Harold Schott, a professor of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, organized the race alongside Annette O’Connor, the chairperson of the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences and a professor of epidemiology, and the team at MSU’s Veterinary Medical Center.

“To honor her love of running, the race was organized,” Schott said. “Since then, it has become an annual fundraising event on campus.”

With runners paying a fee to participate, the money raised through the event goes toward funding treatment for young animals at the MSU Veterinary Medical Center. The money collected in the Big Babies Fund goes toward helping young horses, goats, alpacas and more get the care they need, Schott said. 

“This year had the largest turnout so far with over 300 participants, and a third of them are students,” Schott said. 

At 9 a.m., the runners eagerly set off in the quad between Akers and Hubbard Hall to run on the course along the Red Cedar River. Some runners were accompanied by their dogs, which were allowed to run alongside them.

Second-year vet student Dani Kiefer said taking part in this event is helpful for advertising and supporting the school. 

“This was the first year that I had heard of it,” Kiefer said. “I wanted to take part in it to help out with the cause.”

For runners like integrated biology graduate research student Devin Lake, this was not their first 5k. Devin Lake’s wife, Madison Lake, watched the race from the sidelines. 

Madison Lake said the couple learned about the event from a flyer. They decided to join to support MSU and the university’s events, Madison Lake said.

“We both graduated from MSU, and Devin works as a graduate student at a research lab here, so we wanted to support the university and this program,” Madison Lake said.

The runners completed the course along the Red Cedar, turning around at the Sparty Statue before the final stretch. 

As spectators eagerly awaited the runners, the first-place winner crossed the finish line in just 16 minutes. Each racer was greeted by a staff member, who rang cowbells to congratulate them and handed out medals based on their placement in the 5K. 

Tom and Carol Gean, who are parents of a first-year student in the veterinary medicine program, were among the cheering spectators. 

“It’s very exciting,” Carol Gean said. “Our daughter has been running since middle school, and it's nice to be tied into something with the school.”