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Kayley Cerney Overall Winner of the ICF In Their Shoes 5K

By mitchpa on October 29, 2025 • ( 0 )

By George Banker

“My friends Anna Hertlein and Jonathan Lewis are the ones who introduced me to this race last year. We enjoyed the race and the celebration afterwards, so when it was time to sign up again, it was a no-brainer. The 5K raises funds to ‘provide access to education, legal protection, rescue from the streets and child labor, medical care, clothing, and fun.’ In the current environment where we find so many for-profit races, what better reason could anyone want to run this race?” stated Cristian Cedacero after the 2018.

Cedacero made the comments about the In Their Shoes 5K, which was sponsored by the Iraqi Children Foundation (ICF). September 6, 2025, was the 13^th running of the event. The passage of the years does not change the mission of ICF. All ICF programs are high-impact and life-changing. ICF aims to provide holistic support to vulnerable children through programs focusing on education, nutrition, legal support, psychosocial support, medical care, and a sense of belonging.

The event record for the men is tied at 17:02 by Nathan Delong (2016) and Jack Beckman (2022). The master record was set in 2022 (19:55) by Fabio Clavijo. The female open and master record was set in 2016 (19:30) by Alisa Harvey of Manassas, Va.

Leading the race out were Anuji Mangal of Arlington and Ehsan Mo of Washington. Trailing closely in third was Kayley Cerney of Vienna, VA, followed by Alyssa Tucker of Alexandria, VA. Once the runners made their way down the hill along Morrow Drive, they were on Beach Drive. The runners thinned out and the challenge was the uphill awaiting at Morrow Drive.

Looking down the road from the finish line, the spectators were in awe of the first runner. In a surprise move, Kayley Cerney overtook the leaders and became the first woman to win the event overall, with a time of 19:50, the second-fastest female time. The runner-up (third overall) was Alyssa Tucker of Alexandria with a time of 20:49. Makenzie Davenport of Washington was third with a time of 23:57.

“The reason for running the event was to support an important and worthy cause – to be a voice for the voiceless children of Iraq; and to support the amazing work of my friend (and next-door neighbor), ICF Executive Director, Patricia Stakem. I took over the lead of the race about 1 mile in, after the big downhill,” stated Cerney.

Cerney added, “I’m a retired collegiate runner (William and Mary, 2010). I like to jump in races from time to time to test my remaining fitness. I’m proud to have won a wonderfully executed race to support an important cause, alongside my friends and neighbors, on a beautiful morning in DC.”

Anuji Mangal took the win for the men with a time of 20:39. The runner-up and first master was Tyson Smith of Philadelphia with a time 21:00. The third place was Michael Tobin of McLean, VA with a time 21:40. The third master was Mohammed Al Nazal of Mechanicsburg, PA with a time of 22:32.

Dr. Kyleann Hunter, CEO of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, placed second master with a time of 27:54. David Collins, Chairman Iraqi Children Foundation, finished in 35:16

The Veterans group from Philadelphia had good representation, including Chris Antal (Bib 26048).

“The event continues to resonate strongly with veterans. It offers them a way to heal by helping others, and it also connects them with families, students, diaspora members, and corporate teams. The 5K has become the one time each year when these diverse groups all gather, discovering not only their shared compassion for Iraqi kids but also the joy of belonging to a broader community of care,” stated Patricia Stakem, Executive Director, Iraqi Children Foundation.

“I think a lot of people in our extended ICF network care so deeply about this cause but may not know how many others also care deeply about it! I often hear people at the 5K talk about how great it is to connect with folks in totally different social groups and from different backgrounds, and to speak together about their experiences and what led them to care about this cause and to support it,” stated Elizabeth McRae, Chief Operating Officer, Iraqi Children Foundation.

“Over time, this cause for Iraq’s most vulnerable kids has increasingly resonated with veterans of the Iraq war. So, while the direct beneficiaries of ICF’s work are the kids in Iraq, a secondary class of beneficiaries are veterans who have struggled with moral injury or other painful fallout from the war. I learned early on, when ICF published a little children’s book, “New Days, New Friends,” that one of the ways to build resilience and healing from trauma is to help others. Helping Iraqi kids can be a part of a veteran’s recovery,” Cindy Fogleman, Staff Advisor, Iraqi Children Foundation.

The continued success of the event continues to depend on the sponsors, supporters, and volunteers.

“Next Year.”

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