The 43rd Clinton Community College B-rrry Scurry 4-Mile Run enjoyed a warm day for the annual event. The 550 runners and walkers took to the course at Noon for the event that raises funds for the Paul B. Sharar Foundation B-rrry Scurry scholarship program. Runners and walkers ranged in age from almost 3 to 85. All were happy Mother Nature gave a reprieve from the recent polar vortex and sub-zero temps.
Winner of the men’s division was Devin Allbaugh of Bettendorf, Iowa with a time of 19:25. Alllbaugh set the course record in 2023 in a time of 19:18. Winner of the female division was Kelsey Allbaugh of Bettendorf, Iowa in a time of 23:22. Olivia Dietzel holds the women’s record with a time of 23:08 set in 2022.
The B-rrry Scurry raises funds for scholarships for Clinton Community College students. Since the beginning in 1981, more than 110 students have received B-rrry Scurry Scholarships including the Jim Thyne Memorial B-rrry Scurry Scholarship named in honor of one of the founding race directors. The Jeff Parker Memorial B-rrry Scurry Scholarship was started in 2023 to honor long-time B-rrry Scurry participant and local businessman Jeff Parker. The scholarship is awarded to a student who reflects that same support of people in need as Jeff has during his lifetime.
Twenty area businesses sponsor the race. Visit Clinton Iowa, the tourism of Grow Clinton, hosted Embrace the Winter, a community and fine arts festival held throughout the area. The festival included a Friday evening Glow Stick event, pickleball tournament, Capture the Flag tournament, and art show.
The B-rrry Scurry is a community event with more than 100 volunteers helping with registration, food, door prizes, and manning the course which runs throughout historic neighborhoods of Clinton. The City of Clinton and Clinton Police Department assist to make the race route safe for all participants. Race Director Ann Eisenman commented, “Wow, what a glorious winter day to run! Mother Nature blessed us with a beautiful day, light winds, and dry roads for the 2024 CCC B-rrry Scurry. CCC students benefit from the generosity of sponsors, the City of Clinton and Clinton Police, dozens of dedicated volunteers, and the hundreds of enthusiastic B-rrry Scurry runners and walkers who make this race one of the best in the Midwest. Today was a perfect day for a winter run!”
The B-rrry Scurry record for coldest temperature was set in 1996, when the mercury dipped to 15 degrees below zero, with wind chill at 55 degrees F below zero.
In addition to the age-group awards, B-rrry Scurry also hosts a B-rrry Challenge to all businesses and organizations. The winners are determined by the number of people the respective organization has entered in the race. Winner of the Large Group award was the Eastern Iowa Community Colleges. The Small Group Challenge winner was the Riverfront Running Gang.
The Mississippi River Challenge offers participants of three Clinton races – the CCC B-rrry Scurry 4-Mile Run, the Pam Pray Memorial 4-Mile Run(April 7), and one of the three Clinton Half Marathon Races(September 8) - the beautiful Mississippi River Challenge medal, a large commemorative medal sponsored by Coldwell Bankers Howes & Jefferies Realtors and Hy-Vee. There is no fee to participate, however only the runners and walkers that complete all three races will earn the medal. This challenge is a great incentive for people to demonstrate their commitment to improved health. All three races will benefit from this partnership.
Results for the B-rrry Scurry are available online. Visit the Clinton Community College B-rrry Scurry Facebook page for photos and more information.