MANCHESTER — Beginning at around 7 a.m. on Sunday April 26, over 100 runners gathered at the rear of the Dana L. Thompson Memorial Recreation Park in Manchester for the Burr and Burton Academy Yellow Tulip Club 5K Color Race.
Tables were set up with information stands, refreshments, medals and race gear, and large yellow bells.
At 8:30 a.m., dressed in their white racer tees with the Yellow Tulip Club logo on the front, racers gathered at the start line and awaited instructions – and then they were off.
For Burr and Burton junior Siena Marshall, the moment was the culmination of her high school dream – to bring a “joyful” color race and a worthy cause to the community of Manchester.
“We totaled 108 runners and had about 20 volunteers.” said Marshall, who was very pleased with the turnout. Earlier in the month, Marshall had issued a plea to the public, “Calling all runners,” as the sign up and registration phase of the campaign posed challenges. “[People had] a lot of interest in it, but then they didn’t sign up right away.”
Marshall had previously set the goal of 100 runners as the target for a “successful endeavor.” But those sign ups didn’t really begin to come in until about two weeks before the race, and after Marshall’s plea to the public.
“I’m so happy with the turnout,” exclaimed Marshall. “It’s really amazing, everyone coming together. There are so many volunteers, and people are just bringing everyone in. This is a really great turnout.”
The Yellow Tulip Club – an organization dedicated to raising awareness of, and providing resources for, community mental health – is one of Burr and Burton’s fastest growing clubs, noted Kristen Kimball, who serves as BBA school counseling chair and advisor to the club.
Kimball called Marshall’s work and dedication to the task incredible.
“She’s a powerhouse,” Kimball said. Marshall had worked steadfastly toward this goal for three years with great initiative, passion, and drive, she said. In addition, Marshall had worked with sponsors and other race organizers, the Manchester Police Department, and her peers at BBA to ensure a successful event.
While many of Marshall’s peers were in the race running, others were working at various locations throughout the race, armed with cameras and/or cups of brightly-colored powdered tempera paint – which was tossed at the runners as they passed by.
The colorful conclusion to the 5K event was a riot of brilliant color, as the first runners passed back through the finish line – doubled over and panting, covered in a rainbow of color, and grinning ear to ear.
Observers described the event as “full of spirit.”
“Honestly, mental health is one of the most important aspects of health and wellness. It isn’t always discussed as openly, but what I love about this next generation of kids is that they’re highly open to mental health awareness. So, for me – why wouldn’t I come out to support them to the best of my ability,” said volunteer Trish Weill, noting that her daughter was among the members of the Yellow Tulip Club at BBA. “It was the first club she joined.”
Weill, who also teaches art and photography locally, was painting faces at the event – and enthusiastically ringing bells as participants crossed the finish line.
The results from the 2026 Yellow Tulip Project 5k Color Race showed a competitive field of 100 finishers across various age groups, with the race led by young runners. The race saw competitive times at the top, with the top three finishers all being 18 or younger.
Those top finishers were 15-year-old Sebastian Traver Adolphus of Sunderland, with a time of 17:24.0; 15-year-old Atticus Golitko of Manchester, with a time of 17:30:1; and 18-year-old Christopher Madsen of Rupert, with a time of 18:29.9.
Although largely representative of the Bennington County region of Vermont, regional demographics were also fairly broad with racers joining from Hoosick Falls, Albany, and Staten Island in New York, Clarksburg in Massachusetts, and even as far away as Aspen Colorado.
Specific results from the Yellow Tulip Club 5K Color Race are available from 802 Timing, a Vermont-based professional athletic timing company.
