Santa run draws nearly 600 to join the fun

As participants at the 5K on Saturday waited for the official start, they all burst into song.

Dressed in five-piece Santa suits, they sang, "Jingle Bells," naturally, and followed up with a collective, "Ho, ho, ho!"

It was all part of the fun at the Santa Sleigh 5K Run, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Arlington Heights, that drew nearly 600 participants its first year out, and that left Rotarians simply astounded.

"We're ecstatic," said Bill Kmiecik of Arlington Heights, race director. "We had no idea what to expect."

A Fremd High School sophomore, Andy Mack of Rolling Meadows, crossed the finish line first. He finished the 5K - in the snow - with a time of 18:12, while his cross country teammate Matt Smaga of Palatine came in second, with a time of 18:34.

Charles Perkins, the director of planning and community development for the village of Arlington Heights, placed third, with a time of 18:38.

On the women's side, the former St. Viator High School girls' cross country coach, Kristen Jordan, paced the field, with a time of 19:54, followed by Bethany Moe of Chicago, with a 21:12, and Mary Bradbury of Mount Prospect, with a 23:03.

"This was such a fun time," said Mack. "I said 'Ho, ho, ho,' to everyone I passed."

The Santas came in all shapes and sizes, from as young as 5-year-old Seth Herdkamp of Arlington Heights, to as old as Charles Coleman of Bartlett, who is 80.

They included cross country runners from Prospect, St. Viator and Fremd high schools, as well as more than 20 students from Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, who completed it as a gym assignment.

Local dignitaries taking part included Arlington Heights Village Trustee Tom Hayes, and Arlington Heights Park District Commissioner, Rob Smith, and Arlington Heights Memorial Library staff members.

"This is going to be fun," quipped Smith as he lined up.

Organizers said they were looking for a signature event to help with Rotary Club International's efforts to eradicate polio worldwide, as well as raise money for the second phase of Memorial Park, which is designed to honor veterans in Arlington Heights.

Rotary members called it a "jolly success," both in terms of participants, and in terms of proceeds. They wound up raising nearly $15,000, to be split evenly by the charities.