The 126 runners signed up for Saturday’s 32nd annual LeeShore Center Run for Women enjoyed not only a pleasant day for racing, but did so for a worthwhile cause.

The annual late summer event is a benefit for the LeeShore Center, which has served as a 24-hour domestic violence and sexual assault shelter for Kenai and the central Peninsula since May 1977, providing a safe place for women and children to go.

Two ladies emerged as first-time winners of the race. Seward’s Jenny Rutledge won the women’s 10-kilometer race in 51 minutes, 36 seconds, beating runner-up Megan Murphy by 51 seconds. Murphy was second in 52:27 and third-place Nicole Dixon came across in 55:58.

Kenai’s Samuel Anders, 11, was the overall 10K winner in 50:19, beating Rutledge to the finish line. Anders said he doesn’t run for fun just yet, but plays plenty of club soccer in Kenai to give him an edge. Plus, he has competed in the Run for Women, which allows male runners aged 17 and younger, since age 5 or 6, and has done the longer 10K event four years in a row.

In the 5K race, Soldotna runner Mallory Millay, 29, won in 25:26, beating runner-up Angela Head by 46 seconds. Head finished in 26:12 and third-place Teresa Lawless crossed the line in 26:44.

Rutledge works for the Seward Parks and Recreation Department, and said she regularly helps organize community races around the Seward area. That and the LeeShore Center fundraiser convinced her to travel up to Kenai to compete.

“It’s a good cause, so it kept me motivated,” Rutledge said.

Rutledge said the day began in a rush as she woke up late with the 9:30 a.m. registration deadline looming. Having camped out the night before, Rutledge said it was a test of nerves that was quelled when she just made it in time.

“I didn’t think I was going to make registration,” she said. “Once I got there, I was able to slow down and get ready to run.”

Rutledge said she tailed 10K runner-up Murphy in the early miles while she found her groove, then passed her about halfway through and pulled out a gap to win it. As a half-marathoner, Rutledge said the day was a nice warm-up for next weekend’s Mineshaft Grinder event in Hope.

In the 5K race, Millay was able to grab the victory thanks to some helpful pacing from her boyfriend. The Soldotna resident said it was her third time running the 5K race, following up on finishes of fifth in 2017 and fourth in 2018.

Saturday’s event was a heater, she said, but since the proceeds go to a worthy cause, there really was no excuse to miss it.

“It’s a little hot, but it’s nicer than the last two years when it was chilly,” she said. “The prices are great and especially when it supports a good charity.”

Austin Adlam, 17, crossed in second place overall, just six seconds behind Millay, and said he decided to expand his race experience on the advice of his girlfriend, who also ran Saturday.

“I’ve run cross-country before, but never in one of these community races,” he said. “It’s really enjoyable because it’s not super competitive.”

Millay started the race inconspicuously, letting a handful of other runners lead the way out before moving up through the pack. By the midway turnaround point, Millay said she had just one other runner on her tail, but she managed to put a gap on her quickly, crediting the male runners for helping her along.

“It’s nice to have some of the 17-and-under guys doing it,” Millay said.

2019 Kenai Run for Women

Saturday in midtown Kenai

5K Results

Women

1. Mallory Millay 25:26, 2. Angela Head 26:12, 3. Teresa Lawless 26:44, 4. Torri Hensley 26:56, 5. Amanda Millay 27:09, 6. Cory Lehl 27:41, 7. Karalyn Veihdeffer 27:57, 8. Deb Russ 28:23, 9. Desiree Snader 28:30, 10. Katrina Cannava 28:33, 11. Sierra Hershberger 28:54, 12. Viorica Thompson 28:58, 13. Tara Wade 29:03, 14. Eliza Anders 30:26, 15. Tammy Fann 30:42, 16. Kaylee Fann 30:42, 17. Sheila-Margaret Pothast 31:37, 18. Terri Cowart 32:29, 19. Ariana Cannava 32:43, 20. Angeline Quiner 33:21, 21. Tamara Hibberd 33:27, 22. Brooklyn Zumwalt-Buckhoy 33:30, 23. Tina Hensley 34:10, 24. Maria Cox 34:24, 25. Bristol Walton 34:29.

