St. Mary Parish’s 100 Black men annual 5k Fun Run/Walk

8th August 2011   ·   0 Comments

By Howard J. Castay, Jr.
Contributing Writer

Doing their part to keep Morgan City’s biggest party growing, The 100 Black Men of St. Mary Parish are busy teasing and enticing runners and walkers who sign up early this year, for their annual fun run and walk.

The event, a 5K, is held the Satur­day morning of the Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival. Also, the non-profit community service organization which is comprised solely of African-American men, will celebrate its 14th anniv­ersary this year.

“We’re holding an open call for runners and walkers to register right now, to get a better handle on our event, which thank God, just keeps growing and growing,” said Clarence Robinson Jr., president of the organization.

Proceeds from the 5K, held this year on September 3 at 8 a.m., are used to award scholarships to one graduating senior from each St. Mary Parish High School – West St. Mary, Franklin, Centerville, Patterson, Berwick, Morgan City and Central Catholic.

Robinson said this year the organization will draw one winner from the first 50 registrants, who will receive a $150 gift certificate from Wal-Mart. Then it will draw another winner from the next 50 registrants, who will receive a $150 dinner gift certificate from Loco’s, the Mexican Restaurant located in Cypress Bayou Casino. “We’ll have another prize for the third set of 50 registrants, and so on,” he said.

Running and walking for scholarships amidst Morgan City’s biggest party has generated nearly $65,000 in scholarships since the first pair of tennis shoes left the starting line at the corner of Front and Everett Streets, near Morgan City Hall in the historic district.

This year’s first place male and female winner will each receive $250 in cash. Trophies and medals will be awarded to the top male and female finishers in each the following age categories: 13 and under, 14-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54 and 55 and over.

“We enjoy blessing our youth, and look forward to continuing this tradition,” said the Rev. Donald Grimm, another member of the organization.

In 2009, the 100 Black Men added the name of an avid 70-year-old runner to the race, to honor his health goals and pursuits. The official race name is now the Marcus Jones 100 Black Men of St. Mary, 5K Fun Run/Walk.

“I appreciate everything that everyone has been doing with this race in the past, as well as in the present,” Jones said. “I did not think at this time of my life I would get this type of prestige. I have been running for 40-plus years now, and it’s a blessing. And best of all is that I still don’t have any aches and pains.”

Runners and walkers can download an application at www.kbze .com/2011.html, the website of KBZE 105.9FM, the host radio station for the event.

Late Registration begins at 7 a.m. in front of Morgan City Hall, located on the corner of First and Everett Streets. Also, credit card registration is available by calling (985) 312-2154.

Butch Metz, another member of the group, said he measures everyone’s participation not by “how fast they walk, but by their commitment to help send a history maker of tomorrow, to college.”

“We encourage men and women of all ages and races to participate, and to bring their children,” he said. “In fact, many dads and moms run the entire course while pushing their infant’s stroller. It’s great fun for the whole family.”

For more information about the event, persons may call Robinson at (985) 255-9775.

For more information on the 100 Black Men of St. Mary, including an application to join the organization, visit www.100black­men­stmary.org.

This article was originally published in the August 8, 2011 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper