The Alexander City Outlook

Jingle for Tots race draws 170 runners

Around 170 runners jingled all the way to the finish line Saturday morning during the fifth annual Jingle for Tots 5K and 10K race.

Hosted by Alexander City First United Methodist Church, the annual run benefits local children by collecting Christmas toys for The Salvation Army and also helps FUMC Children’s Ministries. Race participants were provided jingle bells to strap to their shoes during the race, and were treated to a pancake breakfast upon reaching the finish line.

“This is our fifth year,” said coordinator and FUMC Children’s Director Tammy Wendling. “All the toys benefit the Salvation Army. We started this because we were trying to individually help families here at the church, and the need became too big. We felt like the Salvation Army could better distribute the toys and take care of that. Also, the children’s ministries side benefits from the funding, so it’s kind of two-fold.”

Awards were given to the top three overall male and female finishers in the 5K and 10K race and to first place, male and female, in each age group in the 5K and 10K race.

The overall female winners in the 10K run were: Abby Fox, first place; Mary Farrington, second place; and Jamie Yates, third place. Also recognized for winning first place in their age divisions were: Miana Browning, 35-44 years old; Cindy Mahan, 45-60 years old; and Joyce Hobbler, 61 and over.

The overall male winners in the 10K run were: Dion James, first place; Joseph Moncreif, second place; and Greg Fox, third place. Also recognized for winning first place in their age divisions were: Eliot Mahan, 16 to 24 years old; and David Hart, 35 to 44 years old.

The overall female winners in the 5K run were: Corley Rasburg Holt, first place; Dawn Stewart, second place; and Morgan Wilbanks, third place. Also recognized for winning first place in their age divisions were: Brooke Oliver, 10 and under; Elizabeth Harvey, 11 to 15 years old; Brittany Bailey; 16 to 24 years old; Elizabeth Bullard, 25 to 34 years old; Connie McDaniel, 35 to 44 years old; Dianne Sims, 45 to 60 years old; and Nancy Nelson, 61 and over.

The overall male winners in the 5K run were: Andrekus Rowe, first place; Dillon Dean, second place; and William Wilbanks, third place. Also recognized for winning first place in their age divisions were: Michael Mann, 11 to 15 years old; Daniel Whatley, 16 to 24 years old; John Brown 25 to 34 years old; Ernest Champion, 35 to 44 years old; Wade Price, 45 to 60 years old; and Greg Blackman, 61 and over.

Wendling said she would like to thank all those who helped make the event a success.

“We couldn’t do this, really and truly, without the city behind us,” she said. “We go and get approval to do it, and they have the police officers here making sure that everybody is safe. We’ll do it again next year and hope everybody comes out.”

A complete winner’s list with race times will be posted soon on www.jinglefortots.com.