First Turkey Trot 5K Brings Out 200 Runners

Susan Hage and the rest of Waterford High School’s Class of 2013 were trying to create “a new tradition at Waterford High School.”

Looks like it worked.

Saturday, 200 participants ran in the first ever Great Neck Turkey Trot 5k, which many are hoping becomes an annual event. The run, which was held at Great Neck School, was organized by Waterford High School’s senior class council and benefited both the Class of 2013 and the Kelsey Harrington Foundation.

“We were all worried nobody would show up,” said Megan McBryde, who serves on the senior class council. “It was a lot better than what we expected.”

The class council agreed to give half of all the proceeds to the Kelsey Harrington Foundation. Kelsey Harrington, a special needs child, would have graduated in the Class of 2013, but she died in 2005. Her family has since started the Kelsey Harrington Foundation, which supports children with special needs.

“We knew we wanted to do something for the Kelsey Harrington Foundation,” Nora Sullivan said, who also serves on the Waterford High School senior class council.

The Race

Along with the student council, Waterford High School teachers Amanda Batty and Kathryn Prpich organized the event. Each participant received a free shirt, and after the race there was food and drinks available for the runners.

The group got a variety of sponsors who both donated items like food and shirts or just gave money to the event. Runners paid $20 if they registered ahead of time and $25 if they registered that day to participate in the race.

The race was timed by SNERRO. Dan Clark of Waterford won the race, finishing with a time of 18:54, and Cassie Ryan Rasmussen of Quaker Hill was the fastest female with a time of 19:49.