The sixth annual Kenton County Public Library Foundation Racing to Read 5K Run & Walk, presented by U.S. Bank brought nearly 1,000 participants and volunteers to downtown Covington on Saturday, June 13. The race had more participants than ever with approximately 800 runners and walkers. Nearly 200 people (library and U.S. Bank employees, cheerleaders and people in the community) volunteered to make the event a success.
Tim Menoher, of Erlanger, finished the 3.1 mile race in just 15:33, making him the winner of the Library’s 5K, which benefits early childhood literacy. The second place male runner was Greahma Niemer, of Fort Thomas, who finished in 15:46.
Ashley Ruberg, of Northbend, finished as the top overall female runner in 19:21. Shellie Hageman, of Cleves took second place in 19:37.
Wayne Hinaman, of Cincinnati, finished the race in 35:21 placing as the top overall male walker. Nancy Hiltibrand, of Fort Mitchell, placed as the top overall female walker in 37:18. Andy Zender took first place in the new stroller division with a time of 21:22.
This is at least the third year in a row Menoher has won the Library’s 5K. He shed11 seconds off of last year’s time when he finished with 15:44. Menoher contributes his success to the incentives along the course and what he knew was waiting for him in the Library parking lot. First Watch in Covington cooked pancakes in the Library parking lot for the participants and the volunteers. Spirit of Kentucky All Star Cheerleaders lined the course encouraging the participants all the way to the finish line.
"The support on the course and the smell of First Watch pancakes kept me fighting for the finish line," Menoher says.
For more information about the Library and the race, visit www.kentonlibrary.org/race. To see all of the race results, visit http://www.sprunning.com/.
The race benefits the Library’s Racing to Read program, an early childhood literacy initiative designed to introduce books and the love of reading to children in local preschools, day cares and Head Start centers. Library staff travel throughout Kenton County in the Read Racer, a NASCAR-inspired RV outfitted with shelves of books. Children climb aboard to select and check out books during the Read Racer’s monthly visits to centers. Over 2,500 children and their families in Kenton County benefit from this program.
