University of Arizona wheelchair road racer Jacob Allen won the Jim Click Run ‘N’ Roll race around the University of Arizona campus on Sunday, Oct. 8.

Allen covered the 3.1-mile asphalt course in 12 minutes and 3 seconds.

The race is the biggest fundraiser of the year for Arizona’s Adaptive Athletics program — the largest and most successful collegiate adaptive program in the country. This year’s event raised about $54,000 — about $4,000 more than last year, said Adaptive Athletics Director Peter Hughes. The new funds will help with equipment and travel for more than 60 athletes in Arizona’s program.

12 competitors started Sunday’s race around 6:50 a.m. after two members of the University of Arizona Alumni Band played the national anthem. The racers took their marks and the starting horn sounded.

Women’s race winner Skyler Fisher enjoyed the fast start.

“I liked the start. It’s kind of chaotic because everyone’s all grouped together and you’re all trying to go out fast, but it’s fun,” said Fisher, who finished fifth overall in 13 minutes and 58 seconds.

Allen, a 22-year-old from Ukraine, has raced the Run ‘N’ Roll four times and there’s always something new, he said.

A shorter course was the novelty this year. The previous course was about five miles and was abbreviated to eliminate racers getting their wheels stuck in the tracks, said race organizer Autumn Ball.

“We did that for athlete safety. The old course would cross over the streetcar tracks and there were some athletes that had gotten stuck and had some accidents,” she said.

It happened to Allen last year.

“Last year, I didn’t finish this race because part of the course crossed train tracks, my wheel got stuck and popped out, so I couldn’t finish,” he said. “This year was a whole lot better, and since I go [to the UA] I know every turn, every corner here, so it was smooth.”

After his finish, Allen exited his racing chair and laid down on the sidewalk, as some racers tried to catch their breath.

The UA Track and Roadracing team is one of the eight competitive wheelchair and adaptive teams at the UA. Two racers just qualified for this year’s Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile, in November, Allen said.

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