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The LaGrange Rotary Club held its second annual Running for Rotary race on Saturday. 

The 5k (3.1 mile) run/walk supports the service club’s efforts to boost literacy in the community.  Proceeds from the race go directly to support local causes working to improve youth literacy.  

The race starts at Granger Park and runs along a portion of The Thread multi-use trail in LaGrange. The event also serves as a qualifier for the Peachtree Road Race.

The LaGrange Rotary Club started the race last year as part of their centennial celebration. The race has replaced the club’s golf tournament as their primary fundraiser. So far, it’s been a success. Before any toe even set foot on the track, they had raised more money than last year through sponsorship support.

Event organizers haven’t finished calculations on how much this year’s race raised in total, but it is expected to be even better than last year.

The race truly is for everyone. From toddlers to seniors and experienced runners to walkers with baby strollers, everyone had a good time running (or walking) for Rotary. First, second and third place medals were given in age and gender categories. Speed favors the youth, though, as a young student was the overall winner for the second year in a row.

Hillside Montessori student Braden Everett, 12, finished first, blowing past the competition with an amazing time of 17:47.

Everett said he doesn’t run for an official school team but for a team that he made with some friends from school.

Running runs in the family, which got young Braden into the sport and allowed him to win the race on his second try.

“My mom was a college minister, and all of the people were runners, so I gave it a shot last year,” Everett said. “It feels pretty good to win. I’ve run against some of these people before.”

Collier Baker, 15, earned second place overall with a time of 19:20, followed behind by Taylor Walden, 16, who earned third with a time of 20:17.

The top overall female runner was Catherine Hill, 14, who finished with a time of 22:30. Grace Johnston, 17, received second with a time of 23:47, followed by Kalynne Ehret-Pressler, 16, in third with a time of 25:45.  

Other top finishers include:

• Drew Duram (20:26): Top Male 20-29
• Zachary Taylor (20:21): Top Male 30-39
• Andy Fritchley (21:53): Top Male 50-59
• Lee Stover (22:16): Top Male 60-69
• Chris McChargue (23:43): Top Male 40-49
• Leah Hayes (26:07): Top Female 40-49
• Catherine Holmes (25:56): Top Female 50-59
• Katie Rocker (26:25): Top Female 20-29
• Polly Greisbach (26:39): Top Female 30-39
• Isabel Rocker (26:50): Top Female 11-19
• C. Braden (27:10): Top Male Under 10
• E. Silcox (32:09): Top Female Under 10
• Don Cleveland (35:58): Top Male 70+
• Melanie Key (44:23): Top Female 60-69
• Charlene McClanahan (51:25): Top Female 70+