Kicking off the 55th annual Labor Day Festival in Buena Vista, a 5-kilometer running race and 1-mile kids’ welcomed 52 registered participants on Monday of last week, raising funds for the Parry McCluer High School cross country team.
There were 35 registered participants in the 5K and 17 kids in the fun run.
Directing the races was Chris Poluikis, who is in his 24th year of coaching the PM cross country team. Also helping out were Poluikis’s current cross country runners, directing runners, and parents of team members volunteered. Both races were flat and started and ended at Camden Field, with the 5K going into downtown Buena Vista, prior to the Labor Day morning parade.
MacKenzye Leroy defended his title in the 5K, finishing in 17 minutes, 35.63 seconds. A 2018 Washington and Lee University graduate, Leroy held school records in the 3K and 5K and is a five-time Old Dominion Athletic Conference champion. He coaches cross country and track at Albemarle High School in Charlottesville.
Cooper Braddy, a 2020 PM graduate, placed second in the 5K, finishing in 19:41.39. Placing third among males and fourth overall was Judah Brownstein, a 2001 Rockbridge County High School graduate.
Laurel Leroy, wife of MacKenzye, was the female winner for the fourth consecutive year, placing third overall in 19:50. Formerly Laurel Sheffield, she is a 2014 RC graduate who ran cross country and track for RC and Division I school Davidson College.
The second female finisher was Melissa Frost, placing 10th overall in 25:28.01. Placing third among females and 11th overall was Adelaide Gessell in 25:30.97.
Male age group winners were Max Whipple (19 and under, 19th overall in 27:58.81), Talen Roberts (20-29, eighth in 23:35.84), Conrad Patterson (30-39, seventh in 23:30.36), Jordan Clark (40-49, fifth in 21:59.99) and John Armstrong (50 and over, 17th in 27:57.15).
Female age group winners were Bailey Fitzgerald (19 and under, 18th in 27:57.15), Katy Scott (20-29, 14th in 27:13.94), Ali Wheeler (30-39, 15th in 27:23.46) and Rebecca Phelps (50 and over, 23rd in 29:36.86).
The kids’ fun run was not timed.
