Rafael Macias of The Current

by Amy Lombardo
staff editor

A gathering of UM-St. Louis students and faculty was spotted making a run for it on Tuesday. They weren't trying to avoid classes, however. Instead, they were joining in the annual Campus Fun Run.

The race, which takes place every fall, has been a tradition for many years. It gives both dedicated athletes and energetic amateurs a chance to strut their stuff on campus.

Although the latter part of the day was drenched in rain, the early afternoon was clear and dry. This semester the turn-out was a little low, but the overall feeling was still positive. The group of 10 met at the Mark Twain Building at 12:30 p.m. and chose between a 3-mile or 1.5-mile course. The run is designed mostly for enjoyment purposes, but it still has a bit of a competitive edge.

Al Carson, a graduate student working on his master's degree in education, has run in the event for the past four years. This time he won "best student" in the 3-mile category.

"It was a blast," Carson said. "In years past we've had more participants, but it's always a fun time."

John Antognoli, senior lecturer in mathematics and computer science, got 'best male' in the 1.5-mile category.

"It was a really great day," Antognoli said. "I'm not a runner, but I'm having a runner's high!"

Mai Ly, a UM-St. Louis student, took 'best female' in the 1.5-mile. In the 3-mile run, the faculty winners included Connie Jeffries, department specialist in continuing education, as 'best female' and Robert Marquis, associate professor in biology, as 'best male.' T-shirts were awarded to the victors.

Crossing the finish line is not just about beating the other participants. It's about an individual doing his or her personal best.

"You run for yourself. You just try to push yourself and do a little better each time," Carson says.