2021 Parks and Rec Color Fun Run

Malta Parks and Rec held their fourth annual (not counting last years' absence due to you know what) Color Fun Run on Saturday, June 5, starting with a 5K run at 9:00 a.m. followed by a mile run at 10:00 a.m. The run serves as a yearly fundraiser for the City of Malta Parks and Recreation Department.

This year the route started at Riverview Park, went back on the M-trail, out by the City Shop, across the hi-way and Short Oil Road, down to the skate park, back onto Central Avenue to go across the bridge to the Hi-Line Market and down 8th Street to the finish line behind the high school.

Malta Parks and Rec had water and bananas for the racers when they finished the events, and free temporary tattoos for the runners to get before or after the run.

Malta Parks and Rec director Sally Wright said, "This is my first year running this event. We didn't have many notes to go off of, but I think we are doing good."

Malta area businesses that signed up were in charge of the booths around the course spraying the runners with the different colors. The Bank of Malta(Red), Phillips County Hospital(Blue), Malta Life Guards(Green), and Independence Bank(Orange). Each business could decorate its booth and be in a contest for the favorite booth voted on by the runners.

This years' winning booth was Phillips County Hospital with their Aloha Hawaiian theme. They get a winning booth certificate and a $50 gift certificate to Stretches Pizza.

The 5K event had 16 runners in it. It was won by Shyan Krass of Hogeland, MT. Krass was followed by Fallon Hadley of Malta in second place. There was a tie for third between Carly Hammond and Bobbie Knudsen, both from Malta.

After the race, Krass said, "The run was really fun! It was my first one, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but my friends and I really enjoyed it. Everyone was so nice, and it was run very smooth."

When asked what her favorite booth was, Krass replied, "I really liked the booth that gave us the leis! They were so nice and thoughtful."

Krass is a graduate of Turner and will be attending MSU Northern, in Havre, on a basketball scholarship and plans to study agriculture business.

The mile run had 25 participants in it and was won by Lane Spencer. Second place went to Cameron Spencer, and in third place was Kenzie LaBrie.

At the end of the race, Lane Spencer said, "That was fun! I didn't want to run that hard, but I wasn't going to let Cameron beat me!"