On the Saturday of Wheat Fest weekend, the high school and junior high running sports host the annual Wheat Streak. The Wheat Streak is a fundraiser 5k and Fun Run. It began in 2016 and has been a yearly event, excluding one year due to COVID. Roughly 10 to 15 Okawville students ran the race, and 23 volunteered. The volunteers held signs along the course of the race. Signs would say supportive and funny messages; for example, “Find your happy pace.” The team’s beloved squeaky chickens appeared, whether thrown like a football or stolen from their owners. The money raised will be used for the trip to Peoria for high school XC, warm-ups for the high school running teams, and various track and cross-country equipment, which includes hurdles, a cart for hurdles, shotputs, discus, and weight sleds. “We love seeing the support we receive each year – since we don’t have any home meets. The kids love seeing the support from the community,” says Coach Val Tepe.
Everyone at the Wheat Streak received a t-shirt. On it, it says, “Just run faster,” a quote from Taylor Haacke. She was friends and family with the high school cross country and track teams’ runners. Taylor’s favorite animal was a duck, so in honor of her, there were people wearing rubber duck necklaces and duck shorts.
