Introducing the official 76th Annual International Pancake Day Race runners

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Sarai Barboza- Sarai is a para at Brightstart, and she’s been a proud member of the Liberal community her entire life. Running in the race has always been a dream of hers, and this year, with the incredible support of her family and friends, she’s ready to make that dream a reality! Driven by their encouragement, she’s putting in the hard work by running, training, and pushing herself every day. With her eyes on the finish line, she’s more excited than ever to take on this challenge and show just what she’s made of!

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Tessy Barrnett- Tessy is making her 24th appearance in the International Pancake Race this year! At 51, this seasoned competitor is a Real Estate Assistant with three children and has proudly called Liberal home for 26 years. Over the years, she’s become a familiar face at the race so much so that people who know her (but she doesn’t always know them!) will approach her and ask, “How many years?” It’s a fun, unspoken tradition in the community, and she’s ready to keep that streak alive. She prepares all year long by staying in shape and eating right. Tessy also has her sights set on running her 25th race next year in Olney, England! Her advice for new runners? “Just do it!” With her incredible experience and passion for the race, she’s a true inspiration for all who join in the fun!
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Pamela Bolivar- Pamela is our reigning 2024 International Race champion. She is back and ready to defend her title in this year’s race! She is a 20 year old CNA in the OB unit at SWMC. Pamela has been running since she was a little girl, always finding joy and strength in the sport. Now, she’s not only racing for herself but for the entire community of Liberal, eager to bring home the win once again and keep the International title in her hometown. With her determination and passion, she’s ready to take on the challenge, again!
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Beverly Borjas- Beverly is a P.E. Teacher for USD480, and this year, she’s stepping out of her comfort zone to participate in the International Pancake Race for the very first time! A resident of Liberal for the past two years, she’s been challenged by her friends to compete and she’s ready to take them up on it! With a background in fitness, she’s bringing her energy and enthusiasm to the race and can’t wait to join in on this beloved community tradition.

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Maria Chavira- Maria is a 46-year-old stay-at-home mother of three who has lived in Liberal for the past 22 years. Inspired by a friend who participated in the Pancake Race before, she decided to give it a try, as she enjoys running. Her family is excited to support her, and they’ll be there to cheer her on. She has been practicing daily, focusing on her running and maintaining a healthy diet. For her, the most important thing is to compete and, above all, have fun.
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Michelle Floyd- Michelle is a 49 year old nurse at SWMC who moved here in December to work at the hospital. Her dad was excited that she moved to Liberal, just so she could compete in the International Race! Being from NE Oklahoma, he’s known about it forever. She is doing it all for her dad. Both her parents will be traveling to watch her in the race! She is a seasoned runner with 5 full marathons and countless half marathons and 5k races. She is only 9 states away from reaching her goal of running a half marathon in all 50 states. To prepare for the International Race, she has been sprint training at Rapid Fit. ______________________________________________

Margarita Knott- Margarita, is a 44 year old Executive Assistant at SWMC. She’s married to Josh Knott and is the proud mom of two amazing kids. Having called Liberal home for the past 33 years, she’s no stranger to International Pancake Day. She’s already conquered the International Race twice before, but this year, with the support of her family, she’s ready to give it everything she’s got (and make it her best shot yet!) To prepare, she’s been pushing herself with workouts and long-distance runs, all while keeping her eyes set on her ultimate goal: to finish in the top 3! Her advice to first-time runners? “Have fun!”
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Mikayla Knudsen- Mikayla is a familiar face at the International Pancake Race. She is a lifelong Liberal native with a passion for the event. This year marks her 13th race! She keeps coming back because she loves the fun and festive spirit of Pancake Day! Her family wasn’t the least bit surprised when she signed up again! To prepare, she’s staying hydrated and sticking to her exercise routine. This year, she’s not the only one in her family racing. She has a whole crew of nieces and nephews joining the fun too! Her advice to first-time runners? “Keep the experience lighthearted, enjoy every moment, and make sure to stay hydrated as you get ready for race day!”
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Tayana Miller- Tayana is a 22 year old stay-at-home mom to two children, and this year, she’s stepping out of her comfort zone to participate in the International Pancake Race for the very first time! As a lifelong Liberal resident, she says she’s finally built up the courage to join in the fun, and her family and friends couldn’t be more excited for her! To prepare, she’s been focusing on staying healthy, both physically and mentally, telling herself she can accomplish anything she sets her mind to. With her determination and support from loved ones, she’s ready to take on the International Race!
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Jennifer Mosso-OCampo – Jennifer is a 24 OBGYN Medical Assistant at the Knudsen Clinic for Women’s Health, and she’s about to tackle her first ever race! A proud mom of two, her little one is 1 ½ years old, and her toddler is even joining in on the fun by participating in the 3-year-old race! She’s also a student in the SCCC Pre-Nursing program. This year, she decided to race not just for the challenge, but to start a new family tradition. To prepare, she’s been adding cardio to her workouts and focusing on the experience rather than the competition. Her goal for the race is to simply have a blast and make it an unforgettable day for her and her family!

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Arlene Ruiz- Arlene is a 25 year old Liberal native and soccer coach at Seward County Community College. Being deeply rooted in the Liberal community has filled her with a sense of pride, and this year, she’s eager to be part of the unique tradition that is the Pancake Race! Her family has been incredibly supportive of her decision to race, and she’s been preparing with a focus on positive self-talk and mental strength. She’s ready to take on this challenge and make her mark on Pancake Day.
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Dayanne Soto- Dayanne is a 23 year old receptionist at the Knudsen Clinic and a Liberal native. She’s always dreamed of joining the race. This year, she’s finally making that dream come true! Her family and friends are thrilled to cheer her on as she takes on the challenge. To prepare, she’s committed to her fitness journey with a new gym membership, pushing herself to get race-ready. The excitement is building, and she can’t wait to hit the starting line!
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Monica Vega- After 10 years, Monica, 35, is lacing up her apron once again and ready to take on the race! Now the Assistant Activities Director at LHS, she’s approaching this year’s race with a new perspective. Remembering she’s a little older than when she first ran it, but more determined than ever. Her mindset? Give it her all, stretch plenty, and have fun with whatever the outcome may be! Her advice to others: “Follow your own lead, don’t stress about the other runners, and definitely have someone with a big bottle of water waiting at the finish line!” Her key tips? Stay hydrated, get in some good practice, and, most importantly, enjoy the experience,it’s truly one of a kind!
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Madison Winters- Madison is a 29 year old manager and barista at Cozy Corner, and is returning to the race course with a goal to place higher than her finish last year! Her husband, Jacob Winters, her family, and friends have given her a lot of positive energy and support for this year’s race. Running is a passion for her, and she’s been practicing with regular runs, and building her confidence. Her advice for first-time runners? “This is such a fun and quick race, you’ve got this! Just get out there and run your race. It’s all about enjoying the experience!”
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Honorary Runner- Randi Jones
Randi, 41, is running as an honorary runner for the 2025 race. She is the Eisenhower Middle School Principal here in Liberal. After being a part of this community her entire life, she is excited to take part in the Pancake Day festivities! Because she lives out of the city of Liberal, she will run as an honorary runner. Recently, a group of teachers at the middle school have been working to get students more involved in the event, and she wants to model community connection and show the importance of participating in local traditions for her Warrior students. With the support of both her family and work family, she’s confident she’ll be encouraged throughout the race, no matter where she finishes! However, winning does run in her family, with her sister Summer Stafford being the Liberal Race Winner 2014 & 2016! A long-distance runner at heart and currently training for her third half-marathon, she’s ready for the challenge.