Participants of the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run set out in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Participants of the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run set out in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Racers come out ‘for a good cause’

The LeeShore Center provides services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault

An annual run put on by the LeeShore Center made its return Saturday through blustering winds. The 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run, formerly the Kenai Run for Women, drew 59 participants Saturday morning for either a 5-kilometer or 10-kilometer run to benefit the mission of the center — combating domestic violence in the local community.

The LeeShore Center provides services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. It has operated on the central Kenai Peninsula since 1985.

The first to finish was Shari BeDunnah, who completed the 5K at 25 minutes and 27 seconds.

“It was great,” she said after the race. “I had headwind at the beginning and tailwind at the end, which is the way I prefer it.”

BeDunnah said she hadn’t participated in the run since a second-place finish in 2017.

Only six seconds behind BeDunnah was Susan Craig at 25:33 for a second-place finish. The top three were rounded out three minutes later by Dannette Petersen at 28:32.

Historically, the race was open to women of all ages and boys under 18. With the change in name came the opening of the race to men. Only three men participated in the 5K, Kevin Babitt, who cleared the finish chute at 28:48, Alan Thye at 31:15, and Eric Parsons at 38:15.

The longer 10K race saw its first place women’s finisher at 56:27, regular participant Viorica Thompson. Second to finish was Denise Lutton at 1:03:07, followed by Tamara Hibberd at 1:07:37.

For the men’s 10K, Mark Barbee posted the fastest time, at 47:02. He was followed by Nathan Hibberd at 50:00 and Jim White at 51:33.

While strong winds kept up throughout the race, the rain held off until the final participants entered the chute. BeDunnah said it was worth braving the elements to support the mission of the race.

“I came out for a good cause and in fellowship with our community,” BeDunnah said.

For more information about The LeeShore Center, visit facebook.com/TheLeeShoreCenter or leeshoreak.org.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.

34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run

Women’s 5K

1. Shari BeDunnah, 25 minutes and 27 seconds; 2. Susan Craig, 25:33; 3. Dannette Petersen, 28:32; 4. Rachel Boehmler, 28:59; 5. Stephanie Macias, 29:13; 6. Mollie Messick, 29:18; 7. Renee Helie, 30:17; 8. Miranda Rich, 32:01; 9. Meghan Thibodeau, 32:21; 10. Didi Peters, 32:22; 11. Erica Nichols, 32:29; 12. Allison Tiefenthaler, 33:23; 13. Cecilia Borries-Strigle, 33:39; 14. Amanda Ritchie, 34:04; 15. Sarah Pribbenow, 35:41; 16. Mary Chapman, 36:44; 17. Terri Cowart, 36:55; 18. Kaci Tauriainen, 37:07; 19. Margaret Gilman, 37:09; 20. Laurie Booth, 37:31; 21. Amy Antommaria, 38:16; 22. Amanda Mayner, 40:51; 23. Vanessa Perry, 43:30; 24. Patricia Montgomery, 46:00; 25. Kerri Leavitt, 46:59; 26. Addison Rose, 47:46; 27. Chantelle Carter, 47:46; 28. Peggy Leonard, 48:15; 29. Yvonne Oren, 49:01; 30. Yvette Tappana, 51:28; 31. Alyssa Wood, 52:58; 32. Therese Frothingham, 53:00; 33. Barbara Allen, 53:03; 34. Nancy Hukka, 53:07; 35. Jennifer Tollackson, 55:05; 36. Glenna Strongheart, 55:34; 37. Cecelia Strongheart, 55:59; 38. Susan Smalley, 58:21; 39. Michele Vasquez, 58:22; 40. Jane Marshall, 58:23; 41. Paula Standefer, 58:23; 42. Mary Cates, 59:58; 43. Mary Starrs Armstrong, one hour and 0 minutes; 44. Patricia Reilly, 1:04:58; 45. Ann Strongheart, 1:05:08; 46. Savanna Strongheart, 1:05:09; 47. Kelly Reilly, 1:06:01; 48. Kathy Bush, 1:06:02; 49. Cindy Todd, 1:21:43

