When a race director is bold enough to try new ideas and sufficiently humble in seeking counsel of experienced friends, colleagues and community members, the result is typically nothing short of spectacular.
And spectacular it was as nearly five hundred men, women and children competed in the 38th running of the Gallup Gallop 5K and its first Relay addition, Friday September 7th, a deliciously cool late summer evening, another first, in Ann Arbor’s renowned Gallup Park.
The 3-Leg 5K Relay kicked off the night giving local running groups, friends and family an opportunity to bond and compete for bragging rights in male, female and mixed team divisions.
Ian Hancke, the overall winner of the USATF certified 5K, 15:46, first ran anchor for his Ann Arbor Running Company relay team securing victory, 14:30, merely nine seconds over second place team, Tortoise and Hare, 14:39.
“I ran scared!” Hancke admitted. “I knew there was some real talent out there, but it felt good, and this was so unique; I’ve never run anything like it, but I really enjoyed the experience.”
Ann Arbor Track Club board member, Andrew Schofield, shared Hancke’s feelings, further validating his recruitment of friends and family.
“We loved it and having it on a Friday night was a great idea,” Schofield beamed. “I ran the relay with my dad (Greg) and brother (Matt), my mom (Charlene) ran her second ever 5K and Cameron (Lampkin, Schofield’s extended family and former track teammate) ran his first 5K!”
“Brent (McDermott, race director) and his team did an incredible job of invigorating this race,” agreed, AATC President, Mitch Garner. “There is a wide disparity of ages, a wonderful expression of the Ann Arbor community” all of whom achieved McDermott’s team’s vision of “celebrating Ann Arbor’s rich running scene” in more ways than one.
“People responded really well to the request for donated produce items,” praised Sebastian Wreford, Manager of Food Donor Relations, Food Gatherers, the beneficiary of this year’s race.
Wreford estimated that one thousand pounds of quality produce was received and emphasized, “We are very excited to have been included in this event, our first time!”
McDermott himself was “overjoyed” with the response of the community, giving special praise to all of his valued volunteers and sponsors.
For complete results and more information on Food Gatherers and the 39th edition of Gallup Gallop, please visit https://hub.enmotive.com/events/2018-gallup-gallop-5k-relay/results/1182198, http://www.foodgatherers.org/, http://aatrackclub.org/ accordingly.
