Saturday, January 17, 2015

Kaiser wins the GWTC 30K while Khosla and Rosen tumble records in the 15K

Nate KaiserGoldilocks wouldn't care for the Gulf Winds Track Club 30K. Like the porridge she sampled in the three bears' cottage, some years the weather is too hot and some years it's too cold. Like the bears' beds she tried out, some years the clay roads are too hard and some year's they're too soft--it depends on when it rained last. Nevertheless, some years everything at the 30K is just right. The 38th annual GWTC 30K on Saturday morning, 17 January 2015, fell in one of those "just right" years, with near perfect weather and road conditions. Taking advantage of the "just right" day on Old Centerville and Sunny Hill Roads, Nate Kaiser won the 18.6-mile race in 1:53:19, while Katie Sherron took the women's title with a 2:22:32, finishing 19th overall. In the concurrently run 15K, Leon High senior Sukhi Khosla won with a new course record of 50:11. Sheryl Rosen picked up her third women's win of 2015 in the 15K, placing 12th overall in 58:37.


Patrick WhiteheadThe 30K and 15K started near the Retreat at Bradley's Pond, just north of Tallahassee. Nearly 300 runners made the first turn from Bradley Road onto Centerville Road; 165 would finish the 15K and another 107 the 30K. Chasing the fastest 15K runners, Five-time GWTC 30K champion Vince Molosky led the long race. At 7-1/2 kilometers the 15K runners turned around to head back to Bradley's Pond, and Molosky was alone out front. The nearest pursuit was half a kilometer back--Tallahassee runners Nate Kaiser, Geb Kiros, and Adam Greenstein. Another hundred meters behind that group, Patrick Whitehead of Albany, Georgia, ran in fifth.


Molosky made it to the halfway point, the turnaround on Sunny Hill Road, still in command of the 30K. There are two halves of a race though. Nate Kaiser caught Molosky early in the second half of the 30K, and by the 20K mark Kaiser was 70 meters ahead. That gap was widening. Patrick Whitehead was still over half a kilometer back at that point, but he was gaining on Molosky.


"I caught him with about two miles to go," said Whitehead.


Katie SherronNo one caught Kaiser, however. In his GWTC 30K debut, Kaiser won the race in 1:53:19. Whitehead was second in 1:56:51 and Molosky was third in 1:58:55. Once a contender for second, Adam Greenstein was fourth in 2:02:02. Peter Kaus placed fifth in 2:03:47. Geb Kiros was the fastest master runner in the race, sixth overall in 2:04:54.


Katie Sherron had won the women's division at the 30K two of the last three years. Seven kilometers into the 2015 race, she was 300 meters ahead of the next woman, Jillian Heddaeus, and looking likely to make it three out of four. Sherron made it to the halfway mark still leading the women's field, and her second half was as strong as her first. Over the last 10 kilometers Sherron doubled her lead and finished atop the women's standings in 2:22:32. Heddaeus hung on to take the second women's spot, 22nd overall in 2:28:31. 2014 30K women's winner Laura McDermott was narrowing the gap on Heddaeus late in the race, but never enough to pose a challenge. The third woman finisher, McDermott was 23rd overall in 2:30:01. Nancy Stedman was the first woman master and sixth female finisher, placing 33rd overall in 2:39:34.


Top Ten Men, 2015 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K
  1. 1:53:19 ~ Nate Kaiser (M, 35) Tallahassee, FLVince Molosky
  2. 1:56:51 ~ Patrick Whitehead (M, 28) Albany, GA
  3. 1:58:55 ~ Vince Molosky (M, 35) Tallahassee, FL
  4. 2:02:02 ~ Adam Greenstein (M, 23)
  5. 2:03:47 ~ Peter Kaus (M, 30) Tallahassee, FL
  6. 2:04:54 ~ Geb Kiros (M, 48) Tallahassee, FL
  7. 2:12:34 ~ Jack McDermott (M, 45) Tallahassee, FL
  8. 2:16:53 ~ Mark Tombrink (M, 27)
  9. 2:18:21 ~ Paul Guyas (M, 37) Tallahassee, FL
  10. 2:18:42 ~ Jon Mason (M, 41)

Top Ten Women, 2015 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K
  1. 2:22:32 ~ Katie Sherron (F, 33) Tallahassee, FLJillian Heddaeus
  2. 2:28:31 ~ Jillian Heddaeus (F, 31) Tallahassee, FL
  3. 2:30:01 ~ Laura McDermott (F, 35) Tallahassee, FL
  4. 2:34:40 ~ Hilary Joyner (F, 39)
  5. 2:34:40 ~ Nikky Manausa (F, 33)
  6. 2:39:34 ~ Nancy Stedman (F, 53) Tallahassee, FL
  7. 2:42:25 ~ Jane Skalski (F, 30) Tallahassee, FL
  8. 2:42:33 ~ Katie Clark (F, 40)
  9. 2:43:44 ~ Emma Spencer (F, 33)
  10. 2:43:51 ~ Tiffany Roddenberry (F, 30)

