Kuykendal and Baloun team takes first place in Amazing Race event

Kuykendal and Baloun team takes first place in Amazing Race event

By Shiloh Appel

Covered in sweat, crushed saltine crackers, water, mud and watermelon juice, Annie Kuykendal and Justice Baloun were the first team of two to slide to the finish line down a slip 'n slide greased with baby oil and dish soap in the 2017 Amazing Race held in Redfield. The Amazing Race, last held in 2014, is an event organized by the Redfield Wesleyan Church for youth in grades 6 through 12. Brought back this year, the race is based on the popular TV show by the same name in which contestants race around the world in teams of two, stopping at various "pit stops" and completing tasks in order to make it to the finish line.
Beginning at the old Redfield Wesleyan Church on Saturday, September 9, 2017, at 3p.m., this year's Amazing Race had seven teams ready to take on the mental and physical challenges that awaited them. After completing a maze, the contestants were each given a clue in order to find their next "pit stop." The contestants continued to press on, traveling to each stop throughout the town and completing each task. Tasks included a football throwing challenge, scavenger hunt, natural-materials art project, wooden puzzles, watermelon seed-spitting challenge, trivia, mystery bag challenge, army crawl, and much more.
Teams began to arrive at the new Redfield Wesleyan Church, the final stop, about three hours after beginning the race, and were welcomed with the cheers of volunteers. Following are the team places: first place, Annie Kuykendal and Justice Baloun; second place, Dakotah Appel and Caleb Johnson; third place, Ethan DeYoung and Kory Kraft; fourth place, Noel Kastner and Kaylin Kraft; fifth place, Elaina Schmitt and Matty Jo Risetter; sixth place, Jordan Varner and Hayden Radcliff; and seventh place, Bryson Zens and Riley Brabant.
All contestants were treated to a meal of walking tacos, beverages and buckeye brownies after the race. Prizes were also awarded to the top three teams following the meal. The evening came to a close with a bonfire and gagaball games after a time of worship and a message by Pastor Michael Manning.
The event was made possible by many volunteers and prizes, firewood and funds were donated by Ace Hardware, Dakotaland, Bank of the West, Subway, Simply Charming, Precision Soil and Redfield Energy.