Record-setting Race to Home 5K raises $15K

Nearly 700 runners and walkers set a new record for participation in the annual Bandits Race to Home 5K and Fun Run presented by Palmer Chiropractic Clinics on Saturday morning. In its third year, the unique bi-state race that ends inside Modern Woodmen Park helped raise more than $15,000 – also a new event record – for the Bandit Scholars Program.

Since the inaugural year in 2013, the event has more than doubled its annual participants – to 695 this year – and more than tripled its annual proceeds for the Bandit Scholars Program, which annually awards two Bandit Scholarships to cover the entire first year of college tuition for Quad Cities-area students. In three years, the event has raised more than $33,000 for the Bandit Scholars Program.

“We are tremendously grateful to all of the participants, sponsors, volunteers, staff and spectators who made the Bandits Race to Home 5K presented by Palmer Chiropractic Clinics the most successful yet,” said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. “As one of the largest fundraisers for the Bandit Scholars Program, this event makes an impact in the lives of Quad Cities-area students, and it is a unique community celebration that is the perfect way to kick off another River Bandits season at Modern Woodmen Park!”

The top three overall female and male finishers received a medal and an engraved, game-used baseball bat. The top three finishers in each of the 13 age groups – (14 and under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70 and above), were awarded medals, and all Fun Run participants received ribbons. All participants also received a free T-shirt and a free ticket to a 2015 River Bandits home game.

Danielle Berndt of Bettendorf, Iowa, became the event’s first repeat overall winner Saturday, leading all female participants by finishing in 19:09 – setting the female record for the Bandits Race to Home 5K. She led all females with a 20:21 finish in 2014.

Jerry Lack of East Moline, Ill., was the top male finisher at 17:48. It was his second race title, as he led all males in the inaugural race in 2013 with an 18:01 finish. He was third in 2014 with an 18:02 mark.

Here is a link to full race results; and below is a list of the winners in their respective age group.

