Six days before Christmas, elves will be chased in Orland Park.
At the Sept. 21 Village of Orland Park Board meeting, the board approved a permit application to allow the Illinois Prep Top Timing organization to run its second Catch the Elf 5K and 10K runs, at 9 a.m. Dec. 16 at Centennial Park in Orland Park.
According to the application, “Each race will feature an elf receiving a 90-second heed start, with prizes for participants who finish ahead of the elf.”
The chip-timed event will include age-group awards, long-sleeve shirts, a kids race, an appearance by Santa Claus and a secret Santa exchange for those who want to participate.
Proceeds from the races will go to the Toy Box Children’s Charity and Orland Park-based non-profit organization that collects toys for children in need that supports other charities. Palos Heights’ Running For Kicks store is sponsoring the event.
Organizers are estimating 150-200 runners will take part in the races.
The first Catch the Elf event took place in Markham last year. Noah Luke of Tinley Park, 19, won the 5K race with a time of 15 minutes, 56 seconds and Park Ridge’s James Weissensel, 31, won the 10K in 34:42.4.
Downers Grove’s Brynn Bartkus, 14, was the top women’s finisher in the 5K with a 20:12.8 while Lockport’s Samantha Jagman, 34, took the 10K in 47:05.7.
Local runners did well in the two inaugural races.
Palos Heights’ Eammon Boyle won the male 20-24 division in the 5K with a 21:25.4. Evergreen Park’s Greg Nowicki won the male 70-over group with a 59:16.0. Brookfield’s Janelly Rodriguez won the female 35-39 group with a 25:37.4 and Lilliana Rodriguez won the 40-44 group with a 30:09.8.
In the 10K race, Hickory Hills’ Gerardo Torres won the male 20-25 category with a 52:19.3 and Palos Park’s Tom Harty won the 55-59 division with a 1:02:09.5.
LaGrange Park’s Eileen Skisak won the 65-69 female group with a 57:10.1.
