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By Jill Runfola

Just in time to celebrate Halloween, runners, walkers, and zombies were sighted in a Zombie 5K on Saturday, October 21. The event was hosted by the Monessen/Rostraver Rotary Club at Monessen City Park.

Rotary Club President Kristen Joseph (middle) is pictured with “zombies” Roz Christopher, left, and Tammy Joseph (Kristen’s mother), right.

The weather was brisk and, that morning, participants felt the chill at the first-ever Zombie 5K. Rotary President Kristen Joseph said, “We are hoping it’s something everyone looks forward to each year,” adding, ““The Douglas students will be onsite to do zombie make-ups, and also [there will be] a DJ playing spooky tunes and snacks for before and after the race.”

New Monessen Mayor Matthew Shorraw sang the National Anthem. He surprised everyone with his moving performance, which kicked off the event. The zombie fundraiser began at 9 a.m., and zombies crept away early at 8:45 a.m. The runners and walkers took off from the park down Grand Blvd. to the end of Parente Blvd. and then circled back to the park.

Everyone who pre-registered before September 29 received a Zombie 5K t-shirt. Popular themed songs played included: “Ghostbusters,” Monster Mash,” “Thriller,” and “Stayin’ Alive.” Water, doughnuts, apples, snacks, and pop were also on hand.

Each winning participant received a medal. Top runners in each age group for the 2017 Zombie 5K are:
12 & under - Benito Peso and Ian Toman
13-19 - Mekenzie Reda – Female and Isaac Tabron - Male
20-29 - Stephanie Kirkpatrick – Female and Ryne Niemiec - Male
30-39 - Kristin Gansor – Female and Matthew Lucas - Male
40-49 - Tina Reda – Female (No male contestant)
50-59 - Kim Gorski - Female and John Pesi - Male
60-69 - Cindy Dzurik – Female and Mark Giannini- Male

Getting ready to participate Samantha Niemiec and Ashley Carney (front) and Ryne Niemiec, Perkta Wanjohi, Chana Rager, Lindy Waldron, and Chelsea Ratica (back).

70 and over - Bob Kopko at 82 years old

Kim Gorski also placed 1st out of all female runners with a time of 24:01 and Matthew Lucas also placed 1st out of all male runners with a time of 23:20.

Joseph concluded, “We wanted to get Douglas Education students involved along with Monessen students and residents of Monessen and the surrounding areas. We wanted to host an event that would get people excited to come to town and see what the students can do while bringing the community together for some friendly competition.”

Zombie1:
Zombie2: 
Zombie3: Jen Korb, visiting from Cincinnati, gets her zombie makeover from relative Steve Korb (side) and Pete Vechayanon (front). Both artists study at Tom Savini’s School in Monessen.

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