Bauer wins 5k

The brisk morning air didn't seem to have any effect on Sebring High cross country standout Connor Bauer during Saturday's inaugural Junior Achievement of Highlands County "Run Your Heart Out" 5k run/walk at Highlands Hammock State Park.

Connor, who signed a letter of intent to run cross country and track at the University of South Florida two weeks ago, breezed around the scenic 3.1 mile 5k course in a time of 16 minutes, 34 seconds to claim first place overall.

The overall female winner was Blue Streak cross country athlete Taylor Tubbs, who finished first with a time of 22:37.

The inaugural "Run Your Heart Out" 5k run/walk was sponsored by the Junior Achievement of Highlands County.

"The Junior Achievement has volunteers from the business community go into all of the schools in Highlands County to educate the students in real world economics," said Junior Achievement vice chairman and 5k coordinator Scott Crutchfield. "We teach the elementary kids about money and in the high schools we go into the economics classes and explain how to take the academics and apply them in the real business world.

"We help the students prepare for job interviews and some of our business volunteers have even offered jobs to students from this program."

The Male Master winner was Mike Martino with a time of 21:24, while the Female Master winner was Laura Griffin with a 23:45.

Brandon Beatty finished first in the male 14-under age group with a 22:07, Ben Tubbs placed second in 26:50, Donovan White won the male 15-20 division in 20:34 and Tim Topa, who will run in the Boston Marathon this year, finished first in the 21-29 age group with a 16:42.

Ashley White won the female 14-under age group with a time of 29:46, Caitlyn Moulds finished first in the female 15-20 age group in 25:12 and Kelli Werner came in first place in the female 21-29 age group in 25:09.

The proceeds from the 5k event go to the Junior Achievement of Highlands County, which was started six years ago.

"The funds that we raise go to help pay for the materials we use in the classrooms," Crutchfield said. "For the younger kids, its coloring books and project books, in the middle schools we have work books and in the high schools we buy videos and work books.

"We really appreciate the support from the community," said Crutchfield. "We started in just the high schools at first, but now we've been able to expand into all the schools because of the generosity and support from the community.

"We really appreciate the support for our inaugural 5k event with the economy the way it is and we can't thank the people in the community enough."