Kayla Run expands memorial road races

By Lisa Paine
Posted Thursday, August 7, 2008

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Erin O’Mara posts fastest women’s time in 10K race

By Lisa Paine
VIEW Sports Editor

GOODRICH — It just seems fitting that Erin O’Mara, 24, was the fastest women’s finisher in the third annual Kayla Run at Goodrich High School last Saturday. The race honors the memory of one of her younger sisters.

O’Mara finished the 10K run, a new race added just this year, in 38:44.40. The overall winner in the 10K was Justin Zanotti of Chesterfield, who posted the fastest finish of 31:30.65. In the original 5K race, Adam Sprangel of Lansing crossed the line in 15:25.95 and Sue Larsen won the 5K for the women for the third consecutive year, posting a time of 17:43.25.

Erin O’Mara also ran in the 5K and finished in sixth place with a time of 19:21.65. Complete race results are available at www.kaylarun.com

Since August 2006, family, friends and complete strangers have lined up the first weekend of August to help the Goodrich community honor Kayla, a vibrant, bright student and runner who was killed in an automobile accident Jan. 24, 2006. The accident severely injured her twin sister Kaitlin and friend Danielle Bila.

The twins blasted onto the Michigan high school running scene as freshmen in 2003. Kayla led the Goodrich cross country team to its first state title after placing second overall in Div. 3. She would go on to help the Martians earn five state titles — three in cross country, two in track.

“Kayla was more than just a great athlete. She was a beautiful, thoughtful, caring person who demonstrated tremendous empathy for others. She inspired others to do their best and had a positive impact on the people she met. She was greatly loved by her family, friends and teammates, and admired and respected by her competitors. Her beautiful smile and her endearing laugh will be missed by all of us who knew her,” reads a statement at KaylaRun.com

Kaitlin and Danielle ran in the 5K race each year, along with former teammates, which include Jenae Jones, Kelsey Krych, Sam Minkler and many others.

Kaitlin finished the race in 21:14 and Danielle posted a time of 25:10.

The group of girls havefashioned their own sports tops with slogans that helped them remember their beloved sister, friend and competitor.

During the high school cross country seasons, Erin was a staunch supporter of Kaitlin as she tried to regain her winning form. She was always at the start to give Kaitlin a kiss on the forehead and encouraged her from various stages during the race, especially when she became frustrated with her times in the early stages of her recovery.

This year, the Kayla Run expanded to include a 10K race that served as the Road Runner’s Club of America’s Michigan 10K State Championship race. All proceeds from both races go toward the Kayla O’Mara Memorial Scholarship Fund, which has awarded $14,500 in money to Michigan student-athletes in Kayla’s memory.

In 2006, four scholarships were awarded, with Kayla’s teammate Sam Minkler winning one. Kelly Wilson of Ortonville-Brandon, Kyle Smith of Lake Fenton and Kaitlyn Carbary of Fenton were presented with the other three.

In 2007, because of generous support from sponsors, a dozen scholarships were awarded, including one each to Danielle and another teammate and close friend, Kelsey Meyers. The 2008 recipients will include Jesse Anderson of Fenton, Dan Coulter of Lapeer West, Grant Overcashier of Goodrich and Kayla Petrach of Davison.