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Residents participate in Beverly-Waterford Bunny Hop

By Evan Bevins 3 min read

BEVERLY - A temperature of 43 degrees right before the start of the 22nd annual Beverly-Waterford Bunny Hop 5K didn't have 11-year-old Karsyn Huck second guessing her decision to participate.

"It was probably colder last year," she said.

Huck joined in the race for the first time last year "just to see what it was like and to get some exercise."

She was one of 276 people to run or walk the course through the Village of Beverly on Saturday, starting and ending at Fort Frye High School.

For the second year in a row, the Fort Frye Athletic Boosters organized the event after taking over from the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 389. It's become the organization's second-biggest fundraiser of the year and remains a community tradition, said boosters President Lindsey Morgenstern.

"We have somebody that comes from Texas ... who is in this weekend to do the Bunny Hop and see their mom," she said.

In addition to putting the proceeds toward its efforts to buy uniforms and equipment and cover fees for athletics at Fort Frye, the boosters make a donation to the Beverly Volunteer Fire Department and Beverly-Waterford Emergency Medical Squad, who have long been supported by the event, Morgenstern said.

Fort Frye senior Phinn Spindler is developing a tradition of his own at the Bunny Hop, winning it as the top male runner for the third year in a row. His time was 17:31.86.

"I think it's a great event," said Spindler, who is a member of the school's cross country and track teams. For the spring track season, Spindler is running 1- and 2-mile races, so the 5K is an opportunity "to see where I'm at in a little bit longer distance."

There was a repeat for the overall female runner as well, with Fort Frye junior Cadence Waller edging out track and cross country teammates Camryn Huck and Laine Spindler, Phinn's sister, by about two-tenths of a second. The girls said they're more supportive of each other than competitive.

"We all want to do well, and we want each other to do well," Laine Spindler said.

Waller said they run the course once or twice a week in practice.

"It's a good workout," she said of Saturday's 5K. "And we get to be out with the community."

Elizabeth resident Roger Patterson was participating in the Beverly race for the first time. A foot injury limited him to just two races in 2023, and he's already matched that number this year.

"I'm going to try to do all I can," he said. "That was a pretty good time - under 27 (minutes) - for an old guy."

After the 5K wrapped up, there were children's races on the grass and pavement in front of the school as part of the River City Runners & Walkers Club Kids race series.

Participants of all ages also had the chance to get their picture taken with the Easter Bunny before and after, as the event is always scheduled for the Saturday before Easter.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevinsnewsandsentinel.com.

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