About 100 people helped raise awareness of child abuse during the ninth annual Chance Mark Jones Roar & Run 5K & Polar Bear Plunge last Saturday, April 17, at the Clarendon Aquatic Center.
Ninety-five people registered for the event with about 50 actually running or walking the 5K, and 16 or more braving the biting cold weather to be the first members of the public to jump into the city’s new pool. Dozens more volunteers, supporters, and spectators were also in attendance.
Two Memphis residents were the top men’s and women’s finishers of the 5K. Ryder Robison, age 15, had the best overall time of 18 minutes, 24 seconds, and took first place in the 11-19 age group. Kay Mendoza, age 18, had the best time of all women, coming in at 22:21 in the same age division.
New this year, city officials allowed registered participants to jump into the new Clarendon Aquatic Center pool, which will formally open on Memorial Day weekend. One feature of the new center is a basketball goal purchased by the Clarendon Lions Club in honor of the late Chance Mark Jones.
Participants of the 5K and the plunge were encouraged to wear crazy costumes for the events. Judges selected Boss Lion Landon Lambert’s tutu outfit as the best of the plunge participants and 12-year-old Ayden Bordonaro’s dinosaur costume won the runner’s division.
Complete results of this year’s race are as follows: Top Men’s Time – Ryder Robison, 18:24; Top Women’s Time – Kay Mendoza, 22:21; 10 and under – 1st Kutter O’Keefe 31:46, 2nd Lester Graham 58:50, and 3rd Joshua Jones; Ages 11-19 – 1st Robison 18:24, 2nd Bryce Williams 20:15, 3rd Tyler Tuttle 21:57; Ages 20-29 – 1st Monty Holland 25:30, 2nd Caitlin Christopher 30:12, and 3rd Haley Kirk 52:17; Ages 30-39 – 1st John Robison 29:04, 2nd Amber Williams 47:00, and 3rd Cody Jones 55:36; Ages 40-49 – 1st J.D. McMahon 24:37, 2nd Maria Hale 25:32, and 3rd Andrew Brown 29:48; Ages 50-59 – 1st Michelle Branigan 29:43, 2nd Christi Benson 32:00, and 3rd Shirley Blank 33:57; and Ages 60 and Up – 1st Dan Purdy 32:10, 2nd Nancy Kidd 47:27, and 3rd Bob Weiss 48:12.
The race sponsored by the Clarendon Lions Club honors the life of four-year-old Chance Mark Jones, who died from child abuse in 2011.
Proceeds support the charitable activities of the Lions Club.
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