On Sep. 14, the Fort Lewis College cross country team and women’s lacrosse team hosted the Tom Strandt Memorial 5k Color Run in support for Natanya Joy Mallin, a former FLC cross country athlete who is currently battling cancer.

The race has been held at FLC for years and this year it is being held as the Color Run, said Mark Dutro, FLC head cross country coach.

“We’re hosting it and inviting community members as well to come run with us and our team,” Dutro said.

Each community participant paid $15 through early registration or $25 on the day of the race. Each FLC non-athletic student paid $10 through early registration or $15 on the day of the event.

The race participants were broken up into six teams by colors; red, blue, yellow, orange, green and purple and given colored headbands to represent their team, he said.

Each participant covered themselves in their designated color by means of paint, clothing, ribbons, and dyes.

“The race starts on the practice football field and loops around campus twice,” he said. “It finishes on the football field track.”

During the race at certain intervals, participants jumped over a rock wall next to the clock tower on campus as well over hay bales and a handmade steeple-like hedgerow, he said.

The top student athlete winners were awarded a free wrap coupon from RGP’s Flame Grilled Wraps, a restaurant in the Durango Mall, he said.

A uniform resembling the cross country team’s uniform was awarded to the top team member who is male or female and from the college or community, he said.

This year, FLC cross country team athlete, Garrett Sapakoff, was the first to pass the finish line, representing the red team.

“It was a really fun race, and probably the only race I will ever win this year,” Sapakoff said.

“I tried my hardest to make it happen and to raise money,” he said.

Sam Kelly, a student participant, was one of the first to pass the finish line representing the purple team.

“It was fun and exciting,” Kelly said.