Nearly 1,000 participants crossed the finished line in the 2016 Kids Fun Run. Kelsey DeClue, with Columbus Regional Health, says that numbers down slightly from last year, as 998 children, ages 2 through 12, crossed the finish line.

The 2016 Kids Fun Run, sponsored by Healthy Communities and MainSource Bank, was held on Friday, September 23th in Mill Race Park the evening before the Mill Race Marathon.

DeClue says that the elementary school challenge awards a $500 Hoosier Sporting Goods gift certificate to the first place school and a $250 Hoosier Sporting Goods gift certificate for the second place school. She explains that the winning schools are determined by the percentage of children crossing the finish line based upon current enrollment numbers. There are three divisions with the Elementary School challenge: Large Schools, with 500 or more students, Medium Schools, with 300 to 499 students and Small Schools with 299 or fewer students.

DeClue adds that a separate Preschool Challenge awards a $200 Hoosier Sporting Goods gift certificate to the first place school and a $100 Hoosier Sporting Goods gift certificate to the second place school.

The winning schools are:

Large School:
1st place – Parkside Elementary
2nd place- Southside Elementary

Medium School:
1st place – CSA Fodrea
2nd place- St. Peter’s Lutheran

Small School:
1st place – ABC Stewart
2nd place- St. Bartholomew

Preschool:
1st place- First Presbyterian Preschool
2nd place- Cummins Child Development Center

“We are so happy to see the support from the area schools and the parents who encourage their children to participate in our Fun Run. Creating a positive and healthy foundation for these children will help them grow, learn and be the future generations who live and thrive in Columbus, IN,” said Tara Hagan, Kids Fun Run Coordinator from Healthy Communities. “I would also like to send a special shout out to CSA Fodrea for having 34 percent of their student body participating. That is quite an accomplishment!”