The 19th annual Marion Village 5K saw 275 runners race on the cool but humid Saturday morning.

For Joanie Peterson, this year’s 5K was not only her first time at the event, but also her first 5K race. Peterson just took up running in May. When asked what her goals for the race were she replied, “Finishing! And I hope I feel good.”

Some participants were new to this specific race, but not to running 5K courses.

Meredith Reynolds took to the Village route for the first time this year while her running partner, Megan Giblin, has done it multiple times. The two ran cross country at Tabor Academy, but said they weren’t looking to win. Both said that their goal was “just to have fun.”

Friends Ashlyn Mello and Courtney Pelletier set out for their first Village 5K with the specific goal to beat their previous 5K times. The two were modest about their experience levels, joking that, “We run as fast as the fastest walker!”

But amid all of the new faces, there were still familiar ones to be found. One of the more well-known competitors was Andrew Sukeforth of Middleboro. For the fifth year in a row, Sukeforth took home the top prize. This year, he finished with a total time of 16:01, averaging a 5:10 mile.

Twenty-year-old Tim Bolick of Marion was Sukeforth’s closest competition. Bolick claimed second with 17:07.

Devyn Pryor of Providence, Rhode Island was the first female to cross the finish line, ending fourth overall in 18:33.

Rochester's Adam Sylvia took home the title for the high school age group in 18:54.

Meg Hughes, also of Rochester, topped the youth category with a time of 19:18, earning her 10th overall. Hughes and friend Rachael Fantoni have run both the Village 5K and other 5K races in the past.

Prize money was awarded to the top three men and women in each category and gift certificates were given to the top 10 men and women finishers in each. The remaining proceeds from this race benefit Marion’s youth recreation programs.