Twenty-three local non-profit organizations will be able to help more people after hundreds turned out on a picture perfect day Saturday for the fifth annual Amazing Race of Highland County.
Ninety-two, two-person teams paid $120 or more each (depending on when they registered) to take part in the event that covers roughly 4.5 miles through Liberty Park, Southern State Community College grounds and the Highland County YMCA in Hillsboro, plus 20 road blocks, or obstacles where teams have to complete a task before they can move forward on the course.
The road blocks are manned by the non-profit organizations, which receive $500 each in return for their help.
“I thought it was great. The numbers were down a little bit compared to the last couple years, but we had a lot of new non-profits and others who had never raced before, and the weather could not have been better,” said Alex Butler, who handles publicity for the event.
In all the race raised produced $12,500 for the non-profits, bringing the event’s five-year total of funds donated to the community to $62,500.
There were 85 teams the first year in 2013, 112 the second year, and 108 each of the last two years. There is a staggered start with teams taking off in one-minute intervals. This year’s overall winners were 2013 Hillsboro High School graduate Jarrod Hart and his University of Cincinnati track teammate Anthony Carr. They finished the course in 57:58. The slowest team finished in 2:42.02.
Near the conclusion of this year’s race, 66 kids ages 5-11 took part in several heats a much shorter version of the race, but still had to go through mud and water road blocks at the course’s end.
Vendors were set up to offer food and drinks to spectators and competitors.
“The vendors did well and we want to thank all our corporate sponsors and others who helped,” Butler said. “Obviously, we also want to thank all the committee people – we start meeting in January or February – and DJ Jamieson at West Main Urgent Care. He’s the committee chairman and the one who came up with the idea for this race five years ago.”
The non-profits who benefitted from the race this year were: Alternatives to Violence Center, Altrusa of Highland County, Because He Lives Food Pantry, Boy Scout Troop 120 Lynchburg, Festival of the Bells, Greenfield Area Christian Center, Highland County Department of Job & Family Services, Highland County Community Action Organization, Highland County Historical Society, Highland County Homeless Shelter, Highland County Humane Society, Highland County Special Olympics, Highland District Hospital Foundation, Hillsboro After Prom, Hillsboro Christian Academy, Hillsboro Emblem Club 277, Hillsboro First Baptist Church, Hillsboro High School swim team, Hillsboro High School wrestling, Hillsboro Youth Football, SATH – Kamp Dovetail, Support Our Troops of Highland County and the Highland County YMCA.
Twenty of the non-profits manned road blocks, a couple others served as cheerleaders, and the YMCA benefits because the course goes through the facility.
Butler said plans are already being made for next year’s race.
Following is a look at the top three finishers, all who received awards, in seven categories:
Overall – Peaked in High School (Hart and Carr) 57:58; Wumbo (Noah Richmond and Austin Setty) 1:01.51, The Boones (Michael Boone and Nathan Boone) 1:04.36.
Male/Male – Same results as overall.
Female/Female – Rosemary & Nutmeg (Megan Overberg and Rose Digiananton) 1:14.59, Team Clean 125 (Amanda Barrera and Katie Adams) 1:19.59; Sole Sisters (Brianne Abbott and Jessie Gilliland) 1:20.20.
Female/Male – Dick and Jane (DJ Davis and Alissa Hauke) 1:10.26, 2 Stupid 2 Stop (Ashleigh Harless and Dustin Willey) 1:15.08, Trump On This Distance Run (Lauren Greer and Logan Walker) 1:15.31.
Parent/Child – Rad Racers (Missy Miller and Dylan Schurman) 1:22.37, Young and Dumb (Dan Snapp and Ethan Snapp) 1:39.32, The Mighty Monkeys (Tara Gilliland and Kinsey Gilliland) 1:44.14.
Seniors – Lilley Hillibillies (Tara Beery and Jeff Beery) 1:13.49, There’s MUD (Doug Savage and Jeff Johnson) 1:17.46, Rankins (Scott Rankin and Annie Rankin) 1:32.12.
Business – Classic Realty (JD Lyle and Alison Lyle) 1:08.24, NCB BA’s FTW (Josh Mulvihill and Drew Roberts) 1:10.16, NCB Team 1 (Brody Burson and Chris Brown) 1:15.37.
For complete results and more information visit www.amazingraceofhc.org.
Reach Jeff Gilliland at 937-402-2522 or [email protected].
