Sun shines on Bay Rockets' SNOBALL Run
Bay High sophomores Logan Schmit and Nick Best participated in the 2014 Bay Rockets SNOBALL 5K Race/Walk. Best won "Best Costumed/Most Spirited Runner or Walker in the 5K" at the the high school level. Photo by Mike Strauss.
Runners and race volunteers have determined that Tim Brajdic, race director for the Bay Rockets' SNOBALL Run, has a personal weather angel. For two straight years, Brajdic has served up sunshine along with the post-race pancakes on race day. “I don’t know how we got so lucky this year, but we ended up with the best day of winter for the race,” said Brajdic. For the first time in weeks, the temperature rose to above freezing at race time on Feb. 22.
Brajdic reports that the 2014 SNOBALL 5K Race/Walk and 1-Mile Family Fun Run, that started at Bay High School and finished in the Rockets' stadium, drew 814 participants – 43 more than last year. Not bad for the worst winter on record since 1978!
“The SNOBALL Run is a truly great showing of community and school spirit,” said Bay Rockets Athletic Boosters President Susan Farnham.
Top finishers in the race were Bay High sophomore Jack Hautz, 16, who was the overall male winner with a time of 16:49 and Bay High Senior Maddie Britton, 17, who was the overall female winner at 18:04. Both students are members of Bay High’s cross country teams.
Brajdic, who has served as event chair since its inception, said: “Former Bay Rockets Athletic Boosters President Steve Kowalski conceived the idea of a mid-winter race as a community-wide event and fundraiser for Bay High School and Bay Middle School athletic teams.” Estimated proceeds from this year’s race and pancake breakfast are more than $8,000.
The 2014 SNOBALL Run drew runners and walkers of all ages – infant to 85 – from Bay Village and surrounding communities. New specialty award winners in 2014 were “Hamlet” and Rich Oldrieve of Westlake (“First Dog to Finish the 5K with Its Owner”); Ally Pistorino and her father, Mike Pistorino (“First Baby in a Stroller to Finish the 5K”); Matt Norris, age 85, of Olmsted Falls (“Most Senior Runner to Participate in the 5K”); Nick Best of Bay Village (“Best Costumed/Most Spirited Runner/Walker in the 5K, High School”); Ally Bleisath and Bridget Dougherty, both of Bay Village, (“Best Costumed/Most Spirited Runner(s)/Walker(s), Elementary School”); and Lara Lomac, Rochester, NY (“Runner/Walker Who Traveled the Furthest to Participate”).
Also new this year were Bay High student volunteers organized by senior Alyse Arko who dressed as characters at the post-race event, greeting children and helping distribute awards to top finishers. Bay coaches also volunteered as celebrity pancake servers.
A volunteer-driven, nonprofit organization, Bay Rockets Athletic Boosters is dedicated to raising funds through events like the SNOBALL Run to promote and support the athletic teams at both Bay High School and Bay Middle School.