A run for Kayla | Lake Orion Review

When planning a race to honor daughter Kayla, Dennis O’Mara said he was hoping for a turn-out of about 300 people.
The official count for last Saturday’s First Annual Kayla O’Mara Memorial Road Race: 932.
I’m just very grateful for all the people who came,? said O’Mara, ‘whether or not they ran thinking about Kayla.?
The 16 year old track star died last January in the crash that injured her twin sister Kaitlin and friend, Danielle Bila.
Kayla’s older sister Erin, 22, won her division in the race, while brother Jeff, 20, placed second in his division.
First place went to Goodrich resident Nick Oertel, 23, who completed the 5K race in 15 minutes and 30 seconds.
Proceeds from the event benefit the Kayla O’Mara Memorial Scholarship Fund.
When asked what the best part of the race was, O’Mara doesn’t hesistate to answer.
‘I think just seeing all the people.All of the kids who’d competed against my girls in the past’all of the scholarship recipiants were there, that was nice,? said O’Mara.
O’Mara stressed his gratitute to everyone who helped make the race a reality and said their will be another race next year.
‘We’d like to do it the first weekend in every August,? said O’Mara.

A run for Kayla added by Laurel Droz on August 9, 2006
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Goodrich-Eight hundred and ten people hit the pavement for one reason last Saturday.
They wanted to remember Kayla O’Mara.
The Kayla O’Mara Memorial Road Race took place on Aug. 4. The 5K course began on Gale Road, in front of Goodrich High School, stretched down Gale Road and doubled back to end on the GHS track.
The 16-year-old Goodrich High School junior, Kayla, was killed in a car accident on the evening of Jan. 24, 2006. The crash also injured her twin sister Kaitlin and friend, Danielle Bila. Kayla’s legacy, however, lives on, not only in the hearts and minds of those who loved her, but also through a scholarship fund and memorial road race in her name.
Kayla’s family, along with local volunteers, may not have sweat on the course last Saturday, but they were working hard, just the same.
‘We have three goals today: to raise money for the scholarship, to put on a good event, and to remember Kayla,? said Dennis O’Mara, Kayla’s father.
Ryan Neely, Dexter resident, was the first to cross the finish line at 15:42. Two seconds later, Goodrich’s Ben Richards finished in a sprint. Fenton’s Sue Larson was the first woman to cross the line at 17:11.
Runners and walkers continued to power through the finish for another hour. Samantha Minkler, a Goodrich native, ran the race with Kayla close to her heart.
‘Every day I run, I run with Kayla,? said Minkler. ‘Today was just another day to celebrate her life.?
Kayla was kept in mind throughout the day. Her face was printed on the race’s lime green T-shirts, etched into the medals given to the runners after the race, and her name was proudly displayed on a number of home-decorated running tops.
‘Honestly, I think Kayla might be a little embarrassed at this kind of attention,? said Dennis O’Mara, Kayla’s father. ‘But this race helps our family and the community remember her.?
The Kayla O’Mara Memorial Scholarship was given to 12 individuals from across the state during a ceremony after the race. More than $7,500 was awarded.
Neely, the race’s winner, was among the recipients. Awarded alongside him were Fenton’s Alex Ralston and Joe Dimambro, Linden’s Kayla LaDuke, and Goodrich’s Kelsey Meyers and Danielle Bila, who was injured in the same car accident that took Kayla’s life.
‘Through the race and the scholarship, we can sustain Kayla’s legacy,? said Dennis O’Mara. ‘And that’s what’s really important.?

A run for Kayla added by Meredith Mayberry on August 8, 2007
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