Annual Turkey Trot Memorial Race In The Works For Chester

CHESTER, NJ — Calling all runners: The annual West Morris Central High School Memorial Turkey Trot 5k race and walk will once again be held on Thanksgiving Day.

This fun family, student and community-oriented race loops through West Morris Central High School's campus on a flat and fast course.

The WMC Memorial 5K Turkey Trot is a community event held to carry on the WMC Memorial Race tradition that started many years ago in memory of Kyleigh D'Alessio and Tanner Birch. Since then, the race has also honored the memory of Stephen Berstler and Paul Heembrock.

All four of those residents attended West Morris Central.

The race proceeds will continue to benefit memorial scholarships in their names, project graduation, Community Night Out, and new recreational initiatives for the township; however, the race will also finance a new Fallen Heroes scholarship.

The race, which is co-sponsored by WMCHS and the Washington Township Recreation Committee, will begin on Nov. 23 at 8 a.m., rain or shine, with check-in starting at 7 a.m. Each participant must pay a $30 registration fee.

The course this year begins behind one of the soccer fields and ends on the track that surrounds the football field. 5K runners will complete a full five kilometers by looping around the course twice.

The race, which started in 2007, is often considered a holiday tradition for some of the community in the Mendham and Chester area, officials said.

The 2022 WMC Memorial 5K Turkey Trot saw more than 300 participants from Mendham, Chester and other surrounding towns.

The Washington Township Turkey Trot Committee previously said that competitors from Washington Township, Chester, Mendham, Randolph, Hackettstown, Califon, High Bridge and other neighboring towns find this event to be an alternative to going to distant Turkey Trot races.

Serious runners can also compete for medals for the first three men and women aged 12 and up, as well as the first three boys and girls aged under 12.