Over 100 participants race in Festival of the Bells 5k, Kids Dash

The Festival of the Bells 5k is a longstanding tradition that has offered a variety of courses over the years. This year’s event took place on Saturday, July 6.  

Falling on a holiday weekend, it is often a time for family and friends to connect and spend time together. Participants traveled from all over Ohio as well as from Kentucky, Michigan and Florida.

Highland County Sheriff Randy Sanders led the way as 114 participants completed the 5k course through the aptly named “Hillsboro.” One participant pointed out that this year’s course had more elevation gain packed into 3.1 miles than the entire Chicago Marathon.  

A very generous anonymous donor crafted themed signs for the course to keep participants on track and to indicate how far they were into the course.  

This year’s patriotic shirt design was an ode to the traditional bell-shaped sign displayed uptown with the festival dates. Sydney Scott collaborated on the artwork.

The top male finisher, Cody Davidson, 31, from Wilder, Ky., completed the race with an official time of 17:21.4. The top female finisher, Brandy Shular, 16, from Winchester, had an official time of 22:35.6.

The following placed in their age divisions:

Male 12 and under:    
First, Archer Cline
Second, Owen VanDyke
Third, Kalen Juillerat

Female 12 & under:
First, Oakley Purvis
Second, Khloe Juillerat
Third, Daphne Zink

Male 13-19:            
First, Weston Blair
Second, Blake Walters
Third, Austin Richards

Female 13-19:
First, Lila Banks
Second, Aubrey Swafford
Third, Kenley Juillerat

Male 20-29:            
First, Jeffrey Beery
Second, Lucas Ustick
Third, Atlee Carr

Female 20-29:
First, Stella Stroud
Second, Angela McLaughlin
Third, Madi Fox

Male 30-39:        
First, Ryan Keech
Second, Chase Enochs
Third, Dallas Puckett

Female 30-39:
First, Jessie Gregory
Second, Lisa Bible
Third, Taryn Schlather

Male 40-49:        
First, Ryan Chapin
Second, Rex Crothers
Third, Brian Laycock

Female 40-49:
First, Leslie Molen
Second, Alison Chavis
Third, Jolie Zink

Male 50-59:            
First, Brad Roades
Second, Scott Rankin
Third, Kenny Wilson

Female 50-59:
First, Beth Ballein
Second, Shawna Chapin
Third, Amy Wolfenbarger

Male 60-69:            
First, Jeffrey Raber
Second, Jeff Beery
Third, Doug Savage

Female 60-69:
First, Nurys Diaz
Second, Carleta Weyrich
Third, Debbie Rohlfing

Female 70+
First, Carol Grate.

Full results and photos can be viewed at runsignup.com.

Over 20 kids ages 1 to 11 participated in the Kids Dash and ran under the finishers arch.

This event would not be possible without the tremendous support of the Festival of the Bells Committee, City of Hillsboro, the Hillsboro Police Department, volunteers, businesses and private donors.  

Race Director Molly Bolek would like to say a special thank-you to Karen Bridges, Beth Griffith and Carrie Turner for test running the course time and time again, as well as ensuring everything ran as smooth as possible.  

The following is a list of donors for this event:  

Adena
Alice Christine Photography
Community Markets
Impact Fitness
John R. Jurgensen Company
McCarty and Associates
Ponderosa
Slick Coatings LLC
Sunrise Sunset Childcare
The Bridges Family
Wood’s Collision.

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