COLUMBIA, Tenn. — A total of 216 runners and walkers participated in the 2021 Mule Kick 5K & 1-Mile Trot at Riverwalk Park on Saturday, October 23, raising approximately $29,000 for the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation thanks to contributions from racers and local sponsors.
Proceeds from the annual event hosted by the Foundation and presented by Reliant Bank will go toward maintaining Maury Regional Health’s mobile medical unit, which the Foundation purchased in 2017 and serves at-risk and uninsured patients throughout the region by providing important health care screenings and services, including COVID-19 vaccination. Proceeds from the race will also support the Foundation’s Wellness and Aquatic Center Healthy Living Endowment, the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department and the physical education program at Spring Hill Elementary School, the school in Maury County with the most race participants.
“It was such a delight to see so many people at Saturday’s race after a year of cancelled events,” said Foundation Executive Director Joe Kilgore. “I am very grateful for the patience and participation of all the runners, volunteers and sponsors.”
Aiden Mueller had the fastest run of the day in the 5K, winning first place overall with a time of 17:49, while Katy Atkinson won first place overall for the women with a time of 22:56. In the master category, Rudy Mendoza won for the men with a time of 21:40 and Lisa Mueller won for the women with a time of 25:48. Terry Long and Charlotte Young brought home wins in the super grand master category with their respective times of 34:46 and 48:36.
The top three female finishers of the 1-Mile Trot included Kynzley Dunning, Sutton McBroom and Kara Stedman, while the top three male finishers were Austin Evans, Hamilton White and Owen Slaughter.
A full overview of all the winners from the male and female age group categories is available at MuleKick5K.com, where all 5K racers can also view their individual times and download their finisher certificates. Photos from the 2021 event will soon be available at Facebook.com/MuleKick5K.
Sponsors for the 2021 Mule Kick 5K & 1-Mile Trot included Reliant Bank as the presenting sponsor and champion sponsors Maury Regional Health, A-1 Concrete Leveling & Foundation Repair, Farm Bureau Health Plans and Winning Moves. The finish line sponsor was Roberts Toyota, with Brown & Maguire serving as the hydration sponsor. Trainer sponsors included Columbia Power & Water Systems, Faded Farmhouse, Lee Company, Maury County Visitors Bureau, Maury Regional Medical Group, Mid-Tennessee Bone & Joint Clinic and Stan McNabb of Columbia. Patron sponsors included Ascend Federal Credit Union, Beck Dental Care, Columbia Pediatrics, DB’s, Duck River Electric Corporation, Ford Lincoln of Columbia, Greg Lemon, CPA, PLLC, Jones & Lang, KFC, Listerhill Credit Union, Lucas Orthodontic Group, McEwen Group, Middle Tennessee Juvenile Detention Center, MuleTown Rec, Pinewood Springs, Preventia, Redman-Davis Insurance, Smelter, Sonic, Southern Exposure, Southern Radiology Associates, Tenn Pin Alley and Vanderbilt Center for Women’s Health.
To learn more about the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation or to make a gift to the mobile medical unit, visit MauryRegional.com/Foundation. For information about sponsoring the 2022 Mule Kick 5K & 1-Mile Trot, email MRHFoundation@MauryRegional.com or call 931.380.4075.