Jeep Davis 5K for fun, tribute and a good cause

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Melanie Nichols Vinay runs next to Gavin Krska at Saturday’s Jeep Davis 5K in Barberton. She poses at the Jeep Davis statue outside of the Barberton Public Library.

PHOTO BY RANDY FORST

Ann Hutchison, director of the Barberton Public Library, participated in the annual Jeep Davis 5K July 19.

By RANDY FORST

BGNN sports editor

BARBERTON  Just about everyone in Barberton knows about Glenn “Jeep” Davis. If not, all one has to do is take a ride down to the Barberton Public Library and see his statue right in front of the building or head to the high school and see the school track named the Jeep Davis track. It’s easy to see how much the Magic City loves their hometown U.S. Olympian and three-time gold medal winner.

Each spring since 1998, longtime best friend Bill Allen and organizer Alan Bittinger have run the Jeep Davis 5K honoring the Barberton legend. Because of poor weather, this year’s run was pushed back to July 19. It was a beautiful morning for a run, perfect for Bill Allen to proudly start the runners with his starting pistol given to him by Jeep Davis. 

According to www.gcxcracing.com/jeepdavis5k, there were 53 entries in this year’s race. Along with honoring Davis, the race helps to fund the Jeep Davis Olympic Hopeful Fund held with the Barberton Community Foundation, which assists young hometown athletes with some of their financial needs in training, transportation, and equipment. The Jeep Davis 5K also supports Team Hoyt Ohio, an inclusive race team whose focus is working with individuals who cannot run a race themselves, but instead need chair assistance in getting to the finish line, the website states. 

The following is the list of winners.

Overall winners:

Male – Axel Danes 22:28 

Female – Alissa Ward 24:11 

19 and under 

Female – Vivian Velo 25:03

Holly Adkins 28:58

Male – Dane Elkins 22:33

Blake Kurtz 22:38 

20-29

Female – Rayna Vasiloff 38:48

Male – Nicholas Plucinski 25:29

Evan Kuhn 28:43

30-39

Female – Harley Berlesky 26:49

Christine Murphy 31:09

Male – Jer Long 24:04

Wayne Gerbasi – 27:27

40-49

Female – Heather Weeks 26:10

Jenn Kline 26:54

Male – Brent Malone 23:07

Paul Pamer 27:47

50-59

Female – Elisa Hill 32:15

Edna Boyle –  32:36

Male – Matt Wieland 22:37

Drew Sims 26:53

60-69

Female – Jacquelin Sukie 25:14

Deb McMasters 25:50

Male – Michael O’Leary 28:08

Tony Zaratsian 28:28

70 and over

Female – Wendy O’Leary 39:12 (70)

Male – Clark Schreiber 27:20 (75)

Pete Fickert 35:46 (83)

A special thanks to everyone involved, especially all the volunteers, who made this such a fun morning and as you can see some amazing performances.