BRIAN CARLSON (941) of Stanford is front and center at the start of the 2011 Jingle Bell Jog. The 14-year-old runner, who was runner-up last year, cut 40 seconds off his time to win Saturday¿s race in 18:01. (Photos by Nancy Leedy)
By Nancy Leedy
It was a run in the sun for runners and walkers in the 2011 Jingle Bell Jog for Alzheimers.
Early Saturday morning, 342 runners and walkers jingled their way through the streets of Stanford, and, for the first time in the event’s four-year history, they did so without having to brave freezing temperatures, snow, sleet or rain.
Clear skies prevailed as the runners and walkers took to the streets to help raise over $9,200 for the Alzheimer’s Association Louisville chapter.
Angela Todd, Jingle Bell Jog founder and event chairman said the sunny, warmer conditions were not a complete crowd pleaser.
“I was surprised at the number of people that wished that it had snowed,” she said. “I think they like seeing the snow falling and it fits the season. But it was nice to have a reprieve this year and get to enjoy the nice weather.”
Three hundred and forty-two actually participated in Saturday’s run, however, the total number of registrants was 456, bringing the total amount of money raised to $9,265.
But Todd says she expects the donation total to go higher by the final tally.
“Our goal is to reach the same total we had last year, which was $11,100. With our other fund-raising efforts, like the Jingle Bell Jog pasta dinner and merchandise we’ve sold, we hope to get around the same total,” Todd said.
The hoped-for goal of $11,000+ would bring to $31,000 the amount the Jingle Bell Jog has generated for the Alzheimer’s Association in just four years. The Jog raised $3,270 its first year, over $6,000 the second,and $10,835 last year.
“I think the cause means a lot to a lot of people and that brings the people out,” said Todd, who started the Jingle Bell Jog in honor of her father, Robert L. DeZarn. “Snow or no snow, people are going to come out for a good cause for an awful disease.”
Todd had expected a larger turnout for this year’s run but she said something came up which kept many runners and walkers away.
“The Kentucky-North Carolina basketball game knocked our numbers down a little,” she said. “I had people tell me that they wouldn’t be here because of the game.”
Brian Carlson, 14, a Lincoln County High School freshman, was the overall winner in the benefit run/walk. The Stanford runner trimmed 40 seconds off last year’s runner-up time, crossing for the win in 18:01. It was a heated footrace at the finish, with Carlson just nipping second-place runner Cole Grecco by one second. Grecco, 15, crossed in 18:02.
Lincoln County High School’s cross country runners swept the individual titles Saturday as Morgan Gourley, 13, of Stanford covered the 3.1-mile course in 22:30 to become the overall female winner. The Lincoln County Middle School eighth-grader, who ran 20th overall, cut five minutes and 11 seconds off her 2010 time.
Complete results follow:
*Overall male winner/**Overall female
1. *Brian Carlson, 14 18:01
2. Cole Grecco, 15 18:02
It was a run in the sun for runners and walkers in the 2011 Jingle Bell Jog for Alzheimers.
Early Saturday morning, 342 runners and walkers jingled their way through the streets of Stanford, and, for the first time in the event’s four-year history, they did so without having to brave freezing temperatures, snow, sleet or rain.
Clear skies prevailed as the runners and walkers took to the streets to help raise over $9,200 for the Alzheimer’s Association Louisville chapter.
Angela Todd, Jingle Bell Jog founder and event chairman said the sunny, warmer conditions were not a complete crowd pleaser.
“I was surprised at the number of people that wished that it had snowed,” she said. “I think they like seeing the snow falling and it fits the season. But it was nice to have a reprieve this year and get to enjoy the nice weather.”
Three hundred and forty-two actually participated in Saturday’s run, however, the total number of registrants was 456, bringing the total amount of money raised to $9,265.
But Todd says she expects the donation total to go higher by the final tally.
“Our goal is to reach the same total we had last year, which was $11,100. With our other fund-raising efforts, like the Jingle Bell Jog pasta dinner and merchandise we’ve sold, we hope to get around the same total,” Todd said.
The hoped-for goal of $11,000+ would bring to $31,000 the amount the Jingle Bell Jog has generated for the Alzheimer’s Association in just four years. The Jog raised $3,270 its first year, over $6,000 the second,and $10,835 last year.
“I think the cause means a lot to a lot of people and that brings the people out,” said Todd, who started the Jingle Bell Jog in honor of her father, Robert L. DeZarn. “Snow or no snow, people are going to come out for a good cause for an awful disease.”
Todd had expected a larger turnout for this year’s run but she said something came up which kept many runners and walkers away.
“The Kentucky-North Carolina basketball game knocked our numbers down a little,” she said. “I had people tell me that they wouldn’t be here because of the game.”
Brian Carlson, 14, a Lincoln County High School freshman, was the overall winner in the benefit run/walk. The Stanford runner trimmed 40 seconds off last year’s runner-up time, crossing for the win in 18:01. It was a heated footrace at the finish, with Carlson just nipping second-place runner Cole Grecco by one second. Grecco, 15, crossed in 18:02.
Lincoln County High School’s cross country runners swept the individual titles Saturday as Morgan Gourley, 13, of Stanford covered the 3.1-mile course in 22:30 to become the overall female winner. The Lincoln County Middle School eighth-grader, who ran 20th overall, cut five minutes and 11 seconds off her 2010 time.
Complete results follow:
*Overall male winner/**Overall female
1. *Brian Carlson, 14 18:01
2. Cole Grecco, 15 18:02
