Nearly 200 runners ranging in age from 1 (in strollers) to 70 took part in Saturday’s 13th annual Niles Harvest Hustle 5K, including a team of 30 runners from Nelson School, with proceeds benefiting Niles Family Services.
Niles Park District Executive Director Tom Elenz said the day was “gorgeous” and dry with temperatures in the mid-60s at race time. Elenz said 230 runners registered for the event and 198 took part.
Mauricio Vega, 19, of Waukegan posted the top time of 17 minutes, 32.3 seconds. He was followed by two youths, Lucca Dazzo, 12, of Niles, the top youth, with a time of 19:47, and Jake Schmidt, 13, of Chicago, with a time of 21:17.9. The top female finisher was Rebecca Beveridge, 45, of Niles with a time of 22:58.9.
Elenz said the amount that will be donated from the park district to family services was still being calculated Monday morning. The 2025 event raised $5,300 from registrations, plus an SUV full of donated food items.
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