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A Running start

Not a single car could be heard or seen on South Illinois Avenue Saturday morning. The only occupants of the street were runners taking practice laps in preparation for the first annual Ethnic Festival 5K walk/run/

The vehicles were absent due to the race, where 116 participants lined up in front of the old train depot on the crosswalk that acted as a starting line.

The 5K walk/run was part of the Ethnic Festival that took place Friday and Saturday in the Carbondale town square.

Runners could sign up the day of the race for a fee of $15.

"We were competing against some other races," said Meta Minton, the race's director and founder. "There's a race in Paducah, [Ky.], today, there's a race out in Cape [Girardeau, Mo.]. 100 people is pretty good, I'll take that for a first-ever race."

Michele Pettit, a doctorate student in health education at SIUC was happy the 5K was taking place and that she had a chance to run in it.

"I think it's a good way to promote wellness," Pettit said.

Local runner Julia Stallings recalled the Fit for Life running race she participated in. The race took place for the last time six years ago and she said she is happy another race has come along to take its place.

The participants were not only competing with each other, but also the humid weather. Water stations were set up at the arena and at the finish line to keep the participants well hydrated. Volunteers from 710 Bookstore, the Carbondale Women's Club, and the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce handed out bottled water to the runners.

The hot sun contributed to an uncomfortable 80 degrees, not ideal running weather according to Minton, but the heat did not deter the runners as they waited for the signal to start the race. Minton set the racers off and they began their 3.1-mile trek.

After starting at the old train depot, the participants ran south on Illinois Avenue, crossed West Walnut Street and continued south to Saluki Drive. Runners then turned west on Saluki Drive to Arena Drive before turning to head toward the finish line in front of the Amtrak train station.

To ensure the runners' safety, the Carbondale Street Department placed barricades at most of the intersections along the racecourse and the SIU Department of Public Safety blocked traffic on the campus.

The overall female winner was 21-year-old Kacie Stearns, a senior in elementary education at SIUC with a time of 20:14.

Nick Severs, 33, from Chester is a correctional officer at the Menard Correctional Center in Chester. Severs' time was 17:09, placing him first overall in the men's division.

"It's a nice flat course, Carbondale [Police] had everything blocked; it's one of the best blocked off courses I've ever seen," Severs said.

Sara Berkbigler, who is the executive director of the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce, said the Ethnic Festival's 5K run gave runners a look at the local businesses and also a good view of the SIUC campus. All proceeds went to the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce.

"It was fun, they seemed to enjoy it," Berkbigler said.