Some 3,000 participants in the 11th YWCA Race Against Racism crowded the 200 block of East Chestnut Street and the 200 block of North Lime Street, near Musser Park, Saturday morning.
The swiftest runners were ahead of the throng, at the starting line on East Chestnut Street. They bounced on their feet, shook their arms and legs, and paced to stay loose.
African women sang energetic melodies in their native tongue from a CD over a loudspeaker.
Then, silence.
"Runners, set!" shouted the announcer.
Pop! The starting gun fired and the front-line feet sprinted forward in the 5-kilometer race.
Spectators snapped photos and waved with enthusiasm from behind yellow caution tape.
"Good luck!" they shouted to family and strangers alike.
Those making the trek were black, white, Asian and Arab. They were young and old and middle-aged. They were from Lancaster, Ethiopia and places in between.
These varied participants shared common goals: to finish the 5K event, raise money for YWCA of Lancaster's anti-racism programs and celebrate diversity.
"I just wanted to do it for the fun and to beat my time from last year," said Connor Foose, 14, of Manheim Township.
The Manheim Township Middle School eighth-grader finished in 22 minutes, 30 seconds, besting last year's time by three minutes.
Karim El Mabchour, 26, of Morocco, crossed the finish line in 14 minutes, 32 seconds, winning the men's first-place prize of $500.
El Mabchour, who traveled from his North African nation to compete and visit friends, has been running for nine years.
"I have a goal to become a competitive runner," he said.
Demesse Tefera, of Ethiopia, placed second in the men's division, finishing in 14 minutes, 35 seconds.
Hirut Mandefro, 23, of Ethiopia, took first place in the women's division, finishing the 5K in 16 minutes, 37 seconds.
Muluye Gurma, of Ethiopia, was the second-place women's finisher, coming in at 17:42.
In the local men's division, Corey Martin, of Lancaster, placed first at 16 minutes, 34 seconds. Nicholas Morsetis, of Lititz, came in second at 16 minutes, 42 seconds.
Not all participants were runners. Some strolled far behind the leaders in a sunny 60 degrees as they talked with spouses, pushed babies in strollers, or listened to iPods.
Crystal Mills, 35, of Lancaster, organized a team of 26 walkers and runners representing Susquehanna Bank, where she is community relations manager.
Mills is also a member of the board of directors of the YWCA.
"Susquehanna Bank's involvement is twofold," she said. "Susquehanna is really deeply committed to the community and this is also team building; a way to get out and exercise and enjoy the day and the city."
The bank was one of several corporate sponsors of the race.
Sponsorship was down this year, said Angie Lightfoot Roth, YWCA finance director and an organizer of the event.
Participation rose, however. Last year, there were about 2,900. Lightfoot Roth said Saturday's race exceeded that by several hundred, although she did not have an exact tally as of Saturday.
She expects Saturday's event will net about $40,000, down $10,000 from last year's race.
The money pays for YWCA's racial justice programs. These are anti-bias programs for the workplace and for children and youth.
"We also do a lot of customized training; so, if an organization has a particular problem, we can organize something for them," Lightfoot Roth said.
For the second year, the event included Humanity Fest in Musser Park, with international food, crafts, and music.
Diana Bieber Locke, 36, of Lancaster, an attorney, pushed her daughter, Tessa, 4, in a stroller as she ran with the team from the Gibbel, Kraybill & Hess law firm.
"It seems like a great cause," she said before the race. "It feels like a real community event."
Race results by finish time Race results by category
Jeannette Scott is a Sunday News staff writer. Contact her at jscott@lnpnews.com or at 291-8689. 
