CLAIRE C. LAURENCE/Arizona Daily Wildcat Law student Scott McDonald races toward the finish line at the Susan Barber memorial run on Sunday morning near the Mall. Susan Barber was a UA law student murdered by her boyfriend last spring.

UA law students held a 5K race yesterday morning and raised more than $1,000 for a memorial scholarship named for Susan Barber, the UA law student murdered by her boyfriend last February.

The race was held just two days after Everett Alan O'Quin, 25, admitted in court that he beat Barber to death for objecting to a trip he had planned to take with a friend to Louisiana.

His confession was part of a plea bargain that let O'Quin plead guilty to second-degree murder rather than face capital murder charges. The agreement calls for a 10- to 18-year prison sentence to be handed down Jan. 6, 2004.

"I don't believe it was enough time for what he did. I hope he realizes the significance of how many people he touched," said Sydney Barber, father of Susan Barber, who ran in the race early yesterday morning.

Rona Nichols ÷ law student, member of Phi Alpha Delta and one of the event organizers ÷ was also disappointed by the plea agreement.

"I understand why they had to plea bargain, but I wish he would have gotten more time. He's getting less time than Susan was alive on this earth," Nichols said as she set up water bottles at the race to give to participants.

O'Quin will remain in Pima County Jail without bond until his sentencing.

The UA law school fraternity Phi Alpha Delta organized the race as part of Race Judicata, an event law schools nationwide coordinate to raise money for community donations.

"Her parents were worried the scholarship would run out of funds. When we decided to do this race, we decided to donate all the funds," said Annie Rolfe, law student and president of Phi Alpha Delta.

Ninety runners participated in the race that began at East Enke Street and North Campbell Avenue near the Aquatic Center and snaked through the UA campus. Each runner paid a registration fee of up to $27.

"We already have at least $6000 raised for the scholarship. We've raised $1100 today, and we hope to reach $10,000 by the one year anniversary of her death," said Vicki Fleischer, the assistant dean for external relations at the law school.

Fleisher said $10,000 is the minimum amount needed to create a permanent scholarship endowment at the UA. Each year, 6 percent is given out as a scholarship and is replenished over the year as interest is accrued.

"They decided it should go toward someone with the same interests as Susan, including human rights, animal rights and poverty issues," Fleisher said.

Cody Ortman, a political science and sociology senior and member of the UA pre-law fraternity, joined the race to support Susan's scholarship and test his endurance in the 5K race.

"I wish there was more people out here. It's important to come out and show support for the community," Ortman said.

First place in the race went to Kevin Durken, who completed the 3.1-mile course in 18 minutes and 19 seconds.

Nichols said the race will be held every year and proceeds will continue to add to Barber's memorial scholarship. The next race is planned for the spring of 2005.