SUBMITTED By TARA MCCOY
CHEROKEE CHOICES
A total of 119 walkers and runners came out to support the Turkey Strut 5K on Saturday, Nov. 23 that was hosted by Cherokee Choices. The participant numbers from each community were as follows: Birdtown 15, Wolftown 15, Yellowhill 13, Big Cove 6, Big Y 6, Painttown 5 and Visitors 59. There were 81 runners and 31 walkers.
Female 9-12 Division winners: Dale Joseph (3rd), Kilyne Oocumma (2nd) and Aiyanna West (1st) (Photos courtesy of Tara McCoy/Cherokee Choices)
“Cherokee Choices would like to thank the following people, EBCI tribal programs, and local Cherokee business owners for helping with the annual November 5K to benefit the Cherokee Children’s Home: Granny’s Kitchen, Peter’s Pancake, EBCI Executive Office, CIPD, EMS, Transit, Facility Management, Recreation Department, Health & Medical, Robin Swayney, Bessie Swayney, Tia Panther, Alverta Henson, Beth Bradley, Tiff Reed, Wilbur Paul, Gerri Grady, Sean Grady, Marlene Arch, and Tonya Carroll,” said Cherokee Choices officials.
Female 5-8 Division winners: Rayan Harris (3rd), Danica Hill (2nd) and Sylar Watkins (1st)
“The Turkey Strut would not have been the success that it was without the generous donations and volunteers.”
The top three overall winners won a turkey, a pumpkin and canned green beans with the green beans and pumpkin being grown by the Cherokee Choices Healthy Roots youth gardeners and canned by the Tribal Cannery. EBCI Health & Medical donated 15 turkeys for the turkey raffle.
Race Results
Top 3 overall
1 – Shane Swimmer 19:20
2 – Michael Henson 19:22
3 – Joseph Smith 19:26
Female 5-8
1 – Sylar Watkins 31:30
2 – Danica Hill 32:02
3 – Rayne Harris 39:56
Male 5-8
1 – Corbin Freeman 42:10
2 – Gideon Freeman 45:06
3 – Abraham Arkansas 46:20
Female 9-12
1 – Aiyanna West 25:42
2 – Kilyne Oocumma 25:47
3 – Dayle Joseph 39:53
Male 9-12
1 – Darius Lambert 19:33
2 – Levi Watkins 25:41
3 – Elias Watkins 25:43
Male 13-15
1– Brennan Foerst 27:24
Female 16-18
1 – Kendra Kirkland 38:08
2 – Netanya Taylor 39:19
3 – Courtney Taylor 43:27
Male 16-18
1 – Gabe Crow 24:09
Female 19-24
1 – Shayne Ledford 24:26
2 – Patience Snyder 24:37
3 – Rayna Davis 43:32
Male 19-24
1 – Jeremy Wilson 22:10
2 – Lucas Watson 28:00
3 – Matthew Tabor 30:05
Female 25-35
1 – Erin Worley 22:15
2 – Ahli-sha Stephens 27:27
3 – Samantha Hernandez 28:46
Male 25-35
1 – Manuel Hernandez 21:08
2 – Seth Holling 21:59
3 – Bo Crowe 25:58
Female 36-45
1 – Deidra Boone 22:27
2 – Arlyss Watkins 31:32
3 – Connie Huntsman 31:35
Male 36-45
1 – Michael Spinn 23:01
2 – Jim Oocumma 31:39
3 – T.W. Saunooke 31:39
Female 46-50
1 – Shirley Brady 31:08
Male 46-50
1 – William Cuprak 26:37
Female 51-60
1 – Donna Cope 26:57
2 – Thelma Bark 32:25
3 – Regina Swimmer 48:49
Male 51-60
1 – Eddie Swimmer 26:48
2 – Percy Cunningham 48:44
Female 60+
1 – Elnora Thompson 44:09
2 – Glenda Jarrett 44:54
