Joe Ahlquist|Photographer: running

Today I spent most of my day covering the Nike Heartland Region cross country meet.

It was a pretty good cross country meet.

It was also a pretty huge meet. I'm not really sure how runners were chosen, but people came from Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

I always find big running events a bit chaotic, but I was fortunate enough to ride along on a golf cart, and that made things ten times better.

It still seemed a bit chaotic, but I'm happy with what I came away with.

Here are a few of my favorite images from the meet. Many more can be seen here.

©Joe Ahlquist/Argus Leader

Joe Ahlquist/Argus Leader

©Joe Ahlquist/Argus Leader

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©Joe Ahlquist/Argus Leader

I was going to post some of these photos in the new post below, but I decided that they deserved their own post. So, here you go.

On Saturday morning, June 29, I had the opportunity to cover the Tornado Trot 5K Run/Walk fundraiser event in Reading, Kan.

The event started as a fundraiser to rebuild the town's city park after a tornado devastated the town in 2011, and it's turned into a fundraiser benefiting the whole town.

The event has a "Wizard of Oz" theme to the whole thing, so a number of people were dressed in "Wizard of Oz" costumes.

It was a fun and refreshing morning being outside in the beautiful weather.

Here are some of my favorites from the day.

Thanks for looking.

Joe Ahlquist/Gazette | Dressed as the "wicked witch of the west" Kimberly Smith, of Americus, Kan., waits for the start of the third annual Tornado Trot 5K Run/Walk fundraising event to begin Saturday, June 29, 2013, in Reading, Kan. The Tornado Trot started as a fundraising event to restore Reading City Park, but has grown to include fundraising for restoration projects around the town, explained Nancy Standiferd, co director of the event. All proceeds from the "There's No Place Like Home" themed event go toward Reading community development.

Joe Ahlquist/Gazette | Racers participate in the third annual Tornado Trot 5K Run/Walk fundraising event Saturday, June 29, 2013, in Reading, Kan.

Joe Ahlquist/Gazette | Asher Delmott, of Emporia, Kan., approaches the finish line during the third annual Tornado Trot 5K Run/Walk fundraising event Saturday, June 29, 2013, in Reading, Kan. Delmott went on to finish the race in first place with a time of 16 minutes and 32 seconds.

Joe Ahlquist/Gazette | Corrie Hawthorne, 18, of North Lyon County, Kan., walks off stage after accepting her "bravest lion" award after the third annual Tornado Trot 5K Run/Walk fundraising event Saturday, June 29, 2013, in Reading, Kan.

Joe Ahlquist/Gazette | Racers mingle near the starting line prior to the running of the third annual Tornado Trot 5K Run/Walk fundraising event Saturday, June 29, 2013, in Reading, Kan.

Joe Ahlquist/Gazette | Racers participate in the third annual Tornado Trot 5K Run/Walk fundraising event Saturday, June 29, 2013, in Reading, Kan.

Joe Ahlquist/Gazette | Erin Lewis, 16, center left, and Corrie Hawthorne, 18, center right, cheer on race participants during the third annual Tornado Trot 5K Run/Walk fundraising event Saturday, June 29, 2013, in Reading, Kan.

Joe Ahlquist/Gazette | Race participants are handed water by the Reading Girl Scout Troop No. 30255 during the third annual Tornado Trot 5K Run/Walk fundraising event Saturday, June 29, 2013, in Reading, Kan.

Joe Ahlquist/Gazette | Tyler Tilton, of Emporia, Kan., approaches the finish line during the third annual Tornado Trot 5K Run/Walk fundraising event Saturday, June 29, 2013, in Reading, Kan. Tilton placed second during the race with a time of 17 minutes and 50 seconds.

Joe Ahlquist/Gazette | Boglarka Davies, of Reading, Kan., approaches the finish line during the third annual Tornado Trot 5K Run/Walk fundraising event Saturday, June 29, 2013, in Reading, Kan. Davies was the first female finisher in the race with a time of 19 minutes and 21 seconds.

Joe Ahlquist/Gazette | Kimperly Smith, of Americus, Kan., poses for a portrait with her dog Heidi while dressed up in their costumes as the "wicked witch of the west" and a "flying monkey" after Smith ran in the third annual Tornado Trot 5K Run/Walk fundraising event Saturday, June 29, 2013, in Reading, Kan.

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Nike Heartland Region Cross Country Meet (11.10.13)

Tornado Trot 5K Run/Walk

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