” Wilkins said. “We had more student volunteers who couldn’t run than ever before, and they made a huge difference.”

Coming in second place behind the juniors were the ninth graders with 86 percent returning without being caught.

The eighth grade came in third with 83 percent, followed by the sophomore class with 77 percent.

The seventh grade class had the largest number participating with 26 students, but also had the lowest number returning without being spotlighted at 35 percent.

The Halloween alternative event was originated by the youth organization IMPACT as a substitute for less desirable activities.