(Photo by David Hutchinson)

11:33 AM: By start time this morning, 1,172 people had registered to run and/or walk in the first West Seattle 5K since 2019. Here’s our video of all of them heading out from the start line at 61st/Alki:

(WSB photos and video from here)
Not only was the turnout heartening to the West Seattle PTSA, organizers Athena Frederick and Kelley O’Connor were proud of the other support that’s helping make this an important fundraiser to help WSHS and its students – such as the most local-business sponsorship support ever.

They explained that, for example, the proceeds help ensure “Saturday School” – extra support for students who need it – continues. Now, the top finishers – Matthew Lawrence, 15, was the first to cross the finish line, in 16:55:

Megan Heuer, 41, was the first female runner to finish (as she was in 2017), in 18:16:

All the results are here. Other participants ranged from preschoolers to seniors – race announcer Fred Northup (pictured below with daughter Zola, “a future WSHS student”) noted a 76-year-old woman running the WS5K today to celebrate her birthday.

A big focus for organizers this year was even more school involvement than the past. Even the WSHS Cheer Team was represented.

ADDED 2:37 PM: Here are acknowledgments from the race organizers, with more of our photos interspersed:

Wow, we did it! Bringing this race back post-Covid was a labor of love but thanks to all the organizers in years before us, it was doable! Thanks to all of you, today’s West Seattle 5k was a great success! A big “thank you” to all of our volunteers and sponsors, and the 1,172 runners and walkers who participated! We raised $34,000 for for the West Seattle High School PTSA and students and teachers and staff! The PTSA covers educational programming like Saturday School, Teachers Mini-grants and more!

Yours Truly, 2023 Race Co-Directors – Kelley O’Connor and Athena Frederick

Special shout out to volunteers:

Lori Sherick and Amy Huey for helping get the word out at all the schools and to help when we were overwhelmed and needed a quick errand made, or a document crafted!
Amy Doll for coordinating the supplies, kids, teachers and staff!
Erik Bell at Bell Fortina for countless hours coming up with our graphics and all the artwork for our shirt design, posters, banner, yard signs, clean up and so much more. And, then to come out and take pictures of runners and families. We so appreciate YOU and all you do for our community in capturing pictures of an events like this.
Dana Margolis @ The Little Gym for help securing sponsorships and prizes – you rock!
Renee Phelps and all the NHS students from West Seattle High School for putting out signage, stuffing bags and working the event!
WSHS PTSA Board members – especially Gina, Holly, Chau, and Heather!!
Lyndsay Aykens and Owen Reese for coordinating our Event Day Volunteers!
James Powell for your love of the sport!
Lori Sherick and Chris OClaire and their FUN Committee (WSHS 5k student led committee) – Bree, William, Esta, Sam, Lilly, Elliott,
Adult Course Monitors – thanks for stepping in this year to have our backs
Lyle at Get Me Registered for all the tech support!!
Alki businesses and residents – thanks for sharing this special beach for the morning so we could hold this fundaiser to make our local West Seattle High School the best it can be for our students and teachers!
Our 70+ volunteers!

We doubled our best sponsorship year, raising 20k in funds from our local businesses. That 20K covered the cost of putting on the race.

All our amazing Sponsors:

Portage Bay Cafe
School of Rock West Seattle
Sea Pines Physical Therapy
Dragonfly Pilates who warmed us up
West Seattle Realty
West Seattle Blog who got the word out about the event
Fred from Northup Fundraising for all his great emcee skills today!! Special thanks for reading every finisher’s name, nice touch!
Clif Bar for keeping us fueled on energy bars and bloks!
West Seattle Runner for hosting our packet pickup and top finishers all a new pair of running shoes!
BracePoint Law
Schoeb Chiropractic
We Sweat
Susi Musi Realtor
Dream Dinners
West Seattle Foot & Ankle
Alki Annie realtor
Club Pilates on Mercer Island
Swifty Printing
The Hill Team – Zack and Jody Realtors
Sports Medicine NW
Tram’s Salon
Hotwire Coffee
Ventana Construction
Niederberger Construction
WebCami for all our website needs and many rounds to bring the website back from 2019!!
Cometa Playschool
The Little Gym of West Seattle – yay Teacher Dana
The Fang Law Firm
PCC Community Market
Metropolitan Market
Carmilia’s Boutique
Mission Cantina
West Wings
West Side Music Academy
Alki Kayak Tours
Colburn Law

The first WS5K was on May 31, 2009 (here’s our coverage). P.S. The next community-benefit 5K in West Seattle is the Float Dodger 5K, which West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) will present again July 22nd – before the West Seattle Grand Parade – as a fundraiser for the West Seattle Food Bank; you can register here right now!