Thanks to Comcast and the UT Graduate Student Senate for hosting another successful Love Your Libraries Fun Run. 177 runners and walkers participated in the Fun Run through the heart of the UT campus on March 5.

This is the third year that Comcast has been the title sponsor for the Fun Run and the 19th year that the Graduate Student Senate has organized the event. Proceeds from Fun Run registrations and gifts from supporting Business Friends will be used to purchase library resources critical to the educational needs of both undergraduate and graduate students. In addition to substantial support from Comcast, cash donations and prizes were provided by the UT Federal Credit Union, UT Bookstore, Miche Bags, Brandons Awards, Runners Market, and Dr. William K. Salmons.

The race was emceed by the Knoxville Track Club with the help of two contenders for Miss Tennessee. Sara Mitchell, Miss Seven Lakes, took up the bullhorn at the starting line to introduce the event, and Marissa Mitchell, Miss University of Tennessee, Knoxville, handed out awards following the race.

Awards and medals were given to top runners, Fastest UT Runners, Best Team (organization with the greatest number of registrants), and team with the Best Costume.

UT’s Haslam Scholars fielded 17 runners, each wearing a homemade orange cape with a Haslam Scholars Program insignia. The Haslam Scholars swept the field! Their group won the 1st Place Overall medals (both male and female), Fastest UT Runner (male and female), and took the Best Team and Best Costume awards. The Scholars turned out before 7 a.m. on a drizzly Saturday morning to support their libraries despite having to dash off to act as hosts to prospective Haslam Scholars. (Guess those capes came in handy!)

Thanks to all our runners, volunteers, and sponsors for making the 19th annual Love Your Libraries Fun Run a successful event!

Pictured, clockwise from top: Miss Tennessee contenders helped host the Fun Run — Sara Mitchell and Marissa Mitchell; top runners Desta Bume and Elizabeth Tiller; Haslam Scholars pose in their capes (photo courtesy of Chelsea Knotts).