2nd annual Spook Scoot raises funds for Union High cross-country team

ROOSEVELT — More than 100 runners dressed in Halloween costumes came out Saturday to support the Union High cross-country track team's second annual Spook Scoot.

The event was supported not only by local community members and families but by participants who drove from as far away as Layton to be part of the fun.

Money raised from this year's event will go to buy new uniforms and pay for equipment and other team needs.

Some families came dressed with a group theme. A few flew with the birds and others chose the way of the pirates. The family dressed as pirates won the best group costume, and their 3-year-old won the youngest runner award.

Emilee Wells spent about four days working on bird costumes for her girls. Each year her daughter Olivia picks the family's theme. Three of the four Wells were registered for this year’s race.

"We love running," Wells said. "The kids are just following in our footsteps."

John and Heather Wilson's family entered the one-mile race as a way to kick off celebrating Halloween this year. John Wilson and one of his daughters crossed the finish line hand in hand, both wearing big smiles.

"Every year we are up late the night before Halloween getting our costumes taken care of," John Wilson said. "This year we will be prepared because we have already put the costumes together."

Coaches and team members of the cross-country team set up the courses for each of the races, ran the timers and manned the water stations for the 5K and 10K events.

The team plans to hold the event again next year. After the awards ceremony fliers were handed out for the upcoming "Turkey Trot" that will be held in November at the Dinaland Golf Course in Vernal.

Angel McRae is a full-time USU student and mother of five.