Winners are shown from the West Noble Primary Kindness Run in Ligonier. In the front row are, from left to right, Deb Byers (master), Lanie Martin (first 1/2 mile), and Lucy Martin (12th mile). In the back row are Jessica Martin (second place), Elias Rojas (first), Lexi Shepherd (first), Brian Shepherd (master), and Mike Flora (second). (Photo provided by Brian Shepherd)

A pair of 5K races in the area helped benefit initiatives to serve the communities that oversee our children.

The Stars and Stripes 5K in Syracuse raised money for Junior Achievement of Kosciusko County. The top individuals from the race were Elias Rojas, the overall winner at 17:54, and Yuko Baumann, who led the ladies with a time of 23:31. A total of 73 runners finished the race.

The West Noble Primary Kindness Run took place in Ligonier. The event had 76 total runners combined in the half-mile and one-mile races. Money raised from the Kindness Run will be donated to needy families in the Ligonier area. Complete results were not made available.

Elias Rojas, left, and Yuko Baumann were the top male and female finishers at the Stars and Stripes 5K.

Race Results from the Stars and Stripes 5K:
1. Elias Rojas 17:54
2. Jason Potsander  19:23
3.  Jacob Tucco. 20:20
4. Abel Orue  22:06
5. Kirk Olson 22:46
6. Tim Fiechter 23:13
7. Yuko Baumann 23:31
8. Jonathan Tucco 24:02
9. Jeff Miller 24:27
10 Stan Hartzler 24:54
11 Reggie Cretsinger 25:07
12 Gabe Ritter 25:14
13 Greg Unternaher 25:31
14 Benjamin Weigel 26:02
15 Morgan Schlagenhauf 27:09
16 Fred Unternaher 27:41
17 Bret Stahly 28:40
18 Eric Diamond 28:55
19 John Fruth 29:27
20 Grace Mejia 29:56
21 Austin Custer 30:02
22 Brenda Custer 30:03
23 Robin Galloway 30:17
24 Mitch Price 30:26
25 Emily Gerver 30:38
26 Kim Anderson 31:05
27 Jim McCarthy 31:06
28 Kristina Long 31:26
29 Paul Long 31:26
30 Heath Simcoe 31:48
31 Janna Simcoe 31:48
32 Michelle Bucher 31:49
33 Kristi Bucher 32:02
34 Tim Kasse 32:25
35 Nicole Miller 32:35
36 unknown
37 Alana Cozad 33:11
38 Pete Garber 33:21
39 Julia Hartzler 33:44
40 Ronna Fruth 33:43
41 Cohen Custer 34:03
42 Libby Lindsay 36:20
43 Stephany Mejia 37:47
44 Unknown
45 Sydnee Keith 38:15
46 Caitlin Knepp 38:15
47 Katie Hurley 38:29
48 Averly Hurley 38:29
49 Beth Polsean 39:27
50 Jason Miller 39:30
51 Madison Miller 39:31
52 Lauren Miller 41:21
53 Kierstyn Miller  41:22
54 Stacey Miller 41:41
55 Olena Hartzler 42:18
56 Julie Hartzler 42:30
57 Vicki Morton 43:45
58 Brenda Peterson 43:48
59 Aimee Hartzler 46:40
60 Mike Litchford 46:45
61 Jackie Tucco 46:48
62 Laraine Tucco 46:49
63 Cindy Price 47:02
64 Don Prater 47:13
65 Becca Stahly 49:36
66 unknown
67 Shawna Vanlue 49:49
68 Andrea Hile 49:55
69 Jenny Lane 53:06
70 Mandy Prater 53:07
71 unknown
72 Lauren Schlagenhauf 53:09
73 Kristine Schlagenhauf 53:10