The 2nd annual 5k run/walk to benefit the West Seattle High School PTSA saw 1140 runners, walkers, babies in strollers, dogs and many more gather on Sunday, May 23 under cool and cloudy skies on Alki Avenue. The race organization began in January with early registration when PTSA Vice President Jo Bader got things going.

The race went from approximately the Alki Bathouse to Anchor Park at Duwamish Head and back.

West Seattle High School Principal Bruce Bivens was on hand and said, "It's like a field of dreams out here. If you build it they will come. You have come today to show your support for West Seattle High School so I thank the West Seattle community. This is a wonderful time and this is a troubling time. As you know, it's no mystery, that public education is in a financial crisis. So every dollar that is earned here today goes back to the classroom as a dollar of support to the teaching and learning of students."

The money raised can have a substantial impact in the classroom. Race organizer Bader said, "We recently funded, providing matched funds, for a $10,000 upgrade for the scientific measuring probes in the West Seattle High School Science Department. This is something that in a million years they would be able to fund, but we were able to with the help of the West Seattle High School Foundation fully that. We replaced equipment that they've had since the 1950's." Doing a race like this is challenging but Bader said, "We have fantastic volunteers. We had 75 people helping run the race this year including 32 honor society students from West Seattle High School."

Bader also has a son graduating this year so she's "trying to figure out who's going to run this next year," she said laughing.

The top five race finishers with times were:

David McCulloch of Seattle with a time of 16:08
Keefe Hanson of Lake Tapps with a time of 16:39
Willie Richardson of Mercer Island with a time of 17:08
Mark Billett of Seattle with a time of 17:35
Lauren Breihof of Bellingham with a time of 17:41

The race was sponsored by:

Metropolitan Market, Chill Massage Therapy and Modern Apothecary, Outdoor Fitness Company, West Seattle Runner, Nuun Active Hydration, Coastal, High Cedars Golf Club, Powerarde, Tom's Automotive Service, Sound Physical Therapy, Swedish Point of Care Testing, and the WS Blog.