A young participant wearing a turkey hat starts sprinting down the final stretch of the race on Thanksgiving.
Two runners smile and approach the finish line at Cheney High School with their dogs.
A father and son race head-to-head in an all-out sprint to the finish line during the 14th annual Cheney Turkey Trot.
CHENEY – The horn blared on Cheney Fire Department's engine No. 1 at 9 a.m. Thanksgiving, signaling the start of the 14th annual Cheney Turkey Trot.
Nearly 500 area participants ran the course.
Camille Moseley, co-head coach of the Cheney High School cross country team, said she primarily heads the organizational efforts for the Turkey Trot.
She said she was excited they could have an in-person event this year, as last year's event was virtual.
Derek Slaughter is the other cross-country coach at Cheney High School, and helps back the event, as well.
Moseley who has lived in Cheney since 2003 said she got interested in the event because she has always been a runner.
After high school, she ran track at Eastern Washington and has been a coach for 14 years.
The 37-year-old coach said the original event was a fundraiser. But after being part of the Cheney team for 11 years, she feels the event is more of a community service now.
"We have a lot of dedicated return runners," Moseley said. "And it's always fun to see everyone gather in support of the school."
Slaughter said the event also draws runners from surrounding communities.
"This year, we had runners from Cheney, Airway Heights, Davenport, Medical Lake, Liberty and probably other towns and schools," he said. "A lot of people really showed up this year and it is nice to see a certain degree of normalcy return. I am thankful we were able to hold an in-person event with people hugging, high-fiving, and just having a good time together."
Moseley said the event has grown gradually and this year had more than 330 pre-registrations.
More people signed up the day of the race, raising thousands of dollars for the high school and cross-country program.
Michelle Sutton whose family of five lives in Cheney, competed for the fifth consecutive year.
"It's just nice to give back to the community and schools and to be part of the community togetherness that comes with events like the Turkey Trot," said the 38-year-old wife and mother , adding she and her family are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of something that benefits so many others.
David French, 64, and his 56-year-old wife Cynthia Dukich, have been part of the Turkey Trot since it started, Dukich said.
They have participated since their 14-year-old son Cooper Dukich French was a baby, she said, adding they have plans to continue running in the future.
"I really enjoy how this event unites the community and makes people smile, and I am very thankful for the new innovative facilities in the high school," she said.
Her son said he enjoys being in the race because "it's fun how some people dress up for the race and I get to hang out with friends."
Another family of five that participates is the Kennedy family, which hs lived in Cheney for nine years.
Ginger Kennedy, 45, said this year was her first year participating, but her husband Tim Kennedy, Cheney High School athletic director, has run once before with their children.
Ginger Kennedy said the event is a "great way to get involved with the school and community."
The couple said they are thankful for good health and quality time.
And their 12-year-old son, Aiden Kennedy, said he is thankful for the COVID-19 vaccine.
The organizers said they were amazed how many participants showed up.
Matthew O. Stephens can be reached at [email protected].
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