Update On Children And Toddler Pancake Races; International Race Has 11

As of 5 p.m. Feb. 3, the following Pancake Day race categories are full:
three-year-old boys, five-year-old boys, six-year-old girls, seven-year-old girls, eight-year-old girls, and nine-year-old girls.

Eleven women are now signed up for the Feb. 21 International Pancake Day Race. The latest entrants are Patty Ruttledge, 44, who has competed before; and Heather Olmstead, 25, a first-time racer. Race sign-ups for all ages continue through Feb. 10, but each race is limited to 15 runners.
Other International Race entrants are Saira Ugarte, 19; veteran racer Tessy Barnett, 38, who will be competing for the ninth time; Sonya Holman, 26; and Kristen Manning, 26. Ugarte, Holman and Manning are first-time racers. Also racing will be Amanda Schwab, 49; and her four daughters: Johnette, 22; Kendra, 18; Whitney Hampton, 25; and Nique Brown, 29. Amanda and Whitney have each raced once before; the other Schwab women are first-time runners.
The Men ’ s Pacer Race has five entries so far: John Vaught, 35; Tyson McGuire, 27; Alejandro Avila, 20; Anselmo Borunda, 23; and Sheldon White, 28. The Women ’ s Last Chance Race has one entrant, Jetta Headrick.

Sign-ups will continue at the Liberal Recreation Center, 1109 W. 7th St. (in Blue Bonnet Park) during regular business hours, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. -5 p.m. through Feb. 10. These sign-ups are for all races and all age groups, except for the Feb. 18 Pancake Chase.
The number of entrants allowed in each race is limited to 15, and a category will be closed once that limit is reached. There is no entry fee. No early or late sign-ups will be accepted.

Youth Races
This category is for teens ages 14-18 who live in Liberal. The youth division will feature at least two races, one for men and one for women. The number of racers who sign up will determine how many age categories the racers will be grouped into. The youth division race is a 75-yard dash and will be held immediately after the children’s races conclude. Pancake Day organizers would like to encourage high school students to enter, since USD 480 is closed in honor of Pancake Day. Winners will receive medals only and no monetary prizes, so high school athletes can enter without losing eligibility. Any entrant under 18 must have a parent or guardian present to sign the entry form.

Children’s Races
Children from ages 3-13 who live in Liberal are eligible, and each age and gender competes in a separate category, offering lots of room for Liberal’s youngest Pancake Day Racers. The child’s parent or guardian must be present to sign the entry form.

All sign-ups will be at the Liberal Recreation Center, 1109 W. 7th St. (in Blue Bonnet Park). For more information on any race, call Ronna Stump at 620-626-0133 or JoAnn Combs at 620-624-6423.