More than 500 people participated in the Edmonds Public Schools Foundation’s second annual Street Strut held earlier this month in Edmonds and honoring Vic Bennett, a former teacher and cross country coach at Lynnwood High School.

The Edmonds Public Schools Foundation distributes money equally to all of the schools within the Edmonds School District serving Brier, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace and Woodway. The nonprofit organization was founded more than 26 years ago by then-Edmonds School District Superintendent Hal Reasby to fund the budget gap between federal and state money for public schools.

The Foundation puts on the Street Strut to raise awareness and support classrooms and to encourage staff, students and families to be healthy, be fit and exercise in support of public education.  It also serves as a way to unite all of the district’s schools in support of public education. “The children of our district are our future community; an educated community is a stronger and more involved community,” said Foundation President Debbie Bodal.

Vic Bennett was honored at this year’s event for his more than 40 years of service to the Edmonds School District. Bennett was a life-long runner and helped coach the cross country and track teams at Lynnwood High School. He ran almost daily up until the time that cancer cut his life short last November. “What better way to celebrate Vic’s life, then to run in his honor,” said his longtime friend Mike Shouse.

Participants took in the sights of the Puget Sound as they “strutted” the streets of Edmonds. Volunteers providing moral support and entertainment along the route included the Edmonds-Woodway High School Drill Team, Mountlake Terrace and Lynnwood high schools robotics team, and the high school cheer squads from Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace and Edmonds-Woodway.

After participants crossed the finish line, they visited the many vendors passing out free ice cream from Umpqua Bank, bananas from Costco, water from Walgreens and massages from the Health and Wellness Center as they waited for the awards ceremony to take place. Cash prizes were awarded to the top four schools with the most participation, and the traveling trophy will go to the school that places first. Donations can still be made by visiting www.edmondspsf.org.

The winner of the coveted traveling trophy, a golden running shoe and a $350 check, was Edmonds’ Maplewood K-8 School with 128 participants. Second place, a check for $250, went to Lynnwood High School with 63 participants. Third place, $100, went to Madrona K-8 School with 42 participants, while the $50 fourth place prize was awarded to Terrace Park with 37 participants. Ribbons were awarded to individually-placed winners in various age categories.

The Edmonds Public Schools Foundation would like to thank sponsors Running in Motion, Swedish Edmonds and Orthodontics Exclusively. Special thanks to the Hamilton Family and Lynnwood High School teacher Catherine Smith and Principal Dave Golden for their support.

Street Strut Results 2010

Female Overall Winners
Place      Name                              Age Cat          Time

1st          Kim Sauther                        32                  18:57.0
2nd        Megan Alfi                           15                   21:24.9
3rd         Kelly Schwarting               45                   22:50.7

Girls

1st          Reilley Schindler               9U                   29.27.2
2nd        Sheri Setzer                        9U                   29:54.2
3rd         Isabel Ong                          9U                   30:19.1

1st           Amaelia Ball                   10-14                 24:09.7
2nd         Sophia Nelson               10-14                  24:14.8
3rd          Hailey Kettel                  10-14                 24:43.6

1st           Megan Alfi                      15-18                  21:24.9
2nd         Shannon Davis              15-18                  26:11.6
3rd          Zamzam Hufane           15-18                  26:11.8

1st            Colleen Bryant             19-29                  24.03.5
2nd          Krista Hubbard            19-29                 25:29.9
3rd           Kristina Bodal              19-29                 25:31.5

1st             Kim Sauther                30-39                 18:57.0
2nd           Julie Roark                  30-39                25:36.4
3rd           Hanan Judeh               30-39                25:44.6

1st             Kelly Schwarting        40-49                22:50.7
2nd           Paula Temple              40-49                26:14.9
3rd           Candice Springstead  40-49                26:19.5

1st             Nancy Roma                53                      23:31.2
2nd           Lori Kutrich                 55                     26:06.2
3rd           Susan Sellers                51                      27:42.7

Male Overall Winners

1st              Jack Griffing               16                     17:18.2
2nd            Quinn Massey             16                     18:09.0
3rd            Alex Ashenbrener       16                     18:43.5

BOYS

1st               Ty Harris                     9U                    23:20.8
2nd             Jaryd Rothaus            9U                    24:29.0
3rd              Dillon Sackett            9U                     31:19.3

1st                Joseph Mutuc             10-14                20:00.8
2nd              Cole Conefrey             10-14                20:01.7
3rd               Elliot Harrison           10-14                21.05.5

1st                 Jack Griffing               15-18               17:18.2
2nd              Quinn Massey              15-18               18:09.0
3rd               Alex Ashenbrener        15-18              18:43.5

1st                Adam Kutrich               19-20               20:23.9
2nd             Mathew Vanni               19-20               21:53.1
3rd              Brandon Bradshaw       19-20               25:09.3

1st                Matt Podawiltz              30-39               23:25.8
2nd             Jeremy Schumacher      30-39              24:15.7
3rd              Paul Samione                  30-39              24:24.4

1st              James Schwarting           40-49               19:31.2
2nd            Spencer Harris                 40-49               22:34.1
3rd            Chris Nelson                     40-49                24:13.0

1st              Earle Oda                           54                     22:31.7
2nd           Gregory Babinski              61                      23:24.7
3rd            Michael Shouse                66                      23:45.4

Mark your calendar for the Foundation’s spring luncheon, March 18 at the new Lynnwood High School from  11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.  Be a table captain and have nine friends join you to learn more about the Foundation and their grant process. To support the grant process for next year, you can register for the lunch, make a donation, join the board (currently looking for 2011 board members) or contact the Edmonds Public Education Foundation by email edmondspsf@edmonds.wednet.edu, by phone at206-431-7260 or by mail: Edmonds PSF, P.O. Box 390, Lynnwood, WA 98046.

(Submitted by Debbie Bodal, Edmonds Public Schools Foundation)