Lincoln 'Honest Abe 5K' cool event

[February 15, 2016]  LINCOLN - Saturday's frigid temperatures were not enough to keep runners and walkers away as 67 people participated in the first "Honest Abe 5K." The race was part of the Honest Abe Weekend marking Abraham Lincoln's 207th Birthday. Friday, a dinner at Lincoln Christian University celebrated his life.

On race day, participants were invited to dress as Abraham Lincoln or Mary Todd Lincoln. Lincoln Mayor Martha "Marty" Neitzel dressed as Abraham Lincoln welcomed everyone, then led-off the group to start the race, continuing to the finish.

Racers started on the McLean Street side of Latham Park and made a loop around the historic Lincoln downtown streets before winding back to the finish line with the first runner coming in at just under nineteen minutes.

After the race was over, participants were able to warm up and eat a complimentary bag lunch at Lincoln Christian Church Fellowship Center as race results were tallied.

The weekend events were planned by students in the Lincoln Land Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities (LLCEO) program. LLCEO Board President, April Doolin, said it was group business project for the LLCEO students. Students did financial reports, kept track of expenses, and figured out profits and losses. The profit from the events will be used as "seed money" to help each student start a business.

Eli, a student in the LLCEO program, said the Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities program "takes the world around us" as we "start a business." He said the group planned the race for about four months and thanked all who supported them.

Jason Mauhar facilitates the LLCEO program. He said the students "learn by doing" making it through all the struggles as they planned. Mauhar said eleven students did all the planning for both the dinner and the 5K. He is hoping that even more students participate in the program next year. Students in the program, meet business leaders and grow the community.

When winners were announced, the top three overall winners were awarded a trophy and the top three in each age category received medals . Overall winners were Jacob Stauffer in first place, Andrew Coop in second place, and Joe Briseno in third place. Rod Lewis won first place in the 60 and over category, Craig Queen won first place in the 50-59 age category, Tony Zurkhammer won first place in the 40-49 age category, Brent Skogsberg won first place in the 30-39 age category, and Konnor Browne won first place in the 19-29 age category, and Isaac Crumrine won first place in the 18 and under category.

A trophy for the best costume was awarded to Jackson Johnson for his Abraham Lincoln attire.

[Angela Reiners]