LAPLACE - Over 200 runners and walkers participated in the 29th annual Andouille Run recently, in conjunction with the St. John Parish Andouille Festival.

The overall winners in the 2-mile run/walk were: Adele Ory and Brett Landry. The overall winners in the 5-mile race were: Baishawn Pratt and Lori Zeringue. Each winner was awarded with a plaque and a stick of andouille. Prizes were then awarded to the top 15 men and women in the 2-mile race and to the 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-place winners in each age group of the 5-mile race.

This year’s Andouille Run sponsors included River Parishes Hospital, Jacob’s World Famous Andouille, Gregg’s Neighborhood Market, Omni Bank, Mike Williams of State Farm Insurance, Big River Fuel and Food and District Attorney Tom Daley. The event was coordinated by the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office Community Relations Division. They, along with volunteers from the community and River Parishes Hospital, signed in and processed the runners; then, remained on hand to award the winners.

Mike Williams (center) of State Farm Insurance is pictured with the 2-mile and 5-mile Andouille Run winners. Brett Landry (left to right), Top Male in the 2-mile run; Baishawn Pratt, Top Male in the 5-mile run; Williams; Lori Zeringue, Top Female in the 5-mile run; and Adele Ory, Top Female in the 2-mile Run.

“This is the first year I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of the Andouille Run, and this is also the first year it was held at the new civic center” said Todd Bourgeois, Business Development Director at River Parishes Hospital. “Having been born and raised in LaPlace, I’ve spent many years at the Andouille Festival. At the run, I heard many compliments about the event being moved to it’s new location. Everything from the event to the run is now able to be centrally located on the civic center grounds.”