(Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)
Peak performance

Summit Run goes the distance for Ronald McDonald House

Jun 17, 2024 | 8:52 AM

One of Prince Albert’s longest running events, is once again finding its stride.

The 17th annual Summit Run was held Saturday morning and attracted participants from all over the province. The event which included a 10K, 5K and 2K family option, was actually started 19 years ago but due to the pandemic, was forced to sit out out for two years. Race director Lisa Evans noted this year’s registration numbers were up from last year.

“We saw our numbers decrease after that pandemic break and we are looking forward to growing our numbers to what they were before that,” she said.

Each year, the money raised from the event helps support a local cause such as the building of the Rotary Trail or the Rose Garden Hospice. This year, the committee chose the new 12-room Ronald McDonald House. Evans explained this event is very much community minded.

“It’s just an amazing experience to share that with people as they cross the finish line,” Evans said.

While this year’s numbers are still being calculated, Evans estimates over the past 19 years, they have raised over $100,000 for the community.

A mother and her daughter race to the finish. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)
A family cause. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)
Final sprint to the finish. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)
5K and 10K winners from left to right: Christina Charles, Andrew Giassa, Lisa Evans, Sharisa Grimwood and Mesh Naidoo. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Prince Albert’s Christina Charles has participated in marathons all over the world, and makes time each year to compete in the Summit Run. She told paNOW she likes the community atmosphere.

“It’s great to see everyone out and it’s just a lot of fun year after year,” she said.

For the women running in this year’s 10K race, Charles finished first with a time of 41 mins 45 secs. Acknowledging she’s won the race multiple times in years past, Charles explained she likes to compete and enjoys the pressure that comes with finishing first.

“I like to perform and you want to keep the momentum going,” she said.

This year’s event was supported by dozens of local events and sponsors including the Malcolm Jenkins Family Foundation and Malcolm himself helped hand out the medals.

Final results:

10K male – Andrew Giassa 37:25

10K female – Christina Charles 41:45

5K male – Mesh Naidoo 23:45

5K female – Sharisa Grimwood 25:57

Top 2K – Navaeh Waldner (10:53) and Casey Hyllestad (15:46)

Malcom Jenkins meets one of the younger participants at the finish line. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

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