57 runners came to the line for the Freedom Days 5K event at the Becker Community Center last Saturday morning. While the day began with heavy rains in the area, the 8 a.m. race start was dry as runners sprinted off to begin the event.
Lee Johnson of Delano was first across the line with a time of 18:25.65. Other top-10 finishers included Becker resident Joseph Perrault in second at 19:01.86, followed by Erik Tungland, James Abfalter, Mark Klaverkamp, fastest woman Missy Trenz of Becker, Nicholas Hamel, Andrew Hamilton, Madi Kealy and Josh Nohner.
New this year was the Freedom Days Team Trophy Award which went to the “Freedom Runners” team of Tungland, Hamilton and Nohner, according to BCC fitness coordinator Tracey Otto.
Runners ranged in age from five (Grace Mork) to 57 (Mark Klaverkamp and Rita Holland). Eight-year-old Olivia Babler posted the best result in the “pre-teen” class with a 33-place finish at 27:15.06.
Other notables in the field included Becker Intermediate School Principal Dr. Christine Glomski and Clear Lake Firefighter Colleen Weis Knafla.
