Events
Coach Yantis 5K Turkey Trot
We’re thrilled to invite you, your family, and friends to the Coach Yantis 5K Turkey Trot, a unique event dedicated to celebrating the life and legacy of Coach Brad Yantis. Whether you're a long-time participant or new to the race, this 5K is more than just a run—it’s a chance to give back to the community while honoring Coach Yantis’ legacy and continuing his spirit of generosity. On the Saturday before Thanksgiving, November 23rd, 2024, at 9 AM, join us at the Cunningham Building at MidAmerica Nazarene University for a day that supports student scholarships, local schools, cancer patients, and families in need. Let’s honor Coach Yantis and make a lasting impact together. Sign up now at www.coachyantis5k.com!
Why Participate?
This 5K is a chance to come together as a community to honor Coach Yantis, whose passion for helping others still inspires us today. All funds raised will support:
- MNU Student Scholarship Endowment: Providing opportunities for students to pursue their educational dreams.
- The Olathe Public Schools Foundation Grant: Enhancing Chisholm Trail Middle School with enrichment resources as a new community partner.
- Hope Lodge KC: Providing free accommodations for cancer patients and their caregivers.
- Local Salvation Army outpost: ensuring that those in need have access to essential items during the holiday season.
About Coach Yantis
After a 21-year battle and six encounters with cancer, Bradley Dean Yantis, 59, of Olathe, KS, was ultimately healed, meeting Jesus face-to-face on Saturday, July 18th, 2020. Brad’s life reflected the kindness, compassion, gentleness and love of his Maker. Brad’s family’s prayer is to keep sharing his stories, sense of humor and desire to encounter people as they are, and to celebrate Brad’s genuine passion for the Lord in the years ahead. Brad’s impact in this world is hard to measure, but perhaps the best way to quantify it is in the thousands of young people he impacted over the years through teaching (35+ years in the Olathe School District), coaching (football, basketball, track), driver’s ed (BWB Driving Academy and Behind the Wheel) and youth group mentorship (College Church of the Nazarene).
Do you want to read more about Coach Brad Yantis and the endowment established in his honor? Check out the article from MNU's alumni magazine, The Accent. https://www.mnu.edu/news/article/following-his-lead-family-establishes-endowment-honoring-influential-husband-father
Place
Olathe, KS US 66062
Description
The Coach Yantis 5K Turkey Trot is held the Saturday morning before Thanksgiving in memoriam of Brad Yantis by contributing to his MNU endowment scholarship, The American Cancer Society-Hope Lodge KC and the Olathe Public Schools grants via a local community partner.
Who: All are welcome to join in on the 5K Turkey Trot. Timing chips will be given to all participants.
When: Saturday, November 23rd, 2024 @ 9 a.m.
Where: Cunningham Center at MidAmerica Nazarene University
Check-in, race packet, bib, timing chip and t-shirt pick-up will start at 8 a.m. on race day inside the foyer of Cunningham Center on the campus of MNU. An informational email will be sent to participants two weeks prior to the race with all specific updated details.
Participants are encouraged to bring 3-5 non-perishable food drive items to collect for the local Salvation Army Outpost food pantry. Please bring items with you the morning of the race and drop them off at the donations table.
Follow along at the Coach Yantis 5K Facebook group or the Coach Yantis 5K Instagram account for the latest updates!
The Yantis family started a scholarship endowment in 2020 for future athletes at Brad's alma mater; MidAmerica Nazarene University. The scholarship has been given to a current MNU student for the last three years. In 2023, the generosity continued as a percentage of the race funds will go towards the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge KC.
Race Day Itinerary
8am- Registration opens and can food drive drop begins
8:45am- Welcome, Thank You’s, Why We Race, Group Warm-up and Group Photo.
8:55am- Gather at starting line.
9am- Race starts
10am (roughly)- End of Race
10:15am- 50-Yard Tot Trot for ages 1-5
10:30am- Announce winners and awards
10:45am- Final Words
Race Day Itinerary is also posted on our social media outlets.
Winner Categories
Final Prizes and Running Categories will be posted here. This year there will be running prizes awarded to each top winner due to the generosity of our sponsor.
Overall Winner 18+
Male Under:18
Female Under:18
Male Over: 19-35
Female Over:19-35
Male Over: 36-50
Female Over: 36-50
Male Over: 51+
Female Over: 51+
Race Map
Final Race Map will be posted below. Starting line will be on the south side of the Cunningham building at MNU.
T-shirt design
What is the meaning behind the Coach Yantis 5K Run & Walk 2024 logo?
The "Coach Yantis" is a photo of coach Yantis' actual handwriting.
The Turkey was hand drawn by a former student.
The Turkey is a symbol of Coach Yantis' 15+ year participation in a family and friends 5K on Thanksgiving morning.
The number 85 on the running bib is a reminder of Coach Yantis' football number in college.
The whistle is a memento to each day during Coach Yantis' 30+ years of coaching.
The official 2024 race t-shirt will have the Coach Yantis 5K logo on the front and sponsors on the back.
Race Contact Info
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
Directions
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