On a normal Saturday morning Northeast Community College is usually quiet. But on April 26, 2014 there was a zombie outbreak all over the campus. These zombies were no ordinary zombies; they were running, chasing non-infected people. 64 people and one dog ran in the Zombie 5k (3.18 miles) and of those 64 runners, 15 were zombies. The Northeast Student Government Association (SGA) organized the event in order to raise money for a scholarship. According to Josi Bradfield of Beemer, a member of SGA and one of the organizers of the event, they started planning at the beginning of the year. Bradfield also stated that the course was designed to promote the campus.
The course was laid out over much of the Northeast Community College campus in Norfolk. Runners said it was challenging and fun. The race began at 10 a.m. by the Cox Activity Center; it finished in the same place at 10:59 a.m. Two flags were attached to each non-zombie runner and these flags represented the runners’ lives. The human runners were given a 90 second head start ahead of the zombies. The zombies’ goal was to capture as many lives as they could.
Prizes were awarded to the first male and female runner who crossed the finish line, and the zombie with the most captured flags or lives. Every runner received a black or red sweatband. Black was given to the zombies and the runners that lost both their lives. Red was given to the runners who crossed the finish line with one or both of their lives. Todd Henggeler of Columbus, first place male runner said it was, “A very crazy but fun course, lots of twists and turns. Perfect weather for a run.” Misty Appeldorn of Norfolk, first place female winner, gave up her flags. She laughed, “I didn’t try to get away from them, I just ran. She was like half my age, she got close so I gave her my flags!” Zombie winner Nick Korth of Norfolk, collected 20 flags and said most of the runners gave him a challenge. “Usually around the middle and towards the beginning it got a little trickier, I had to put in a little more energy. They ran off to the side or held their flag and some ran off course a bit just so I wouldn’t get them.”
SGA raised over $1600 from the entry fees. The entry fee was $25 for the early bird special, or $35 up to the day of the event. This event was open to the public.
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