Girls on the Run wraps 12th season with Jasper 5K celebration

More than 530 local girls were celebrated at Jasper Middle School as Girls on the Run of Southern Indiana closed its 12th season with a noncompetitive 5K that turned months of lessons into a public finish line. Organizers said the Saturday morning event drew 299 participants, running buddies, volunteers and spectators, pushing total turnout to more than 800 in Jasper.

The race was never only about miles. Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based positive youth development program for girls in grades 3-5, and the council says each season ends with a celebratory 5K and a commemorative medal for every participant. Volunteer coaches guide girls through research-based lessons that blend movement with emotional growth, including managing feelings and building confidence. “This event is the heartbeat of what Girls on the Run is all about,” Jonna Breitwieser said.

In Dubois County, the program has had staying power. The Jasper Chamber of Commerce says Girls on the Run serving Dubois County held its first season in 2015 and has served 190 girls throughout the Dubois County area. The Jasper event is one of two regional celebratory 5Ks, alongside Evansville, showing that the county program is part of a broader southwest Indiana network.

The 5K also welcomed registered public runners, extending the celebration beyond the girls enrolled in the program. The council says free parking and handicap parking were available, and participants were asked to arrive at least 30 minutes early.

Local support has helped keep the event grounded in familiar places. Jasper Middle School and Harrison High School have provided facilities, and local businesses have contributed race-day donations. That mix of schools, families, volunteers and sponsors has helped turn the 5K into a visible measure of what 12 seasons of coaching and encouragement have meant for girls across Dubois County.