EDMOND—One hundred and four seniors, singles, adults, children and families gathered in front of the Swans in Flight sculpture at Armstrong Auditorium on the 25th anniversary of the Philadelphia Church of God, December 7, for the third annual Swans in Flight 5K.

Participants stretched, jogged on the spot and chattered together in the crisp afternoon air as the final few trickled onto the travertine marble surrounding the sculpture. After a solo performance of the National Anthem by teen Zechariah Henderson, event coordinator Steven Hercus fired the starter gun, and attendees burst over the line. Fifty-seven males and 47 females ran, jogged, walked, rollerbladed or pushed strollers past the Barbara Flurry Memorial Hall and several student dorms. The final kilometer carried participants behind Armstrong Auditorium and past the newly constructed waterfall, toward the entrance, and back around to the finish line where they started—at the Swans in Flight sculpture.

“It was great to see entire families out there participating,” Hercus said. “To still have 104 turn up while a lot of regulars were away was awesome. It was also fantastic to see a good number from out of town participating.”

AC freshman Kieren Underwood set a new course record for the men, completing the run with a time of 18 minutes and 36 seconds, beating the previous record by 38 seconds. Junior Erica Irwin broke her own record of 23 minutes and 11 seconds from last year, setting the ladies a new course record of 21 minutes and 45 seconds.