Maury Regional Health Care Foundation recognizes 5K winners

A total of 511 runners and walkers participated in the 2022 Mule Kick 5K & 1-Mile Trot at Riverwalk Park on Saturday, April 2, raising approximately $30,000 for the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation thanks to contributions from racers and local sponsors.

Proceeds from the Mule Kick 5K & 1-Mile Trot, which was presented by First Farmers Bank, help to support Maury Regional Health’s mobile medical unit. The mobile medical unit serves at-risk and uninsured patients throughout the region and has touched the lives of thousands of individuals since 2017, including administering COVID vaccines for hundreds of community members in the past year. Proceeds from the race also support the Foundation’s Wellness and Aquatics Center Healthy Living Endowment, the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department and the physical education program at Lewis County High School, the area school with the most race participants.

“I am so grateful for the Foundation to have the opportunity to host the 2022 Mule Kick 5K & 1-Mile Trot on Mule Day this year,” said Executive Director Joe Kilgore. “Thank you to all our sponsors, runners, walkers and volunteers. It was a great day for a race! The funds raised from this event will support the healthy living needs of our community’s at-risk and underserved populations through services like the Maury Regional Mobile Medical Unit.”

Logan Mueller had the fastest run of the day in the 5K, winning first place overall with a time of 20:11, while Alison Wierenga won first place overall for the women with a time of 20:45. In the master category, Rudy Mendoza won for the men with a time of 21:46 and Mary Ellen Graham won for the women with a time of 22:29. David Craig and Paulette Wright brought home wins in the super grand master category with their respective times of 30:56 and 39:26.

The top three female finishers in the 1-Mile Trot included Selene Kuhns, Kynzley Dunning and Kate Kuhns, while the top three male finishers were Caleb Williams, Alton Williams and Thomas Williams.

A full overview of all the winners from the male and female age group categories is available at MuleKick5K.com, where all 5K racers can also view their individual times and download their finisher certificates. Photos from the 2022 event will soon be available at Facebook.com/MuleKick5K.