Runners showed up bright and early Saturday morning to participate in the first-ever Ballet Wichita 5K Art Run and Walk on June 23 in downtown Wichita.
The certified 5-kilometer (3.1 miles) race began at 8 a.m. by the corner of Douglas and Waco. Throughout the event were on-course performances provided by groups representing Wichita’s arts community.
The 5K race concluded with the creation of a large-scale painting. After finishing the race, runners and walkers lined up to paint a blank canvas with their barefeet, socks, or shoes dipped in paint.
“We created this event to celebrate the athleticism of dance and running and by including a diverse mix of artists to perform during and after the run, we hope to honor and call attention to the many fantastic local arts organizations in Wichita,” said Barbara Chamberlin, executive director of Ballet Wichita.
The course for the Ballet Run was designed to include several of downtown Wichita’s landmarks, including the Keeper of the Plains, Exploration Place, Delano district Clocktower, Lawrence-Dumont Stadium and Hyatt Regency’s Water Wall.
The race finished by the amphitheater in A. Price Woodard Park where race participants painted the 48-foot by 14-foot vinyl surface with their feet.
5K Male Overall Winners:
1) Bob Hornung - 18:23
2) Alex Lucas - 19:06
3) Jason Whitmore - 20:19
5K Female Overall Winners
1) Alicia Trujillo - 21:55
2) Lindsay Cuadra - 22:23
3) Wendee Harris - 23:07
Complete Race Results: http://runwichita.org/siteadmin/raceresults_file/632.txt
