EcoThon at the Wilds Draws Over 800; Winners Announced

By Toni Kellar

Over 800 runners and walkers participated in the 11^th Annual EcoThon at the Wilds April 26.

Although clouds looked dark at times, mild weather graced the event that features a cross-country course across rolling grasslands with sweeping views along lakes, woodlands and wetlands.

The annual 10K/5K trail run and 5K trail walk event serves as an important fundraiser for the Wilds.

Custom stoneware awards made by Hartstone Pottery, featuring the commemorative 2008 EcoThon logo, were awarded to the following top finishers (from first to third place in each category, with race times in brackets):

10K Run, Overall Males: Ryan Wilson, 23, Cambridge [36:15]; Juston Wickham, 32, Cambridge [41:54]; Joe Clark, 50, Zanesville [42:01].

10K Run, Overall Females: Brianna Elsmore, 29, Columbus [46:38]; Carrie Smith, 30, The Plains [47:54]; Kelly Gregg, 30, New Albany [50:13].

5K Run, Overall Males: Jeff Williams, 44, Zanesville [18:11], Josh Beynon, 22, Cambridge [18:45], Alan Fitzer, 14, Zanesville [19:20].

5K Run, Overall Females: Molly Coleman, 25, New Concord [22:43]; Sylvia Magis, 29, Cambridge [23:23]; Aimie Bross, 30, Gahanna [23:35].

Complete race results are available at www.thewilds.org.

This year’s EcoThon presenting sponsor is AEP/American Electric Power. Other sponsors include: Platinum sponsors ESPN 100.9, Ohio State Park Resorts, and WHIZ Media Group; Gold sponsors Peoples Bank and Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. of Zanesville; Silver sponsors Baldwin Construction Company, Co-Alliance, the Daily & Sunday Jeffersonian, Genesis Lifestyle & Fitness Center, Jo-Ad Foods, Linn Engineering, Stonewall, Times Recorder, and Wallace Fencing; and Bronze sponsors AVC Communications, Colgate-Palmolive, Great Harvest Bread Co., Southside Cycling, and Wal-Mart North Zanesville.

Proceeds from this year’s EcoThon, with the theme of “It’s Doggone Wild!” will help support the important conservation work for African wild dogs, perhaps the most endangered carnivore in Africa due to habitat loss, persecution, and infectious disease. The Wilds is able to offer critical support for the African wild dog Species Survival Plan (SSP) through scientific study and breeding research at its new Mid-Sized Carnivore Conservation Center.

The Wilds opens for the season May 3, and will be open for Safari Transport tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in May, September, and October, and seven days a week in June, July and August. Sunset Safaris, summer conservation camps for youth, and weekend family camps are also available this season.

The mission of the Wilds, an independent, nonprofit organization, is to advance conservation through science, education, and personal experience. For more information, visit www.thewilds.org, or call 740-638-5030.