Cameron youth wins Evergreen 5K

A Cameron youth won the 45th Evergreen 5K run to help kickoff the Saturday Flambeau-Rama events on Aug. 3.

Jerricho Wood, 13, of Cameron, was the first to cross the 5K finish line on South Fifth Street with a time of 18:45, according to Tortoise and Hare Race Management, the professional timing service. The time put Wood in first place for his age group but also for the entire field of 106 runners.

Wood runs for his school’s cross country team and lost count of his 5K events after 50. It was in his mindset to run well and place first but nothing is like the realization.

“I was a little disappointed in my time,” Wood said after the race, noting it was a warm and sunny day.

Meaghan Koski, 28, of River Falls, placed second overall and first for the women with a time of 19:06. She was trying to catch Wood but he really turned it on at the finish, she said.

Koski, who ran cross country in Park Falls and went on to a successful cross country college career at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, is now the head men’s and women’s cross country coach at UW-River Falls.

“It was really warm,” Koski said of the running conditions.

The Evergreen is always a fun run and to be home with family over the weekend for Flambeau-Rama is what it’s all about.

This is a banner year for the Evergreen, according to race manager Chris Sharp. There were 106 registered runners, compared to 102 in 2023, and 70 in 2022.

“We’re getting there,” Sharp said. “I’m very happy that I had such a good turnout and thankful for everyone to be here and the weather is great and sponsors are very, very much appreciated.”

There were some route changes this year because of the construction at the former city hall building to convert it into the new YMCA.

“We’ve actually used the route that we’re using today, so it shouldn’t be anything new for anyone really,” Sharp said.

The race start moved from the front of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church on South Fifth Avenue to the backside of the church and rectory on Sixth Avenue.

Rev. Shaji Joseph Pazhukkathara, pastor of St. Anthony, said the Evergreen 5K is filled with families with members who have returned home to visit during Flambeau-Rama, which is what makes this run so special. There is a larger crowd of runners and supporters this year and for the church make it’s garage and grounds available for pre-and-post race warm up and cool-down is a nice way to support, he said.

“I used to run every year, but this year I didn’t get the time to practice, so I didn’t want to push too much,” Pazhukkathara said. “I have run lots of them.”

Gunnar Makomarek, 18, performed an instrumental version of the national anthem before the race start. He said that guitar is a hobby but that it was fun and an honor to play prior to the event.

Medals were awarded to the first three male and female finishers in each class.