A record number of people took part Sunday in the 13th annual Ricky Byrdsong Memorial Race Against Hate along Evanston’s lakefront.
Organizers say 4,375 people took part, up by nearly 400 from last year.
The event is named after the former Northwestern University basketball coach who was killed in a hate crime in 1999 in Skokie.
Kids joining in the event. (Photos by Genie Lemieux.)
The race benefits YWCA Evanston/North Shore programs in the areas of violence prevention and racial equity.
YWCA Executive Director Karen Singer says the gross proceeds from this year’s race topped $200,000.
The event, which starts at Northwestern University’s Long Field on Sheridan Road, includes chip-timed 5K and 10K runs, a 5K walk and a fun youth mile.
5K results
The top overall male finisher in the 5K was Matthew Marol of Evanston, who finished with a time of 15:38. Micah Beller was second with 15:34, and Alec Dinerstein finished third with 17:34.
The top three female finishers in the 5K were Columbia Montes, 18:11, Mariana Trego, 19:08 and Erica Vazquez, 19:34.
The top male masters’ finisher, for runners over 40 years of age, was Christopher Travis, 17:40. The top female masters’ finisher was Kayoko Hamamuta, 20:40.
Winning awards and cash prizes from Three Crowns Park were the top male finisher, 62 and over, Carle Rollins, 23:26 and the top female, Nancy Rollins of Evanston, 22:04.
10K results
The top overall male finisher in the 10K was Jesse Kleinjan, 33:18, second was Jeffrey Pentek, 34:15, followed by Andrew Leonard, 34:21.
The top three female finishers in the 10K were Laura Papageorgiou, 40:52, Debbie Ackerman, 41:02 and Jen Terry, 42:26.
The top male masters’ finisher was Mark Smith, 37:31, and the top female masters’ finisher was Carol Wada, 44:05
Over 90 teams participated in the race this year. Evanston Running Club won fastest 10K team, and Ricky’s Two Boys won fastest 5K team. Largest 10K team was Evanston Running Club, largest 5K and Youth Mile teams were YWCA Flying Fish.
Great Event; Great Weekend!
As many issues as we have in this community, I had a great Evanston weekend attending both the Custer Street Fair and Race Against Hate which have both become Evanston summer institutions in my house.
These weekends matter as they remind us why Evanston is worth fighting to preserve. They remind us that there's a reason to stay and fight the moonbats who can't imagine why ever higher property taxes hurt
Evanston families and property values, who vote for the same cronies every year, who think resegregation of our public schools is a good idea and who are tolerant only when tolerant means accepting their enlightened worldview.