Photo by Jared Soares | The Roanoke Times

Nancy Hands (center) embraces Kayle Goad (right) and Mina Wolfe (left) after the trip completed the Appalachian Power Festival Run 5K race. All three represented Roanoke County's Girls on the Run program. The 5K featured more than 60 children aged 13 and under.

The fastest runners weren't the only stars at Saturday morning's Appalachian Power Festival Run in Roanoke.

The 5-kilometer race featured more than 60 entrants 13 years old and under, most of whom have been training as part of newly organized running programs at several Roanoke County elementary schools.

Kirsten Printz beamed as she thought of the progress made by the young runners she has helped through the Oak Grove Elementary Girls on the Run program.

"I'm so thrilled," said Printz, whose 11-year-old daughter, Allison was among the 22 girl runners from the school. "Some of them started out with no interest in running, and some started out with no interest in athletics at all.

"Today, they are all stars."

Some of the youngsters showed signs of real running stardom, too.

Eleven-year-old Katie Fortner completed the 5-kilometer race in a blazing time of 22:12, good enough for fourth overall among all females.

"My mom's been a runner," a grinning Katie said at the finish line.

"And I like to run."

Mom and daughter actually ran the first 2 miles together. Then Shawn Fortner told her daughter she didn't want to hold her back, at which time the lithe fifth grader took off.

A physical education teacher at Back Creek Elementary, Shawn Fortner heads that school's special running program.

"Each time I had a session, the number of kids increased," said Fortner, who won her age group in the 5K.

Overall winners in the 5K were 22-year-old Phil Panebianco of Daleville with a time of a 17:03.1, and 16-year-old Jane Gay of Roanoke at 18:54.8.

Steve Crowder, a 33-year-old from Fincastle, won the 10K in 33:46. The women's winner was 28-year-old Katie Braekken of Roanoke with a time of 40:09.5.

Barry Trent, coordinator of health and physical education for Roanoke County Public Schools, helped launch the elementary school running programs. Schools got their programs going throughout the year.

Oak Grove Elementary already had the Mile Club running program when parents helped launch Girls on the Run, part of an international program that seeks to improve the health and self-esteem of girls through running and other physical fun.

Launched in March, the program attracted 46 fourth- and fifth-grade girls.

"Forty-three stuck with it," Printz said.

Twenty-two ran Saturday morning, all with running buddies so none would be left solo on the course among the 376 runners.

Before and after the race the girls huddled and chanted an exuberant, "Girls on the Run is so much fun!"

The group's leaders said they had been approached by educators from Roanoke City Schools about the Girls on the Run program, and had offered guidance.

"We want to help," said Nancy Hans, who has a daughter in the school's fifth grade.

Getting kids interested is a lot easier than getting adult help, Hans added.

"Believe me," she said, "it's not a kid issue, it's an adult issue."

Parents and school staff have worked together at the participating Roanoke County schools, where the children trained up to twice a week after school.

Although many of the programs were geared toward preparing the kids for the Festival Run, some children already have run in other races, including the Jingle Bell Run in Roanoke in December.

Fortner said her running program attracted a wide variety of kids, including some that had shown little interest in sports during physical education classes.

"When I had them out the first time I was shocked," Fortner said. "They may not be able to hit a ball or shoot a basketball, but this gives them something to do."

Fourth grader Jayden Olsen was one of those who blossomed in the program.

After crossing the line she quickly sought out Fortner and blurted out an excited: "Thirty minutes! Three minutes faster than last time!"

"Great job, Jayden," answered her proud coach.

Jayden, 10, says she plans to keep running.

"It just shows how well I can do some things," she said proudly. "I've gotten over 50 miles.

"Next year I'm going to probably to do 75."

And that personal record in the 5K will probably fall by at least another 3 minutes.

APPALACHIAN POWER FESTIVAL RUN WINNERS

5K race

• Jane Gay
• Phil Panebianco

10K race

• Katie Braekkan
• Steve Crowder