The 2012 Unity Run was a success, raising more than $19,000 before event expenses, according to United Way Director Vickie Spence.

The money is the most the event has ever raised, according to Spence, on the way to the United Way of Gordon County’s goal of $550,000, which increased $50,000 from last year.

The 19th annual Unity Run registered more than 790 runners and Spence says approximately 750 crossed the finish line. For the kids 1k race, 67 applicants registered and ran.

As of press time, Thursday, the race numbers had not been calculated for release to the public, except for the children’s 1k.

Registered runners could compete as a team or in one of the many competitions the race offered.

For the first time in Unity Run history, the Run for God Challenge, was offered and won by Rock Bridge Community Church.

The School challenges based on the enrollment of the school by the percentage of runners for elementary was Calhoun Elementary; Middle school, Ashworth Middle School; and High School, Gordon Central High School.

The Bank Challenge, which was based on percentages of the number of employees participating was BB&T. In the Bank-Over All Participation Winner, with the bank that entered the most employees regardless of the number of employees hired was North Georgia National Bank.

The Corporate Challenge winner was the percentage of the number of employee participation and the winner was Shaw.

Overall Participation based on the major firm that puts the most employees, regardless of the number of employees hired was Shaw.

The children completed their race on the newly resurfaced track at Gordon Central.

Members of the Gordon Central Cross Country team lead the children through the turns along the race path.

The Gordon Central Football team, in full uniform, formed a row for the children to make their way through cheering them along.

During the 5K Unity Run, people cheered runners on throughout the neighborhoods as runners made their way from Gordon Central High School to the Calhoun Depot.

With motorcycle escorts by the Calhoun Police Departments, Gordon County Sheriff’s office, Gordon County Road Department, runners were escorted through town safely along the race path.

Though so many competed it could be said the star of the race was indeed 11-year-old Avery Hamilton, a middle school student at Sonoraville Middle School, who was the first female to cross the finish line passing even members of two high school track teams and others.

Though overall finish times have not been released, the 11-year-old Avery truly stood out amongst her peers, according to Spence.