Acorn

While most students took the lost hour from daylights savings as an excuse to sleep in even later than usual on Sunday morning, a dedicated group of Drewids competed in the first annual Ranger 5K Run.

Sponsored by the department of athletics and the Student Governemnt Association and spearheaded by Assistant Athletic Director and Head Women's Soccer Coach Christa Racine and SGA President Mike Giacopelli, the Ranger Run raised over $750. The proceeds will be split between the Department of Athletics and UNICEF.

"I wanted something for the spring semester that would show that the SGA is around and wants to help the community," Giacopelli said. The Department of Athletics was also trying to organize a run, so the two organizations joined forces to make the Ranger Run a reality.

Rainy day conditions and an early 10 a.m. start hampered the number of runners, but both Giacopelli and Racine were pleased with the crowd.

"I was ecstatic with the turnout," Giacopelli said. "I thought we were going to get less because of the weather. The day before it was monsoon conditions. But it was very promising, we even had people sign up that day."

The run started at the back of the Forum, went through the Glenwild Gate and then traveled along Loantanka Road and Madison Avenue until it eventually wound its way back through the Drew campus.

Head Athletic Trainer Chris Ryan finished second overall at 20:48, behind David Allen of Chatham (19:01). Sophomore field hockey and lacrosse player Alyssa Bobe was the first overall female to complete the 5K, at 22:12. Head Swimming Coach Rebecca Mitchell and Bobe's teammate senior Sarah Bergmann took the second and third female best times (22:18, 24:21).

Prizes went to the top two finishers in two different age brackets. Each received a $25 gift certificate to Runnersworld in Morristown. The top runners also had their pictures taken with Drew's mascot, TK Bear, who was on hand to lend sunshine to the rainy day. In addition, Racine awarded random prizes based on the runners' numbers. Winners received Drew apparel donated by the Department of Athletics. Every runner was also given a T-shirt.

"Overall, it was a fun day," Ryan said. "It was good to see 53 hardy souls out running on a not so pleasant day."

"It was a success on many levels," Racine said. "Even though we didn't make a lot of money this year, we just wanted to get it off the ground. We received great feedback," she added.

Racine and Giacopelli advertised the event in running stores, two prominent running websites and the local newspapers.

"We wanted to reach out and get outsiders," Racine said. "There is a large community of road racers out there." Racine secured official timers from the Morris County Track Coaches Association in addition to making sure food and drinks were on hand for the runners. She also hired the Madison Police Department to supervise the event. SGA volunteers were on hand to mark the turns on the course.

"It's too bad the weather wasn't good -- I think we would have had 10 or 20 more runners had it been a nice morning," Racine said. Still, the event drew 53 runners, with women outnumbering men. Giacopelli and senior Craig Archambault were the only two runners to represent the Drew male student-athlete population.

Both the women's lacrosse and the women's soccer team came out in full force for the event.

Sophomore women's soccer player Genie Valantassis bonded with her teammates over the difficulty of the run. "The tough part of the run was that it was at 10 in the morning, really nine because of daylight savings, and it was raining," she said.

Due to the uncontrollable factors, Valantassis and a few others decided to run at a slower pace. "We almost lost to [an old man]," she said.

Valantassis' friend, Arch Seamans of Rockaway -- the oldest racer at 73 -- finished right behind her pack at 36:08. The youngest runner -- 11-year-old Spencer Koppenol of Madison -- finished right in front of Seamans at 35:48.

"I think it was a great start," Giacopelli said. "I'm ecstatic about this first year. I think people are going to wear the T-shirts, and others are going to ask questions and start promoting it. I am really excited for next year to see what happens."

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