The pounding of more than 170 pairs of feet and a gunshot started the weekend Saturday morning as runners, walkers and people in wheelchairs participated in the 12th annual Homecoming 2.5K Race.

Participants ran the route from Seventh Street and Lincoln Avenue to the Charleston Square and traveled back to Old Main via Sixth Street.

Gaby Duenas-Delaney, a senior art major, crossed the finish line in 9 minutes and 32 seconds, making her the first-place female runner.

Duenas-Delaney said this was the first year she has participated in the race.

“It was just really fun seeing all the people cheering for you because I don’t usually do road races,” Duenas-Delaney said. “It was really fun, all the support and running with people.”

She said she was really excited for the rest of the weekend, and she thought the race helped.

“There is a lot of spirit, and you see a lot of blue,” Duenas-Delaney said. “The parade is right after so everything makes you really excited.”

Reid Basting, a 2012 alumni, took first place in the race with a time of 7 minutes and 56 seconds.

Basting said he came back to have a friendly competition with some of his former track team members.

This is the first year he has came in first.

“That last couple of years I finished fourth or third, somewhere around there,” Basting said. “It was nice to win one. It was nice to go out there and get the W.”

Basting said he usually runs 25 to 40 miles a week, and that is how he was prepared for the race.

“I wouldn’t say I was training for it, just trying to stay in shape,” Basting said.

Michael Mulvaney, a recreation administration professor, said it was a great start to the weekend.

“It highlights the environment and excitement,” Mulvaney said.

Mulvaney said the race is good for both the community and students.

“That alone gets them out here—gets them engaged with the community—and you get a diverse mix, so both have a reason to come down to campus,” Mulvaney said.

He said the students who run the program get to work with the community as well.

“It really connects the students with the community because the core of the program is to get our students involved in the integrated learning experience,” Mulvaney said.

Charleston resident Amber Huston said she participated for the health benefits and the fact that she likes running.

“I think they should always have something like that,” Huston said. “It’s good for students and community members to get involved.”

Some participants ran in groups, like members of Epsilon Sigma Alpha.

Bethany Haywood, a sophomore secondary education major, said ESA decided to participate as a group.

“It’s a good support group, running the race with you,” Haywood said. “It’s fund to do it together.”

She said the race helped her get ready for the game.

“It’s a good way to get your day started before the game,” Haywood said.

Charleston resident Lynne Oliver ran the race with her two daughters, Aftyn, 8, and Brooklynne, 12.

She said both of her daughters finished the race before her.

“Brooklynne took Aftyn and went ahead, helped pace her,” Oliver said.

Oliver said this is the second year they have participated in the race, and it has become a tradition for them.

Aftyn said she was excited because after the race she was going to watch the game with a friend and go to the parade.

“There is nothing like running a race, eating apples and then getting candy,” Lynne said.

Samantha McDaniel can be reached at 581-2812 or slmcdaniel@eiu.edu.