Nearly 300 people turned out Sunday morning for the first 5K run and 1-mile walk to honor the Bel Air High lacrosse coach who died earlier this year.
The race at Harford Community College, which organizers said they plan to hold annually, benefits the Scoop Kelly Memorial Foundation, through which scholarship will be awarded to a Bel Air High School student.
John "Scoop" Kelly II, who died just a few days before his 41st birthday, was a teacher and coach at Bel Air, and many of his former players and students ran Sunday's race.
Mr. Kelly's family was happy with the turnout.
"The turnout has been really great, amost 300," John Kelly, Mr. Kelly's father, said. "It says to us he affected a lot of people's lives, and in a good way that they were willing to come out and do all this work."
"It's amazing how many people are here today to honor Scoop. Thank you so very much," Mr. Kelly's mother, Marby, said. "There's a whole lot of support for Scoop, tremendous support."
Kelly said many friends and family members, as well as Mr. Kelly's lacrosse coach at Mary Washington College, were there Sunday.
Forty-three players from Community College of Baltimore - Essex ran, as did players on Bel Air High's team.
Race organizer Rhonda Utz said she had hoped for 200 for the first run, which many people told her was a lot for a first race. So when nearly 300 showed up, she was "beyond excited."
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Utz is a runner, and jer sons played lacross for Mr. Kelly at Bel Air, so she thought a 5K would be a good way to honor his memory.
