About 150 runners, reindeer, Santa's elves and even St. Nick himself toed the line in the Stocking Shuffle 5K Saturday at Colorado College. The race was a fund-raiser for the El Pomar Empty Stocking Fund. Josiah Valenzuela, 16, a Mesa Ridge High School student won the race with a time of 16 minutes, 42 seconds. Gerald Romero of Colorado Springs was second in 16:59, followed by Kevin Morgan (18:06) and Nathan McCrary (18:21) and J.T. Teisher (18:30). In the women's race, Lauren Kort captured the top spot in 22:07. She was 12th overall. Katelyn Swiatek was second in 22:20, followed y Amy DeWeerd (23:08), Mollie Lynch (23:22), and Marlene Kort (22:07).
The day belonged to Monument resident Andy Kort, who celebrated his 80th birthday surrounded by family. He was serenaded with impromptu rendition of "Happy Birthday" at the awards ceremony.