Annual St. Elizabeth Seton school 5K is up and running

Runners at thet start of a 5K fund-raiser put on by St. Elizabeth Seton School on Saturday. Note No. 1228, Kelsey Pine, on right, checking watch, who took first. (Rochester Voice photos).

ROCHESTER - Sunny skies and comfortably cool temperatures helped to welcome the running of St. Elizabeth Seton School's inaugural Crusader 5K on Saturday morning.

As 9 a.m. approached SESS vice-principal Joy Wright lined up about 60 runners at the center of Bridget Street just steps from the school, gave a quick nod and yell and they were off.

Wright said the origins of the Crusader 5K were in a program called "Run for God" that has been a recent staple of the school.

Kelsey Pine, middle relaxes with mom, right, and a friend after winning the 5K at SESS.

"We wanted to bring "Run for God" to the larger school community," she said.

The race course went from the school down Lafayette, through the Fairground, then along Hoover, Washington and Brock streets, around the McClelland School and then back to SESS.

Kelsey Pine, 17, of Strafford, took first place, with an unofficial time of 19 minutes.

Runners who placed took home gift cards, while all the children who finished were given medals for completing the race.

St. Elizabeth Seton School, a private Catholic school that's been around more than 100 years, teaches pre-K through eighth grade.