Tar Heel 10 Generates Over $30,000 to Community
The 2011 Wachovia Tar Heel 10 Miler and Fleet Feet Sports 4+ Mile Run attracted more than 3500 runners to Chapel Hill, generated more than $30,000 to the community, and produced exciting finishes in both the 10- and 4-mile events this year.
In the 10-mile race, Raleigh resident Devin Swann averaged 5:17 per mile to finish in 52:44, just 21 seconds ahead of Alex Varner of Carrboro. Third place saw a fierce battle in the finisher’s chute as Tim Surface, also of Raleigh and a May 2010 Endurance Magazine cover story, ran nearly shoulder to shoulder with Chad Newton of Pisgah Forest, NC, before edging him out for a 54:17 third place finish. Newton was only two seconds behind.
The women’s division saw a heated battle for first place, as Caitlin Chrisman, a Charlotte resident and October 2010 Endurance Magazine cover story, narrowly beat Linsey Smith of Carrboro with a 1:00:52. Smith was just five seconds behind. Olympian and Carrboro resident Joan Nesbit-Mabe finished third.
The Fleet Feet Sports 4+ Mile Run saw an amazing race with 14-year-old Zachary Wesson of Denver, NC, taking the win in 29:59. Thirty years older and five seconds behind was Andrew Phillips of Raleigh. Chris Flemming of Hillsborough was third. Dana Lebo of Raleigh won the women’s four-mile race in a time of 33:45 with Karen Canup of Campobello, SC, and Kristina Archer of Midlothian, VA, taking second and third respectively.
Among the runners and cheerleaders were UNC researchers, hospital staff, professors, UNC alumni, “Party Crashers” from other ACC schools, and town citizens – all to benefit cancer research and treatment at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and the YMCA’s We Build People Campaign. The sold-out race donated more than $16,000 to local non-profits, raised through entries, charitable contributions and charity slots.
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“We are thrilled to have been chosen as a charity partner by Endurance Magazine, which produces the race,” said UNC Lineberger Director Shelley Earp, MD. “All of us are working to make Chapel Hill and North Carolina a healthier place to live and community support is very important to all of the scientists, physicians and health care providers who work hard every day to ease the burden of cancer for all North Carolinians.”
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“We are honored to be able to donate, on behalf of all of our runners, over $10,000 to a local and statewide resource like UNC Lineberger. Partnering with organizations like UNC Lineberger and the YMCA goes to our mission of helping provide information and inspiration for people to live their most active, healthy life. That’s what drives us,” says Steve Lackey, Producer of the event.
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Lackey continues, “With the growth of the event this year we realized we are enabling more first time distance runners to participate in a healthy, supportive and fun event. Among the many reasons we are proud, this is a big one!”
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The Chapel Hill Carrboro YMCA’s We Build People Campaign received a charitable donation of $4,025. “These funds,” according to Greg Lee of the Chapel Hill Y, “will be used for scholarships for kids and families right here in Chapel Hill and Orange County and will help us continue to strengthen our community.”
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Other beneficiaries of the event include the Endurance Magazine needs-based scholarship at UNC-CH that received $2,000 as well as $5,500 in scholarship entries to local runners from our community. Race organizers are also proud that $8,300 was paid for the incredible services provided by the Chapel Hill and UNC Public Safety Departments.
