The University of Indianapolis kicked off the Homecoming morning with the inaugural Hound Hustle 5K, a 3.1 mile race that brought in an abundance of participants ranging from UIndy employees, alumni, students and Indianapolis community members, on Oct. 25.
David Nelson was the first overall male with a time of 18:43, while Tyler Barker (19:29) took second overall. Coming in third was Austin Elliot at 20:51. On the women’s side, Heather Gioscio ran a time of 22:56 to finish first overall female, and in second was Andrea Frazier running 26:05. Third overall female recipient was Shelby Hale with a time of 26:27.
Overall winners received gift certificates sponsored by the running store BlueMile, a specialty retail shop that offers wide varieties of apparel and accessories for runners and walkers. Door prizes were also given away to participants that stuck around after the event.
The course was structured to showcase the newer points on campus, encompassing locations such as Roberts Hall, the Athletic Recreation Center and the future site of the upcoming UIndy Health Pavilion.
“The course went around and behind campus, and it really showed how nice and beautiful the campus is,” freshman psychology major and Hound Hustle participant Hannah Patton said.
Associate professor of chemistry and department chair Katherine Stickney was the organizer of the event.
“I had the idea last year [2013] at Homecoming,” Stickney said. “I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be fun to have a 5K at the University of Indianapolis for homecoming?’ So I proposed it to the [Homecoming] committee, and they gave me the green light to go ahead.”
Stickney, an avid runner herself, said that she was inspired by her past 5K experiences, and she wanted to localize her passion. She also stated that her dream is to run a 5K in every state, and she has already accomplished this in 41 of them.
“I love to run, and I love to run local 5Ks,” Stickney commented. “I just think that running 5Ks is a good way to promote a healthy lifestyle, and they can be really good family events, too.”
Stickney said she wanted this race to be a small race, but she also wanted it to breach big amenities. For example, volunteers lined the course with water stations and first-aid assistance, and each building was adorned with signage describing each building that was highlighted throughout the course.
Administrative Assistant Lisa Battiato co-coordinated the event.
“We [Stickney and I] wanted to benefit our students, which we both have a passion for, by the funding going to scholarships and programs,” she said.
The registration fees aided in scholarship costs, and upon registration participants were allowed to choose which department they wanted their fee to go to.
“If they [participants] didn’t pick a department at all,” Stickney said, “it [registration money] just goes to our general scholarship fund.”
Stickney also added that she thinks the people of the community came to support because the proceeds did go to student scholarships.
Stickney and Battiato were both in agreement that they want to make Hound Hustle an annual Homecoming tradition.
“The race put me in the mood for Homecoming. All of the people here made the event very energetic,” Patton added.
Stickney and Battiato would both like to thank a multitude of people for their involvement with the event, including the Athletic Training Student Club, the Alumni House, DJ Brandon Gulley, the Admissions Office and all the volunteers.
