Many of the top finishers at the 2023 Lenexa Freedom Run had nearly identical descriptions of the challenging weather that quickly emerged at the start of the 7 a.m race. Scott Sikorski, a Chicago native, and runner at the University of Virginia, took first place in the men’s 10K race, and summed up the atmosphere succinctly.
“Toasty!” Sikorski said.
Sikorksi is here for work as a Garmin summer intern. He was here last summer as well with the Olathe-based company, and was glad to return to the race.
“I love the energy of this crowd and the local races you have here,” Sikorski added. “You have to get used to running (in the heat) in KC, but I love getting up early to run here.”
Shawnee Mission Northwest grad was top women’s 5K finisher
Over 1,500 runners crossed the finish line at the annual race in Old Town Lenexa. Paige Mullen of Shawnee was the top women’s finisher in the 5K field. The 2023 Shawnee Mission Northwest graduate said she had been running the race since she was 10 years old, and was ready for the early morning heat.
“I saw some guys I knew who do cross country at other high schools, like Colby King who just graduated from Aquinas,” Mullen said. “I fell in behind him and kept his pace.”
That pace took her to a finishing time of 18:14 and the first place finish. Mullen, on her way to run for Pittsburg State in the fall, was thrilled to finally grab a first place finish in the annual race, after finishing third last year.
“I’ve never won this race, but I have come close in recent years,” Mullen said. “I’m up every day running at 7 a.m., so I felt ready.”
Six seconds separated finishers in men’s 5K
William Henry of Parkville led the men’s 5K with a time of 15:07. Henry, 27, works at The Running Well Store in Mission, and only ran the race one other time in 2019. He won that year, as well.
“This is one of the best 5K races in the city, especially having it on the 4th,” Henry said. “It’s got to be one of the most competitive races in the area, too.”
Henry Born of Shawnee, took second place in the men’s 5K. The 2023 Shawnee Mission Northwest graduate finished just six seconds behind Henry’s first place finish.
Mill Valley High senior sets personal record
Sarah Anderson of Shawnee also made another strong showing in the event, winning the 17 & under age category in the 10K race for the second straight year. Anderson, a Mill Valley High senior, set a personal record in the 10K with a time of 45:48. Laura Eakin of Leawood won the women’s 10K.
Full race results can be found here.
Ben McCarthy is a contributor to the Post and other publications in the Kansas City area. He can be reached at ben.c.mccarthy@gmail.com with questions, comments and story suggestions.
