Amid cheers and high-fives, more than 750 runners, walkers and strollers took off from the University of Washington Bothell campus and made their way around a 5k loop on a sunny day in May. The 19th annual Husky 5k, presented by the UW Bothell Alumni Council, saw participants from throughout the community, including the greatest number ever of alumni and students from across the UW.
“I’ve been part of this event since the beginning, and I can say this year’s was one of the most successful to date on so many levels,” said Sean Marsh, associate vice chancellor of alumni and stakeholder engagement. “There was just a really great vibe throughout. Some runners were super competitive and came in before most people hit the one-mile mark. Some walkers were just out to have a good time chatting with their friends. Some high school students used it as a training run. It was a terrific morning.”
In addition to the fun times, the event also had meaning. Since its inception, the Husky 5k has supported student scholarships and programs, and over 19 years, participants and sponsors have raised more than $270,000 to help students succeed.
At various points along the route, 5K course marshals could be heard saying, “Thank you for supporting our students!” and were met with smiles, waves and two thumbs up.
“We wanted to remind people that while they were out there doing their thing, they were also part of something good,” Marsh said. “We are so grateful for the strong show of support from our community.”
Participants ranged in age from newborn to 78 years old, with some traveling from out of state. More than 60 dogs also ran the course, including several huskies, of course.
Nathan Ennist of Seattle was the top finisher, with a time of 16:33. Sarah Paquet of Seattle was the top finisher among women. Find all the race results here.
