Quail Creek Sports Run participants — and, they’re off!
Quail Creek Sports Run sponsor, Papa Murphy’s Pizza, provided freshly-baked pizza.
Dreama Fumia
2016 marks the twelfth year of Quail Creek’s Sports Run, hence the theme “The Dirty Dozen!” This year’s February 27 event involved over 150 residents and non-residents; some in the 5K race (more details about that later); some in the 2K walk; some in the 2K walk with dogs and lots of facilitators!
Doug Sakal, QC Sports Committee Chair, and his team of volunteers worked with Race Director Joe Cuffari and his team along with our own Banquets Director Epi Torres and Event Organizer Colleen Aldridge and their team to organize and manage the 5K race/2K fun/dog walk. Preparation for the race event starts months in advance and includes coordination with our sponsors, selecting and obtaining the race awards, promoting the event, managing registration for the participants, arranging for warm-up aerobics, plus designing and purchasing race tee shirts. And the list goes on.
Overall winner of the 5K race was Don Fallis of Tucson, 50, with a time of 22 minutes, 13.6 seconds – that’s a pace of 7.03 minutes per mile! Our youngest racer was Joshua Szablicki of Sahuarita at six years of age and our oldest racer was Elaine Walker of Green Valley at 77 years young! Awards (themed race towels) were given to winners and place finishers in various age groupings for male and female competitors. Though no awards were presented for participants in the 2k fun/dog walk, both two-legged and four-legged walkers had a fine stroll on a beautiful day at Quail Creek. Before the awards presentation raffle ticket winners were announced – one for a 50/50 cash prize and one for a goodie-filled basket from one of our sponsors, the Green Valley Pecan Company. Other sponsors included Robson Communities, Inc., Papa Murphy’s, Petco, The Women of Quail Creek (TWOQC), The Running Shop, KGVY, Team Robarts, The Animal League of Green Valley (TALGV) and the Green Valley – Sahuarita Community Food Bank. As a testament to the dedication of our sponsors, Petco had arranged to donate dog treats and toys for the event. Unfortunately, their driver was involved in an accident on his way to our event and could not make the delivery. So, Petco gathered a second round of treats and toys from their local store and made the delivery in time for our pet participants to enjoy.
The Sports Committee, the Race Director and our Events Coordinator would like to thank the race sponsors, participants and volunteers for pulling together to bring Quail Creek yet another exciting race experience. Proceeds from this event will benefit The Animal League of Green Valley and the Green Valley – Sahuarita Community Food Bank.
Next year you might want to plan to volunteer or even participate. Mark your calendars for the last Saturday in February. It’s a great way to say good-bye to winter and hello spring in southern Arizona.