The first three medal winning men crossed the finish line within three seconds of each other in the annual "Race Against Racism" five kilometer race in Bethlehem April 27.

The race, sponsored by the YWCA, was held to raise money for the Young Women's Christian Association's Racial Justice Program, according to Corrina Passaro, the association's director of development.

David Mariner of Shavertown, Luzerne County, led the field to earn the first-place medal. He completed the 3.1-mile course in 21:29.

Right on Mariner's heels was Edmund Ogutu from Palmerton, finishing in 21:30 for second place. Ogutu, 57, originally from Kenya, said he had just recovered from abdominal surgery.

Sixteen-year old Bethlehem Catholic High School student John Spirk was the third man across the finish line in 21:31. He said he runs the 800-meter and hurdles in track. Spirk is the son of Bethlehem City Solicitor Jack Spirk.

Stephanie Jones of Catasauqua crossed the finish line only a minute behind the men to take first for the women in 22:34.

Lehigh Valley Health Network Health Systems' Dr. Lynsey Biondi followed Jones across the line at Adler Place and Highland Avenue with a time of 23:14. Biondi's family was there supporting her. Her husband, Craig, and daughter Lula, 3, seemed thrilled with mom's success. Her son Jubal, 10 months, slept through the whole thing.

DeSales University student and William Allen High School graduate Rouba Daher-Mansour placed third, running 25:59.

Maria Spirk, 18, John's sister and fellow Bethlehem Catholic High School student, also ran the race.

People participated for many reasons, but many had definite ideas about racism and supported the YWCA's program to reduce racism in America.

"It's definitely irritating that racism still exists," said runner Spirk. "It needs to be put to an end but it has a long way to go."

Ogutu said he supports the YWCA and shares the organization's values.

Taylor Lutz, a volunteer at the race, said she is involved in the Coalition Against Racism which she said is a program of the YWCA.

"There absolutely is racism everywhere," said Lutz. "This gets people to actually think about racism. We have events, and dialogues with people from different walks of life and discuss how they have experienced racism and how to make it better."

"Racism is an issue we still deal with today in many ways," said Bethlehem Township's Shelley Speirs, an avid runner and new member of the YWCA's board of directors.

Daher-Mansour said she "loves the cause – it's a good cause."

Abby Gassler, an 11-year old student at Nitschmann Middle School in Bethlehem, said she was there "because I wanted to know if I could run three miles." She was accompanied by her father Thomas Gassler Jr. who ran with his daughter.

"The Race Against Racism appealed to me," said Biondi, whose adopted children are African-Americans from Alabama. "We are a mixed race family."

Kayla Sherry from Lehighton said she ran, "to support the charity."

Alexander Ardle, 15, a student at Northampton Area High School said he ran "to get in shape for football.

"I don't like racism," said Ardle. "There's a lot of it still around here. This race is really good."