Runners and walkers of all ages celebrate the 25th Annual Leprechaun Lope to benefit Our Lady of Lourdes School

Intermountain Catholic

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Costumes are welcome at the Leprechaun Lope. IC photo/Christine Young

SALT LAKE CITY — A mother and daughter from Winona, Minn., placed first in the women’s 10K and 5K races, respectively, in the Our Lady of Lourdes 25th Annual Leprechaun Lope celebration on March 15.

Leprechauns, young and mature, were spotted in all directions at the starting line on the southeast corner of the State Capitol building as more than 1,000 runners and walkers gathered, some with strollers and dogs dressed in green.

Bagpiper John Loveland enhanced the spirit of the Saint Patrick’s Day celebration with Irish folk tunes.

Megan Ping won the women’s 10K with a time of 42:43, while her 10-year-old daughter Grace Ping won the women’s 5K in 21:13. The Pings were in town staying at their Park City home.

Grace Ping didn’t mind the cold, windy weather. "It’s a lot colder in Minnesota," she said.

Karie Underwood placed second in the women’s 10K with a time of 44:02. Lisa Poppleton was second in the women’s 5K with 31:42.

Robert Crosby from Portland, Ore., won the men’s 5K in 16:42; Robert Finicum was second in the 5K at 16:59. Crosby was in Salt Lake City visiting his girlfriend’s relatives; the event has become a tradition for him and his girlfriend’s family, he said.

In the men’s 10K, Dakota Cobler placed first with a time of 36:08 and John Serna was second at 37:31.

In the Lope wheelchair event, Jonny Cooper traveled the route in 30:26, Justina Carruthers in 39:33 and Steve Carruthers in 40:20.

The participants withstood the cold wind to race from the Capitol building through Memory Grove to the finish line, which has become a tradition of the Leprechaun Lope for many years.

Some were running for the first time. Shantel Edwards, Jadie Stirling and Carli Christensen, Our Lady of Lourdes eighth-graders, thought it would be fun to race for the first time, they said.

Others, such as Erin Morrison Rodgers, have been running in the Lope for many years. Rodgers, a 2003 Judge Memorial Catholic High School graduate, has participated since she was 10 and remembers the first couple of races when it followed part of the parade route on State Street. Rodgers started a family tradition last year with her husband, Damon, and two young children, Daniel and Ellie.

The Leprechaun Lope began in 1989 as a way to raise funds for Our Lady of Lourdes School. At the time, Holy Cross Sister Catherine Kamphaus was principal; she is now superintendent of Utah Catholic schools. Mike and Joan Richardson, then members of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, came up with the idea for the Lope.

"Some years the weather is beautiful and sometimes it’s cold or snowing," said Kathleen Leonard, whose three children attended the school; she later served as development director for 10 years. "The race has never been cancelled. It was exciting when we first started because the parade was new and there weren’t many races; it was pretty innovative. We’ve always had sponsors and it’s always been profitable. There have always been T-shirts for participants and snacks and water at the finish line."

Today the funds raised from the Leprechaun Lope are used for scholarship tuition, said Christine Berquist, Our Lady of Lourdes principal. "It has become a fun tradition for the school and is always fun and exciting for the kids; it’s something they can participate in as leprechauns or as runners or walkers," she said. "The leprechauns spread themselves along the course and jump out at various times as participants pass by."

The Leprechaun Lope has become a qualifying race for various marathons, said Berquist.

"It’s fun to have costumed racers and it has become a fun way to start the day before participants attend or participate in the Saint Patrick’s Day parade," she said.