First-Year Finishes First

The LECOM 5k Bridge Run/Walk, held on February 8, 2020, highlighted an assortment of events taking place at the Sixth Annual Bradenton Area River Regatta.

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) took pride in again sponsoring the race that emphasizes whole body health and wellness.

About 700 runners traversed the Green Bridge crossing the Manatee River between Bradenton and Palmetto, Florida. Francisco Centeno, a first-year student at the School of Medicine, finished first overall, thrilling his fellow LECOM supporters, family, and friends.

Centeno was joined by a plentiful throng of runners, including LECOM Associate Dean of Pharmacy, Katherine Tromp, PharmD, as they made their way along the circuit.

Participants received race shirts, finishers’ medals, and glow gear, all of which served to enhance the enlivening atmosphere of the day.

Runners were chip-timed, competing for special prizes for the top 100 male and top 100 female finishers. All paces, including walkers, were welcomed at the event and a complimentary meal for the entrants was available after the race.

The first 500 registrants received a complimentary entry pass to the 2020 LECOM Suncoast Classic Golf Tournament held at the Lakewood National Golf Club.

Centeno, the grand prize winner of the 2020 Bradenton Area Regatta LECOM 5K Bridge Run, was invited aboard the Victory Boat, where he launched a festive evening of fireworks. LECOM takes special delight in its support and advancement of healthful community pursuits – a day replete with family fun, a spectacular fireworks display over the river, and a lighthearted after party.

Francisco Centeno, a first-year student at the School of Medicine, finished first overall with a finish time of 17:47:46.