Local runners and walkers gathered at Falcon High School July 12 for the Falcon 5K and One Mile Walk.The Falcon Education Foundation, Meridian Dental, Papa Murphy’s, Sensational Sounds and The New Falcon Herald sponsored the event. Wal-Mart and Safeway donated food for the participants, while Colorado National Bank and Farmer State Bank were the pick up and drop off points for the registration forms.Entry fees went to the Falcon Education Foundation, which will donate the money to the FHS cross-country team.The 5K winners were Chris Nelson, in the men’s category, and Jackie Macfarlane in the women’s category. Alex Faberkorn won in the 18 years and under category, and Susan and Nolan Peach won the 1-mile walk. Denae Packard, disc jockey with Sensational Sounds, supplied music and announced the times of the winners as they crossed the finish line.Nelson, of Peyton, who finished the run with a time of 18 minutes and 15 seconds, said he’s been running since he was about age 12. Nelson said he was at his bank, making a deposit when he saw the flyer about the 5K. “I thought I might as well run in it,” he said, after the race. “I like that it’s so close to home.” Nelson grew up in Florence and said he remembered coming to Falcon to play ball against the high school. “There was nothing out here then except farms,” he said.Winners were presented with free pizza coupons from Papa Murphy’s. Nelson received a Snap Fitness gift card, and Macfarlane received crystal jewelry from PocketJewels.net.Tina Johnson, event organizer, said she was pleased with the results, even though there were few entries this year. “It was just the first year,” she said. “Hopefully, this will become an annual event and it will get bigger each year.”
