The 23rd Annual Gatorade/Steelers 5K Race, Fitness Walk and Kids' Kickoff Run drew a crowd of more than 2700 runners who enjoyed new course along the North Shore Riverfront Trail.
Jed Cor Christiansen of Greenville finished first for the second consecutive year, missing the course record by just 00:03. Cheryl Collins-Gatons of Greensburg won the women's overall competition.
Michael Ruben of Pittsburgh won the Nose Tackle division, edging out the second place finisher, Eric Laurent of Connellsville, by 00:01.
In the corporate team competition, Fleet Feet set a new record for small companies (up to 99 employees) with a time of 52:18. K&L Gates won the medium company (100-999) award and Highmark won the large category (1000 employees).
The race benefits the Art Rooney Scholarship Fund which annually gives a $12,000 grant to a graduating senior from Perry and North Catholic High Schools, as well as one through the Pittsburgh Promise. The schools and Pittsburgh Promise nominates students who have been accepted to college and are in need of financial aid.
The 2011 scholarship winners are Mercedes Velasquez, a Perry High School graduate who is going to Chatham University to study pre-med, Mary Kay Krawczak from North Catholic who will Mercedes Velasquez, a Perry High School graduate who is going to Chatham University to study pre-med and Trevon Kendrick from Oliver, who received his through the Pittsburgh Promise and will attend Slippery Rock University.
In addition to Gatorade, sponsors included Giant Eagle, Dean Dairy, Dick's Sporting Goods, UPMC St. Margaret Sports Medicine, KDKA, WDVE, ESPN 970 Radio, Russell Athletic. Other supporters include Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association, Turkey Hill Ice Cream, ALCO Parking, Heinz Field, McDonald's and the Sports and Exhibition Authority.
For complete results, please visit Gatorade/Steelers 5K Results.
For photos from the event, click on Gatorade/Steelers 5K Photo Gallery 1 and Gatorade/Steelers 5K Gallery 2.
