Cross Country helps some great causes at Sacramento Santa Run

Lauren Silva finished 1st in her age group and 5th overall of 150 female runners, and Thomas Drangsholt finished 3rd in his age group and with Goody Walowit right behind him for 4th.

The 5K Race started at the State Capitol and finished at the Sacramento Downtown Plaza. The race benefited The Sacramento Sherrif's Toy Project that provides gifts, bicycles, computers, clothing and food boxes for more than 7,500 families during the Holiday Seasons.

In addition to an annual holiday toy and food giveaway, the Sheriff's Toy Project helps fund the Santa Claus Project where Sheriff's Deputies distribute stockings and gifts each Christmas Eve to the homeless and to children in area hospitals undergoing chemotherapy or suffering from other illnesses.

Other charities that benefited from the race included Liberty Learning Academy, a non-profit independent educational support and tutoring center serving Placer and Nevada counties, and Ainsley's Angels of America which aims to build awareness about America's special needs community through inclusion in all aspects of life.

Drangsholt and Walowit finished 21st and 22nd respectively among 120 male runners. Mathieu Zamora and Men's Soccer's Carson Alexander finished in the top 50 in the men's group as well coming in 41st and 42nd respectively overall.

Cross Country alumni Sabrina Brown finished 36th of the 150 women running in the race, with Jessica Suarez and Women's Soccer's Nathalie Calderon each finishing in the upper half of the women's category as well.

"We had a ton of fun," said Cross Country Head Coach Jeff Ward who also participated in the race. "We got milk and cookies at the finish line, and there were hundreds of Santa Clauses, elves, reindeer, and even a few Grinches running. We're looking forward to next year!"

For more information about the Sacramento Santa Run visit http://sacramentosantarun.com/event-info/