Michael Bond won the one mile event at the 11th Annual Polar Bear Run in Prattville today. Bond won the mile in 4:41 which unofficially equals the state road one mile record for the 25 year age group in Alabama. This win comes after Bond broke the 24 year age group record last September in Montgomery.
Bond, who runs for Saucony, said, "I was happy to have a solid run to begin the year. This was my first race since a small injury at the beginning of December. The First Baptist Church here in Prattville did a great job organizing the race. It was a really fun day."
Bond qualified for the 2000 Australian Olympic Trials where he finished 11th in the 1500m. In 2004, Bond qualified for the Olympic Trials once again in the 1500m. Bond did not run due to study commitments at Troy University.
The Annual Polar Bear Run is used to promote First Baptist Church and the community while raising funds for the FBC Youth Choir Summer Tour/Mission Trip. The FBC Youth Choir Trip has for the past 15 years given teenagers an opportunity to serve and minister to others. With over 100 young people, this choir is one of the largest youth choirs in the Southeast. It has performed concerts in numerous states and in 1993 went to Canada. It performed for the Southern Baptist Music Conference in 1994 and toured to New York City in 1996 and in 2001 did mission work in Charleston, S.C. & New Orleans, L.A.