Principal Deanna Hollimon and students from West Elementary celebrate winning the team competition of the Torch Run by signing up the most runners. The school won a trophy and $1,000.

By Ashley Cummins for the FCT

The Russellville City Schools Education Foundation hosted its inaugural 5K Torch Run Oct. 15. The Torch Run was set up to raise money for teacher grants and student scholarships.

RCS Education Foundation President Natalie Bendall said, “For this to be our first run, I think it turned out great. Everyone from the school system worked super hard to make sure this was a success.”

The 5K began at 8 a.m. at the RHS auditorium and was followed by a 1 Mile Fun Run at 9 a.m. Runners finished the race with an award ceremony at the RHS gymnasium.

Awards were given to the top male and female overall finishers, top male and female masters finishers, and 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place finishers in the respective age categories.

RCS Superintendent Heath Grimes spoke during the award ceremony. “I just want to thank everyone who signed up and participated. We had over 150 people sign up for our first run; I think that is amazing and says a lot about our community.”

Each runner was asked to choose a school to represent in the Torch Run Team Competition. West Elementary School had the most registered participants and won a trophy to display in the school and $1,000.

“It’s been a great inaugural race,” Grimes said. “We’re going to try to do this every year. It will be our fall fundraiser for the foundation.”