Tony Guillen and Renee Cox go fast at "Go Pink!"

Close to 300 athletes left Premier Fitness in Tallahassee, Florida, on Saturday morning, 19 October 2013, but Tallahassee master runner Tony Guillen was the first to return, covering a 3.1-mile course in 17:33 and winning the inaugural "Go Pink!" 5K. Renee Cox was the first woman across the finish line, placing seventh overall in 19:56. Fran McLean was the top female master in the field, 24th overall in 24:07.


Because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, road races that benefit breast cancer organizations or promote awareness of the disease have filled the U.S. calendar during that month. The number may exceed that of the November Turkey Trots. Tallahassee's latest entry in the category was the Go Pink! 5K. The race started on Maclay Boulevard shortly after 8:30 AM. Tony Guillen quickly grabbed the lead, shadowed by Gary Galvez. Before the first kilometer was over, the athletes abandoned the pavement for a path along a power line easement, headed for the turnaround of the out-and-back course. Guillen broke the race open on the cross-country section of the race, building up a lead of over 150 meters. Master runner Jonathan LaBarre passed the fading Galvez, and then Cole Tessier did the same, but neither could make up any ground on Guillen. Guillen cruised home victorious in 17:33, with LaBarre finishing runner-up in 18:05. Tessier was third in 18:22. Chris Davis outkicked Galvez for fourth place, both runners clocked in 18:50.


Renee Cox took an early lead over the women's field. For a while, Conley Elementary School teacher Leyssa Helgeson followed closely, but Cox soon left Helgeson behind and was unchallenged for the rest of the race. Cox finished the race in 19:56, good enough for seventh overall and the first female spot. Helgeson was the second woman in, placing ninth overall in 21:39. Florida State University student Allison Clarke (16th, 22:47) was third in the women's division, and Brittney Barnes (18th, 22:56) edged Ashley Bell (19th, 23:01) for fifth.


Top Ten Males, 2013 Go Pink! 5K

1. 17:33 ~ Tony Guillen (M, 44) Tallahassee, FL
2. 18:05 ~ Jonathan LaBarre (M, 41)
3. 18:22 ~ Cole Tessier (M, 30)
4. 18:50 ~ Chris Davis (M, 19)
5. 18:50 ~ Gary Galvez (M, 26)
6. 19:55 ~ Mike Hyde (M, 29)
7. 21:24 ~ JP Swope (M, 36)
8. 21:50 ~ Craig Asselin (M, 28)
9. 22:04 ~ Brian Henry (M, 28)
10. 22:15 ~ Shaun Conory (M, 27)

Top Ten Females, 2013 Go Pink! 5K

1. 19:56 ~ Renee Cox (F, 26) Tallahassee, FL
2. 21:39 ~ Leyssa Helgeson (F, 36) Tallahassee, FL
3. 22:47 ~ Allison Clarke (F, 21)
4. 22:56 ~ Brittney Barnes (F, 25)
5. 23:01 ~ Ashley Bell (F, 23)
6. 23:49 ~ Brooke Netherland (F, 16)
7. 24:07 ~ Fran McLean (F, 56)
8. 24:35 ~ Annie Jansen (F, 17)
9. 25:11 ~ Sara Rutten (F, 16)
10. 25:17 ~ Madison Close (F, 23)

Links

• Complete results of the 2013 "Go Pink!" 5K
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AuBsYKIIn3TCdFlybExLcGViY0k2WmlZS3dlaWRtNlE
  
  
• More photos of the 2013 "Go Pink!" 5K
  
  • Part 1: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10103687775380423.1073741909.5215641&l=e8ddc25de2
  • Part 2: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10103688724623133.1073741911.5215641&l=3dc4d5c5e6
  
  
• Pink, blue, green, or purple; find an upcoming race with a color to suit your fancy
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

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