Over 80 people, including State Representative C.B. Embry, participated in the Clarkson Honeyfest 5K Walk and Run on September 25, offering the biggest turnout yet for the sixth-annual event.

Proceeds raised this year were close to $350. The funds collected will go to sponsor the Grayson County Track and Field program.

Coordinator Brad Vincent said all in all the event went very well.

“Attendance was up from last year, it was overall the best one we have had,” he explained. “It was great weather and everyone seemed to really enjoy it.”

Several local organizations came out in support of the event.

“Some of the students from the high school and middle school cross-country team were there,” explained Vincent. “Even kids from the elementary schools participated, including kids from Leitchfield Christian Academy.”

The course for the runners started at the Clarkson Annex building (the old Clarkson Baptist Church) to East Old Leitchfield Road, then onto North Patterson Street, continuing onto Clark Thomas School Road, and ended behind the annex building on East Mason Street.

Vincent added there were several steps that volunteers took to ensure proper safety for participants.

“We changed the course for the safety of the runners,” explained Vincent. “Jeff King (Clarkson Police Chief) escorted us out. We secured one half of the road with cones for the runners, and the other half for the cars. Rick Embry, from the bike shop, even volunteered his time. The big thing was that we could not shut down the road, so we had to work with the community to put the word out. The good thing is that it is our sixth year doing this, so people are used to us by now.”

Grayson County High School’s Chemistry II students volunteered their time to hand out peanuts and water to the runners. The students also helped with keeping times of all-of-the runners as they finished the course.

Vincent, who helps coach the Grayson County Middle School Track and Field team, said it takes a committee of coaches banding together to pull off this event every year.

“We have to take care of the sponsorship and getting the supplies that are needed,” explained Vincent. “We appreciate getting quality people every year, who work really hard. The community supports us greatly. I thank everyone for their support in helping pull off another successful event.”

There were 28 females who participated this year and 56 males.

Sponsors for the run and walk were Physical Therapy Solutions, Grayson County Track and Field, T-Shirt Express, and Road ID out of Northern Kentucky.

Awards were given to the overall first and second-place male and female finishers, and also for the top two finishers in each age division.