Lincoln-Way West High School student John Stiglic topped the annual Trinity Triumph 5K on Thursday, June 22.
Stiglic, who serves as a member of his school’s cross country team, covered the 3.1-mile course in a time of 17:56, finishing nearly three minutes ahead of second place.
“It felt good [to win the race,]” the New Lenox resident said. “It was really hilly. [It’s] a windy day, but it still felt good.”
People of all ages took to the streets around the Village Commons to participate in the race that benefits Trinity Services.
“[I] love running this race because [I’m] running for a great cause,” Stiglic said.
The race provides an opportunity for Trinity Services to raise money to support programming and services for people with disabilities or mental illnesses.
“When we decided to come up with the name, Trinity Triumph, we wanted to make it be about the triumphs of the people we serve, the triumphs of the people in the community that they’re celebrating, and make it more about community and a spirit of community,” said Sherry Ladislas, director of development for Trinity Services. “We wanted to help get the word out there that Trinity Services provides a wide array of supports for people with disabilities and mental illnesses, and we also have a family counseling center for people in the general public who might need some additional counseling or support.
“[The goal is] to let the folks know what we have out there is available for them and to just bring a nice, big party atmosphere to the community, because they’ve been so kind and generous to us.”
Participants enjoyed a live DJ, pre-race warmups and an awards ceremony honoring top runners.
“We have people that come every year, and what’s interesting is we get people from all different states,” Ladislas said. “People hear about it on Facebook, and they have friends that are visiting or they have people who come from out of town and they come. So, it’s a wide variety of people.”
Typically, an estimated 160 to 200 people run in the race.
Sara Boss, also of New Lenox, crossed the finish line as the first female to complete the race.
“It felt good, I guess,” she said. “It was a hard race. There was a strong wind for half of it. It was good.”
Boss said she’s glad she decided to run in the Trinity Triumph 5K.
“[It] was just for fun,” she said. “I haven’t run a race in a while [or] like competed in a while.”
Boss said having a chance to run in a race that supports Trinity Services is a bonus.
“We live in New Lenox, and we love Trinity Services,” she said.
Josh Feigl, of Frankfort, dashed to the finish line alongside his 9-year-old daughter, Ellie.
“It was great we were able to encourage each other along the way,” Josh said. “When [I] was tired, she encouraged me and vice versa.”
This year was their first time participating in the Trinity Triumph 5K.
“It was a little challenging,” Josh said. “The wind was really blowing on the way out, which made it challenging, but it was a great race.”
Ellie said her favorite part of the race was “pushing yourself to do the best you can.”
Josh said it’s great to know he and his family were able to run in this year’s race to support Trinity Services.
“I think they’re a great organization,” he said. “They do amazing work in the community with those that are disabled and have physical challenges. It’s just a great organization.”
The need for organizations, like Trinity Services, continues to be great, Ladislas said.
“I see it everyday, I see it in the people we serve, I see it when I walk down the hallway,” Ladislas said. “Somebody who used to be very agitated and is no longer agitated because they have an iPad in their hands because our staff taught them how to use it to communicate. So, yes, absolutely, it’s something that people benefit from everyday.”
Ladislas said any support they can get is welcomed.
“Unfortunately, the [state] funding is not so great,” she said. “We appreciate everyone’s support and our sponsors and the Village Hall. People have been so wonderful in getting us the support we need.”
To cap off the race, medals were awarded to first- through third-place finishers in each age category for male and female, in addition to the overall top male and female finishers.