ABOUT TWO YEARS ago, USC track and field coach Curtis Frye began a small foundation for raising funds to aid research on diabetes and mental illness.

On Saturday the Frye Foundation Challenge 5K drew 31 runners that included Frye and his wife, Wilma, and USC throws coach Mike Sargent.

Sango Asante, 18, Moncks Corner, was first at 16:46. Daniel Novak, 19, of Glen Allen, Va., was second in 16:46. Eleven-year old Columbian Grace Stricklin was sixth overall and the first female in 25:44.

Tyler Mangan was eighth overall in 26:39 and second female.

The next Frye Foundation race is Nov. 10 at Memorial Stadium.

Also on Saturday, the Palmetto Health Foundation had 169 finishers at its Second Annual Race for Life 10K. Columbian Angel Manuel, 36, took first overall in 37:48. Fellow Columbian Bryan Paylor, 34, took second in 40:15. First female and eleventh overall, Columbian Katheryn Morse, 28, finished in 48:00. From Chapin, Amy White, 44, was second female and first Masters Female in 48:21.

The most unusual set of top finish times and ages I have seen occurred at the Sept. 29 Doctors Care Dash to the Vista, which had 209 finishers. Columbian Alyssa Kulik, 22, finished first overall in 20:51. Donald Ostmann, 47, from Delaware was second in 21:01. From Orangeburg, Mike Lambert, 22, was third overall in 21:05. Brianna Hartley, 11, was eighth overall in 22:28.

The Buncombe 55K Trail Run in Newberry County on Sept. 26 had 42 finishers, led by N.C. runner Thomasz Kochanowicz, 37, in 4:54:00. South Carolina runner John Bruno, 26, was second in 5:37:00.

UPCOMING

SATURDAY

COLUMBIA 8:00 a.m. Ray Tanner Home Run 12K, GPT, TDC; 5K TDC (803) 553-2673

SUMMERTON 4:00 P.M. Spooky Sprint 5K & 1 Mile. (803) 435-5200

FORT MILL 9:05 a.m. The Run For Attention 5K summer@runforinformation.org

SPARTANBURG 8:00 a.m. iRecycle Run Half Marathon & 5K. (864)764-0119

SUNDAY

CAPERS ISLAND 12 Noon ECOrun 10K & 5K Beach Run Capers ECOrun@gmail.com

OCT. 20

CHARLESTON 9:15 a.m. Komen Lowcountry Race for the Cure 5K (843) 216-0442

PAWLEYS ISLAND 7:30 a.m. Pawleys Island Turtle Strut 5K & 10K (843) 450-7129

OCT. 20-21

MYRTLE BEACH Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon. OCT 20, Coastal 5K 7:30 a.m.; OCT 21, Half Marathon, 7:30 a.m. See MB website for all race events: info@runmyrtlebeach.com

OCT. 21

HILTON HEAD 8:00 a.m. Hilton Head Bridge Run 10K & 5K (843)757-8520

OCT. 27

COLUMBIA 3:00 P.M. First Responders Gone But Not Forgotten 5K. St.-Fin. at Columbia Conv. Center. 803-799-4786

COLUMBIA 9:00 a.m. YMCA Northwest Pumpkin Run 5K, TDC (803) 407-8007

GREENVILLE 7:30 a.m. Spinx Run Fest Marathon; 8:00 a.m. Run Town USA! Half-Marathon; 8:30 a.m. 5K Run. (864) 419-6788

BLUFFTON 5:00 P.M. Publix Bluffton Zombie Run 5K & 1Mile. (843) 757-8520

FOLLY BEACH 9:00 a.m. Fight For Air Run/Walk 5K (843) 556-8451

ROCK HILL 9:00 a.m. Rock Hill Striders Great Pumpkin 5K, rockhillstriders@hotmail.com

NOV. 3

COLUMBIA 7:30 a.m. 40th Governor’s Cup Half-Marathon RRCA State Championship, GPT, TDC; 8K TDC; 4 Mi. Walk & Kids Run (803)731-2100

COLUMBIA 9:00 a.m. Lake Carolina Poochapalooza K-9 5K INFO: sballard@paals.org

CHARLESTON 8:30 a.m. James Island Connector 10K & 5K Run; 8:25 a.m. 10K fun bike ride; 8:35 a.m. 5K Walk www.jicrun.com

CLINTON 8:00 a.m. 5K Run for Kneaded Research. debra@amta.sc.org

EASLEY 8:00 a.m. U.C.M. Fall Fest & 5K Run (864)855-0853

FORT MILL 8:00 a.m. Season of Hope 5K Run kenstaab@mc.com

FLORENCE 8:00 a.m. Run Like a Nut Pecan Festival Half-Marathon; 9:00 a.m. 10K & 5K. (843) 661-3815

FORT MILL 8:00 a.m. Springmaid Road Race 5K (803) 547-1062

GREENVILLE 8:00 a.m. Paris Mountain Trails 15K (864) 322-5545

GREENVILLE 9:30 a.m. Caine Halter Lungs for Life 5K (864) 525-8319

NORTH AUGUSTA 9:00 a.m. WSI-United Way River Run 10K & 5K. (803) 952-7521

SPARTANBURG 9:00 a.m. Running to Restore 5K (864) 525-8319