On Saturday at the James Foley Freedom Run, a heckuva birthday party for Jim

Simon Butka of Sanbornville at finish line of Saturday's Foley Freedom Run; at left is Rochester Mayor Paul Callaghan (Rochester Voice photos)

ROCHESTER - Saturday's running of the Foley Freedom Run held special significance for Diane Foley, not only because it was just days after the Hamas hostages were returned to Israel, but because the day fell on what would have been her son's birthday.
"Jim would've been 53," she said moments after more than 450 runners wearing blue Foley Freedom T-shirts bolted out of the gate at the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center on Wakefield Street.

New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte addresses the crowd prior to the start of the race Saturday morning; at right is Diane Foley

Regarding the released hostages, Diane Foley said it was "miraculous" that President Trump and his administration had struck a deal with the terrorist group Hamas to return the hostages as part of a peace plan.
"That was quite a feat for him to do," she said.
The Foley Freedom Run 5K began right on the dime at 10 a.m. on a very crisp fall day with cloudless blue skies and temperatures in the low 50s, one of coolest race days in recent memory.
The cooler temps helped made for some fast times, with Simon Butka of Sanbornville taking the blue ribbon with a time of just

NH radio personality and deejay Mike Pomp receives the 'Hero Award' from Diane Foley, left, and Amy Coyne of the Foley Foundation

16:02. Coming in first for the ladies was Sarah Canney with a time of 20:35.
Prior to the race New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte gave a short speech and Diane Foley and the Foley Foundation presented a "Hero Award" to New Hampshire radio personality and mobile deejay Mike Pomp, who has emceed the event since its inception 11 years ago.
The mission of the Foley Foundation is to advocate for American hostages and wrongful detainees held abroad and promote journalist safety.
Conflict journalist and humanitarian James W. Foley was kidnapped by ISIS, held hostage, and brutally murdered in 2014. Jim embodied an unwavering commitment to press freedom. His work illuminated the life, dignity, and suffering of every individual, regardless of background or nationality.

Below are Top Ten race times for men and women, courtesy of Granite State Race Services

Top 10 Males | 5K

Top 10 Females | 5K