(WSB photos/video unless otherwise credited)
9:35 AM: The race is on! More than 1,500 runners and walkers (plus a few dogs) are on Alki and Harbor Avenues right now for the 2024 West Seattle 5K, coordinated by and benefiting the West Seattle High School PTSA.
(Photo by David Hutchinson)
The streets will reopen to vehicles when the course is cleared. (Added) Here’s our traditional video of everyone leaving the starting line:
10:25 AM: Most of the participants have crossed the finish line.
(Photo by Lynn Hall)
Here are the top three male and female finishers, from a printout provided by race organizers:
Male Open Winners
Evan Williams, 37, bib 9142, 16:26
Mason Murison, 16, bib 818, 17:15
Victor Ordaz, 34, bib 5278, 17:28Female Open Winners
Beau Sitzmann, 11, bib 1114, 18:50
Kristi Williams, 40, bib 9145, 19:16
Ena Sparling, 12, bib 1139, 19:19
ADDED 5 PM: Lots of kids in the West Seattle 5K. Not just evident in results – but also sights like these:
Just before the start, the runners and walkers heard words of thanks from WSHS principal Brian Vance:
Then, the WSHS Cross Country Chant:
(Video courtesy West Seattle 5K)
WSHS Cheer Team members were there for support:
Along with lots of volunteer power, the event relies on sponsor support too. We’ve been the media sponsor every year since the start. We noticed some WSB sponsors there too – Neighborhood Naturopathic and Primary Care:
The West Seattle and Fauntleroy YMCA:
Kevin Broveleit from West Seattle Realty was there to run:
And the true heroes of the day – the race organizers, who just sent this wrapup:
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 runners and walkers who participated! We had almost 1,200 participants last year and previous years averaged 850-1,000 so this is quite a jump.
We raised over $42,000 for the West Seattle High School PTSA, which funds much needed programs for students, teachers and staff! The PTSA covers educational programming like Saturday School, teacher mini-grants, and more!
With more participants comes some justifiable increases in expenses, but one cost that really jumped was with the City for parking enforcement officers to staff the intersections. This is a delicate balance. Last year adult volunteers staffed the intersections but this year, the permit called for PEO’s which equated to 3x the permit fee last year.
Fortunately our increase in participants makes that permit bill a lot easier to cover. But if were to ever go back to 1,000 runners or less the bill would be a significant obstacle. We feel this is important to mention as most of our costs have barely changed in the last 10+ years and wish to be transparent about the money we raise for the high school.
Yours Truly, 2024 Race Co-Directors – Kelley O’Connor, Amy Huey, and Athena Frederick
Volunteers to recognize:
Nicole Ott for help in securing sponsors and all the logistics that come with that.
Amy Doll for coordinating the supplies, kids, teachers and staff!
Erik Bell at Bell Fortina for all our graphics needs including shirt design, posters, banner, yard signs and event photography.
Brian Chung for stepping in as a new additional event photographer.
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 Holly and Victoria!!
Owen Reese for coordinating our volunteers. And thank you to the 70+ volunteers who work the event!
Heather Hsu for taking on our Non-Profit Row. We so appreciate you tackling this much needed addition to the event
Lori Sherick and Chris O’Claire and the WSHS 5k student-led committee
Alki businesses and residents – thanks for sharing this special beach for the morning so we could hold this fundraiser to make our local West Seattle High School the best it can be for our students and teachers!
This was the second WS5K since the pandemic hiatus, and 15th anniversary of the first one in 2009.
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