Men’s 5K

1. Kevin Babitt, 28:48; 2. Alan Thye, 31:15; 3. Eric Parsons, 38:15

Women’s 10K

1. Viorica Thompson, 56:27; 2. Denise Lutton, 1:03:07; 3. Tamara Hibberd, 1:07:37; 4. Morgan Goss, 1:20:30

Men’s 10K

1. Mark Barbee, 47:03; 2. Nathan Hibberd, 50:00; 3. Jim White, 51:33

Shari BeDunnah, first place finisher for the Women’s 5K, races towards the finish chute of the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Shari BeDunnah, first place finisher for the Women’s 5K, races towards the finish chute of the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Stephanie Macias races toward the finish chute of the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Stephanie Macias races toward the finish chute of the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Renee Helie races towards the finish chute of the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Renee Helie races towards the finish chute of the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Mollie Messick receives flowers from her child after finishing the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Mollie Messick receives flowers from her child after finishing the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Miranda Rich races toward the finish chute of the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Miranda Rich races toward the finish chute of the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Meghan Thibodeau and Didi Peters race to the finish chute of the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Meghan Thibodeau and Didi Peters race to the finish chute of the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Amanda Mayner pushes a stroller while racing toward the finish chute of the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Amanda Mayner pushes a stroller while racing toward the finish chute of the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A participant, joined by children, races to the finish chute of the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A participant, joined by children, races to the finish chute of the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Mark Barbee, first place finisher for the Men’s 10K, races towards the finish chute of the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Mark Barbee, first place finisher for the Men’s 10K, races towards the finish chute of the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Jim White races toward the finish chute of the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Jim White races toward the finish chute of the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Viorica Thompson, first place finisher for the Women’s 10K, races toward the finish chute of the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Viorica Thompson, first place finisher for the Women’s 10K, races toward the finish chute of the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Cindy Todd, right, walks to the finish line of the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Cindy Todd, right, walks to the finish line of the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Participants of the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run set out in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Participants of the 34th Annual Kenai Peninsula Violence Free Community Run set out in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

More in Sports

Kenai Central's Gabe Joanis beats the tag of Homer's Henry Wedvik on Friday, April 25, 2025, at the Kenai Little League fields in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Friday baseball: Kenai tops Homer; SoHi beats Colony

The Kenai Central baseball team defeated Homer 12-8 on Friday in nonconference… Continue reading

TEASE
Friday: Kenai goes 2-0, SoHi goes 1-0 at Rally in the Valley

Kenai went 2-0, Soldotna went 1-0 and Homer went 0-2 at the… Continue reading

tease
Friday: Kenai, Wasilla girls; Wasilla, Ketchikan boys advance to tourney finals

The Kenai Central and Wasilla girls, and Ketchikan and Wasilla boys, advanced… Continue reading

tease
Thursday: Kenai, SoHi, Homer softball get seasons rolling at Rally in the Valley

Soldotna went 0-2-1, Homer went 0-2 and Kenai went 1-1 on Thursday… Continue reading

tease
Thursday soccer: Kenai, SoHi girls, boys reach tourney semifinals

The Kenai Central, Grace Christian, Wasilla and Soldotna girls advanced to the… Continue reading

tease
Thursday baseball: Soldotna topples West Valley

The Soldotna baseball team defeated West Valley 4-1 on Thursday at the… Continue reading

tease
Wednesday: Soldotna baseball loses to Service

The Service baseball team defeated Soldotna 15-7 in six innings at the… Continue reading

Kenai Central's Zane James and Ketchikan's Conor Pearson battle for the ball Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at Ed Hollier Field at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Wednesday: Kenai boys, Homer girls top Ketchikan as 2 big tourneys loom on weekend

The Kenai Central boys soccer team defeated Ketchikan 2-1 on Wednesday in… Continue reading

Lee Frey runs to victory in the men's half marathon at the Kenai River Marathon on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Area runners compete in Boston Marathon

Anchorage’s Taylor Deal, a 2012 graduate of Kenai Central, led all Alaska… Continue reading

Most Read