Hundreds participate in Palmerton turkey trot
Runners depart from the starting line Thursday during the sixth annual Bo Tkach Foundation Turkey Trot in Palmerton. See a video at tnonline.com. JARRAD HEDES/TIMES NEWS
Nathan Reimer, a Parkland High School senior, crossed the finish line as the first male Thursday in a time of 17:59 during the Bo Tkach Foundation Turkey Trot. Pictured with Reimer are Sandy and Jim Tkach. JARRAD HEDES/TIMES NEWS
Cera Gaston, a Lehighton Area High School graduate, finished as the top female Thursday during the sixth annual Bo Tkach Foundation Turkey Trot in Palmerton in a time of 20:32. It is Gaston’s third first-place finish in the event. Pictured with Gaston are Sandy and Jim Tkach. JARRAD HEDES/TIMES NEWS
A Parkland High School senior and a Lehighton Area High School graduate took the top overall prizes Thursday during the sixth annual Bo Tkach Foundation Turkey Trot in Palmerton.
Over 700 runners and walkers participated in the event, which starts and ends in the Palmerton Borough park. The event got underway at 9 a.m. on Third Street and wound its way left down Franklin Avenue and turned north up to Columbia Avenue, where it headed all the way east, before heading back on Lafayette Avenue to the park.
Nathan Reimer crossed the finish line first at 17:59, taking home top honors for the males. The Parkland senior said it was the first time he had participated in the event.
“It went really well,” Reimer said after the race. “It was cool to come out. This is the first time I’m doing it. It was a really good race for a really good cause.”
Lehighton graduate Cera Gaston set the pace for females with a time of 20:32. It’s the fourth time Gaston has participated in the race and the third time she’s topped the female competition.
“It’s great to start Thanksgiving this way with my family,” Gaston said. “I love the organization. Being from Lehighton, this touches close to home. Growing up around here, you always hear about Bo and how much he touched people’s lives. I also go to Dedicated Fitness and it hits home there as well.”
Gaston is now a junior at Messiah College and excelling in multiple sports.
“I’m doing cross-country, and indoor and outdoor track,” Gaston said. “I’m having a great time.”
Proceeds from this race/walk benefit the Bo Tkach Foundation providing mental health counseling funding, scholarships and educational presentations on suicide prevention, OCD and depression.
Since its inception in 2008, the foundation has invested over $319,360 in local communities, according to 2018 data.
Though it was Reimer’s first time entering the event, the 18-year-old expects he may return in the future.
“The scenery was great running through Palmerton,” he said. “It was also my first time doing a road race, so it was great to get that experience.”
Pretzel City Sports out of Reading was in charge of the timing. Full results can be checked out on its website at www.pretzelcitysports.com.
