UPDATE: Organizers say the final official count of participants was more than 1,000.
![](https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/zdhphoto.jpg)
(top photo by David Hutchinson, added 10:48 am; next photo by TR, published when post 1st went live)
![](https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/zrunphoto.jpg)
The West Seattle 5K (WSB sponsor) runners and walkers are still going past the window at Alki Tully’s, where we’re set up at the moment. The photo above is a sample from several minutes after the first runners crossed the line; Jordan Welling from Bellingham (Western Washington U track team member) was first across, at 15 minutes exactly, 1:21 ahead of the second finisher; (added 10:30 am) here’s the video:
First woman across the line was Vanessa Hunter at 17:33 (she finished first in last year’s Torchlight Run). We’ll be checking the registration totals with organizers a bit later, but anecdotally – as you’ll see in our starting-line video shortly – it was a sizable crowd. ADDED 11:09 AM: Here’s our video of the West Seattle 5K start, from the first runner to the last walker – the voice you hear leading the countdown is WS school-board rep Steve Sundquist:
We’ve got more photos of the 5K, including several sent by WSBers – we’ll add them shortly! ADDED 11:34 AM: As promised – more photos (and we’ll likely be adding more later today, so check this story again) – click ahead:
![](https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/zfirststroller.jpg)
More than a few stroller-pushing runners and walkers participated – that was the first stroller to cross the line. Next, John Loftus sent this overview near the start – note the volleyball courts set up for today’s second day of Alki Volleyball Association play:
![](https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/zloftusrun.jpg)
Here’s one guy who finished jubilantly:
![](https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/zhappyfinisher.jpg)
And another overview photo from David Hutchinson at the start of the 5K:
![](https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/zdhutchfirst.jpg)
Lora Lewis from Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) was here volunteering and sent this photo from the start line:
![](https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/zlorastart.jpg)
ADDED SUNDAY EVENING: Alki photographer David Hutchinson shares this photo of warmups before the race:
![](https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/z5kwarmup.jpg)
Important to mention if you hadn’t heard this before – this was a fundraiser for local schools – organized by the West Seattle High School PTSA, but with Chief Sealth High School, Roxhill Elementary, and Madison Middle School also joining in.
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