Chequered flags on Flag Day for Kelly and Peters

In Valdosta, Georgia when it comes to holidays the road racing calendar is quite full. There are already annual 5K races on Memorial Day, on Independence Day, on Labor Day, and on Thankgiving. So it's not a surprise that a Flag Day 5K was added to the panoply on Saturday morning, 15 June 2013. Could a Veterans Day race be next?


It's also not a surprise that Lake Park's Ryan Kelly won the inaugural Flag Day race. Setting out from American Legion Post 13 on Williams Street, Kelly covered the 3.1-mile course in 19:00, finishing over 300 meters ahead of the runner-up, Jacob Bearrentine of Clyattville. Alison Peters was the first female in the race, coming in fourth overall at 22:47. Peters is a rising senior at Lowndes High School. Crossing the line a minute after Peters, Valdosta's Debbie Green was the second female finisher and first woman master, placing fifth overall in 23:47. The first male master was Jim Hall of Valdosta, sixth overall in 26:19. 18 athletes finished the first year race.


Top Five Males, 2013 Valdosta Flag Day 5K

1. 18:59.7 ~ Ryan Kelly (M, 34) Lake Park, GA
2. 20:23.5 ~ Jacob Bearrentine (M, 20) Clyattville, GA
3. 21:17.6 ~ Milo Mirate (M, 17) Valdosta, GA
4. 26:18.2 ~ Jim Hall (M, 62) Valdosta, GA
5. 27:49.2 ~ Bob Bowen (M, 70) Nashville, GA

Top Five Females, 2013 Valdosta Flag Day 5K

1. 22:46.7 ~ Alison Peters (F, 17) Valdosta, GA
2. 23:46.2 ~ Debbie Green (F, 47) Valdosta, GA
3. 26:53.5 ~ Heather Kelly (F, 35) Lake Park, GA
4. 27:24.4 ~ Alison Thornhill (F, 33) Valdosta, GA
5. 32:57.6 ~ Crystal McGhin (F, 30) Valdosta, GA

Links

• Complete results of Valdosta's 2013 Flag Day 5K
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AuBsYKIIn3TCdFVLZ1VLTWlfcVBMb1Jvb25ZcWVBWWc
  
  
• Find another flag-wavin' event for your race schedule on the Trouble Afoot! calendar:
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1