26. Kristen Russell 34:29, 27. Ashlee Fann 34:47, 28. Andrea Hostetler 34:56, 29. Marlene Snader 35:12, 30. Shelly Yoder 35:25, 31. Maria Calvert 35:58, 32. Rachel Chaffee-Kastner 36:25, 33. Mary Rhyner 36:55, 34. Mollie Pate 37:09, 35. Maggie Nelson 37:09, 36. Kristin Morrow 39:44, 37. Amy Baxter 39:44, 38. Patricia Montgomery 39:59, 39. Mary Bodnar 41:03, 40. Cassandra Winslow 43:33, 41. Glenna Strongheart 44:39, 42. Monica Frost 44:45, 43. Aimee Moore 45:14, 44. Forrest Nelson 45:14, 45. Jennifer Thomsen 46:12, 46. Johnna Beech 46:39, 47. Jessica Burch 47:22, 48. Sharon Isaak 48:31, 49. Sheila Thomsen 48:47, 50. Tesia White 48:49,.

51. Daedra Doyle 48:54, 52. Davina Schultz 48:54, 53. Page Valenzuela 49:14, 54. Monica Valenzuela 49:19, 55. Jennifer Pelka 49:47, 56. Cecelia Strongheart 49:48, 57. Dawn Navarro 50:15, 58. Carrie Wawrzyk 50:17, 59. Marystarrs Armstrong 51:00, 60. Susan Smalley 51:01, 61. Louise Martin 51:22, 62. Paula Standefer 51:28, 63. Sydney Hershberger 52:07, 64. Savannah Hershberger 52:08, 65. Brailee Hancock 52:17, 66. Jillian Corr 52:17, 67. Kathy Bush 53:36, 68. Daniela Dimitrovski 53:47, 69. Elizabeta Dimitrovski 53:48, 70. Jenni Beilen 54:18, 71. Shaylynn Norris 54:19, 72. Alaina Hille 56:24, 73. Ann Strongheart 56:29, 74. Savanna Strongheart 56:31, 75. Lara Ross 56:47.

76. Virginia Hallmark 56:49, 77. Patricia Reilly 57:05, 78. Amelia Mueller 57:29, 79. Meg Mueller 57:30, 80. Sheryl Oldham 57:34, 81. Ouida Parker 57:42, 82. Therese Frothingham 58:14, 83. Emily Nicholson 1:02:06, 84. Pamela Hershberger 1:08:54, 85. Diane Mcbee 1:08:55, 86. Donna Mathiason 1:10:09, 87. Aubree Fidler 1:20:55, 88. Danielle Fidler 1:20:58, 89. Yvette Stemets 1:21:14.

Boys 17 & under

1. Austin Adlam 25:32, 2. Tim Cashman 25:33, 3. Porter Valenzuela 49:06.

10K Results

Women

1. Jenny Rutledge 51:36, 2. Megan Murphy 52:27, 3. Nicole Dixon 55:58, 4. Nadia Anders 56:05, 5. Rachel Babbit 56:09, 6. Chisato Johnson 58:31, 7. Kandi Barcus 59:27, 8. Shantel Wiley 59:45, 9. Sarah Pribbenow 1:01:14, 10. Alyssa Frothingham 1:01:19, 11. Chris Morin 1:10:00, 12. Laura Henkelman 1:14:13, 13. Maria Sweppy 1:16:51, 14. Josie Lloyd 1:17:10, 15. April Erhardt 1:17:11, 16. Kathy Hammer 1:18:26, 17. Denise Baldwin 1:21:59, 18. Dana Cordle 1:29:47, 19. Penny Furnish 1:31:55, 20. Yvonne Oren 1:33:57, 21. Lisa Parker 1:38:40, 22. Amelia Andrade 1:39:22, 23. Cindy Martinez 1:49:08, 24. Patricia Young 1:49:08, 25. Nancy Fleming, 1:49:08,

Boys 17 & under

1. Samuel Anders 50:19, 2. Daniel Anders 56:39.

A 5K runner pushing a stroller approaches the finish line Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019, at the 32nd annual Run for Women in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

The field of 5K and 10K runners and walkers take to the streets Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019, at the 32nd annual Run for Women in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Women’s 5K winner Mallory Millay (560) bides her time early on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019, at the 32nd annual Run for Women in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Deb Russ (532), Rachel Babbit (1000) and Tammy Fann (556) run with the pack early Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019, at the 32nd annual Run for Women in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Tara Wade leads the 5K and 10K fields out Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019, at the 32nd annual Run for Women in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Women’s 10-kilometer winner Jenny Rutledge crossed the finish line Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019, at the 32nd annual Run for Women in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)