The Dixie Day Dash 5K was held on Saturday, July 31. This year’s theme was “Sailors and Mermaids.”  InkFreeNews photo by Phoebe Muthart.

By Phoebe Muthart
Staff Writer

NORTH WEBSTER – A cool morning and sunny skies, and no rain, were perfect conditions for the 13th Dixie Day Dash 5K on Saturday, July 31. The theme was “Sailors and Mermaids.” Some runners wore festive attire with one winner claiming bragging rights as the “Best Costume.”

Kenya Leitch, 12, of Columbia City was the overall female winner with a time of 20:20.96, followed by her father, Khelli Leitch, 40, with a time of 20:21.47.

The adult female winner was Jody Brown of Plymouth, whose time was 20:43.72. She ran with her two dogs, Flash and Dilly.

The top male winner was Justin Mangus of Union Mills. His time was 19:13.79.

There were 51 entries for this year’s race, down from the 2019 race, when there were over 100 runners.

The theme had several runners donned in attire as sailors and mermaids. “Best Costume” went to Shannon Stevens.

The race Saturday morning had the same start and finish lines, and originated at North Webster Town Park. The race made its way from the park up and around the neighborhood, south toward the edge of the lake, and then back to the park to the finish line.

The race was professionally timed by Kosciusko Runners Association.

Complete results for the Sailors and Mermaids Dixie Day Dash 5K are at https://runsignup.com/Race/results.