Female	1st Place	Time	2nd Place	Time	3rd Place	Time
Overall	Danielle Berndt; Bettendorf, IA	19:09	Morgan Casey; Davenport, IA	20:16	Danielle Blocker; Davenport, IA	20:50
14 & U	Kaitlyn Powell; Blue Grass, IA	24:53	Lydia Wood; Davenport, IA	25:32	Karsyn Kuffler; Moline, IL	28:36
15-19	Jadwin Woodall; Bettendorf, IA	26:42	Christine Hultquist; Davenport, IA	33:21	Ashley Walters; Clinton, IA	33:33
20-24	Hannah Schoening; Davenport, IA	24:16	Faith Raaen; Moline, IL	25:19	Burgus Brittany; Bettendorf, IA	26:19
25-29	Lauren Vasicek; Davenport, IA	24:24	Chelsea Masterson; Davenport, IA	24:58	Katie Mayer; Le Claire, IA	25:16
30-34	Ashley Spain; Dewitt, IA	22:53	Kathryn Monroe; Davenport, IA	24:14	Teresa Thoensen; Silvis, IL	24:25
35-39	Nicole Callahan; Moline, IL	22:10	Bethany Wood; Davenport, IA	25:33	Allison Kopp; Osco, IL	25:59
40-44	Melissa Braddock; Dewitt, IA	23:12	Cheryl Allen; Wellman, IA	23:47	Jennifer Burris; Davenport, IA	24:50
45-49	Christina Martinez-Mcdowell; East Moline, IL	24:37	Jeanette Dawson Rhodes; East Moline, IL	29:37	Shari Connell; Macomb, IL	29:48
50-54	Kathleen Jensen; Davenport, IA	24:17	Kathy Evanchyk; Davenport, IA	25:17	Denise Gonzales; Davenport, IA	27:24
55-59	Cheryl Bivens; Moline, IL	25:24	Carol Brockway; Bettendorf, IA	25:29	Jolene Vipond; Aledo, IL	29:53
60-64	Karen Nelson; Le Claire, IA	28:25	Sarah Schafer; Sherrard, IL	30:07	Kathy Loomis; Davenport, IA	30:30
65-69	Marianne Schroeder; Bettendorf, IA	26:24	Amy Prusa; Sherrard, IL	35:18	Jeanne Carton; Atkinson, IL	35:29
70-plus	Judith Teeple; Davenport, IA	33:55	Barbara Donald; Bettendorf, IA	44:40	Only 2 Finishers
Male	1st Place	Time	2nd Place	Time	3rd Place	Time
Overall	Jerry Lack; East Moline, IL	17:48	Jay Whitmore; Donahue, IA	18:30	Mitchell Hines; Davenport, IA	18:32
14 & U	Christopher Guise; Davenport, IA	19:28	Ben Rhodes; East Moline, IL	22:36	Trent Doty; Port Byron, IL	24:52
15-19	Andrew Sattler; Clinton, IA	20:18	Logan Rathjen; Bettendorf, IA	23:15	Timothy Schwartz; Moline, IL	25:37
20-24	Noah Forbes; Rock Island, IL	22:10	Mark Steinhauser; Bettendorf, IA	22:55	Kyle Kiel; Davenport, IA	23:42
25-29	Luke Anderson; Moline, IL	19:58	Zach Knobloch; East Moline, IL	20:04	Jacob Clark; Davenport, IA	20:51
30-34	Jacob Knobloch; East Moline, IL	18:59	Travis Lynch; Rock Island, IL	19:41	Chris Massie; Eldridge, IA	19:57
35-39	Billy Butler; Moline, IL	20:11	Kurt Haiar; Davenport, IA	21:16	Matthew Holst; Davenport, IA	21:23
40-44	Joel Madden; East Moline, IL	20:27	Kory Kuffler; Moline, IL	20:41	Kirby Winn; Davenport, IA	21:12
45-49	Stephen Rhodes; East Moline, IL	18:44	Andy Feliksiak; Rock Island, IL	23:27	Rob Woodall; Bettendorf, IA	24:37
50-54	Mark Taghon; Bettendorf, IA	19:14	Scott F Caldwell; Moline, IL	21:17	Mark Schmidt; Blue Grass, IA	22:27
55-59	Michael Oberhaus; Rock Island, IL	23:36	Brian Kopf; Davenport, IA	24:19	Dave Craddick; Moline, IL	24:50
60-64	Steve Vipond; Aledo, IL	24:39	Gary Nelson; Le Claire, IA	25:46	Craig Foster; Davenport, IA	26:06
65-69	Tom Miller; Bettendorf, IA	26:17	Tony Schiltz; Davenport, IA	26:44	James Knorr; Milan, IL	29:10
70-plus	Dave Zimmer; Long Grove, IA	25:47	Arthur Tate; Blue Grass, IA	34:04	John C Gardner; Bettendorf, IA	34:52

The Bandits Race to Home 5K began on 2nd Street in Davenport, Iowa, in front of the YMCA. The five-kilometer route crossed the Centennial Bridge into Rock Island, Ill., and the Rock Island Arsenal Bridge back into Davenport before ending at home plate inside Modern Woodmen Park. The quarter-mile Fun Run for kids began outside the party plaza and ended inside the playing field.

Additional sponsors for the 2015 Bandits Race to Home 5K were Triumph Community Bank, ECS, Inc., Aramark, Hy-Vee, Sam’s Club, Pepsi, 7G Distributing & Michelob Ultra.

UP NEXT: Gates open for the home opener at 12:15 p.m. Sunday, when the first 1,000 fans receive a Mediacom River Bandits pennant, and the first 2,000 fans receive a Mediacom River Bandits magnet schedule. River Bandits players will sign autographs on the field at 12:30 p.m. The Nintendo Wii-ster Egg Hunt is at 12:45 p.m., with three Wii-U systems to be given away. Family Sunday presented by B-100 and ESPN 93.5 means Bark in the Park on the Modern Woodmen Berm and postgame Kids Run the Bases presented by Prairie Farms. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games – which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways – are available by calling 563-324-3000.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 105 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, Space Camp opened June 20; the new Drop’N Twist debuted in July; and the newly expanded 300-foot long zip line also reopened.