Sukhi KhoslaRace day dawned on about as close to a winter morning as North Florida ever sees, with frost glazing the grass along the road. It was the kind of cool air in which the heat engine that powers a runner works most efficiently. You could see that in the front of the 15K field. Sukhi Khosla and Hunter Scott started the race in long sleeves, knit caps, and gloves, but by three kilometers the two Leon High seniors had abandoned the cold weather gear. Khosla was on a mission. The holder of four Florida high school running titles and the winner of the last two GWTC 15K races, Khosla wanted the course record. He had missed it by one second in the 2014 race, a rainy day when the unpaved half of the course had been a muddy morass. This year the footing was excellent. Taking advantage of the conditions Khosla posted a winning 50:11, trimming nearly a minute off of Will Stanford's 2009 course record of 51:05. Hunter Scott was second in 51:51 and Dan Baur third in 53:43. Zach DeVeau ran a strong second half, moving up to edge Leon sophomore Matt Cashin for fourth, 55:28 to 55:32. Jesse Espinoza was the fastest master in the 15K, coming in sixth overall in 56:27.


Sheryl RosenSheryl Rosen is a four-time women's champ at the GWTC 30K, with wins in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. In 2014 she took a break from the long race and finished second to Seeley Gutierrez in the 15K. In 2015 Rosen was back in the 15K and finishing second to no one. The Tallahassee lawyer ran 58:37, placing 12th overall, taking the first women's spot, and setting a new course record for women. It was also nearly two minutes faster than Rosen had run two months earlier on a fully-paved 15K course at the Tallahassee Turkey Trot. Stephanie Liles-Weyant was the women's runner-up and top woman master, coming in 23rd overall in 62:47. Renee Cox was third in the women's standings, 30th overall in 67:04.


When everything is "just right," a lot of athletes leave the race happy. That includes out-of-town visitors, like Albany, Georgia, runner Patrick Whitehead.


"Gorgeous course," said Whitehead after the race. "I hope to run it again."


Next January he can.


Top Ten Men, 2015 Gulf Winds Track Club 15K
    Hunter Scott
  1. 50:11 ~ Sukhi Khosla (M, 18)
  2. 51:51 ~ Hunter Scott (M, 18)
  3. 53:43 ~ Dan Baur (M, 28)
  4. 55:28 ~ Zach Deveau (M, 27)
  5. 55:32 ~ Matthew Cashin (M, 15)
  6. 56:27 ~ Jesse Espinoza (M, 48)
  7. 58:00 ~ Adam Wallenfelsz (M, 17)
  8. 58:08 ~ Danny Moore (M, 17)
  9. 58:23 ~ Jake Mazziotta (M, 16)
  10. 58:29 ~ James McClure (M, 15)

Top Ten Women, 2015 Gulf Winds Track Club 15K
  1. 58:37 ~ Sheryl Rosen (F, 30)Stephanie Liles-Weyant
  2. 62:47 ~ Stephanie Liles-Weyant (F, 42)
  3. 67:04 ~ Renee Cox (F, 27)
  4. 71:06 ~ Sarrah Carroll (F, 32)
  5. 71:16 ~ Zoe Sheldon (F, 15)
  6. 71:26 ~ Caroline Willis (F, 15)
  7. 71:45 ~ Grace Lockhart (F, 16)
  8. 71:51 ~ Gray Kinch (F, 15)
  9. 74:49 ~ Jane Johnson (F, 55)
  10. 76:52 ~ Sarah Dugas (F, 36)

Gulf Winds Track Club 30K Champions, 1978 - 2015
DatesRaceMenWomenFinishers
17 January 201530K1:53:19, Nate Kaiser2:22:32, Katie Sherron107
15K50:11, Sukhi Khosla58:37, Sheryl Rosen165
11 January 201430K1:57:29, Vince Molosky2:34:23, Laura McDermott55
15K51:06, Sukhi Khosla61:27, Seeley Gutierrez169
12 January 201330K1:48:22, Stanley Linton2:16:41, Katie Showman150
15K52:57, Sukhi Khosla64:19, Kristin Sweeney200
14 January 201230K1:51:30, Charlie Johnson2:17:38, Katie Showman150
15K53:29, Stanley Linton60:42, Pasca Cheruiyot176
15 January 201130K1:51:48, Vince Molosky2:17:15, Heather Griffis103
15K53:03, Stephen Cox59:55, Lisa Johnson169
16 January 201030K1:56:14, Vince Molosky2:14:22, Sheryl Rosen90
15K51:50, Matt Mizereck63:45, Lisa Johnson101
17 January 200930K1:54:06, Vince Molosky2:11:41, Sheryl Rosen87
15K51:05, Will Stanford61:49, Lisa Johnson96
12 January 200830K2:00:29, Vince Molosky2:17:24, Sheryl Rosen77
15K54:23, Matt Mizereck63:13, Lisa Johnson126
13 January 200730K2:01:23, Justin Dickieson2:04:21, Sheryl Rosen70
15K58:18, Matthew Mizereck73:40, Anna Busby50
21 January 200630K2:03:36, Michael Douma2:09:27, Stephanie Liles65
15K58:51, Chris Holland60:30, Sarah Docter-Williams59
22 January 200530K1:56:18, Art Remillard2:13:50, Jane Johnson38
16 January 200430K1:56:00, Timothy Bolton2:09:27, Jane Johnson69
18 January 200330K2:02:28, Larry Mengelkoch2:07:46, Jane Johnson
15 December 200130K2:09:43, Tom Ratliffe2:22:56, Carrie Weyant
3 February 200130K2:00:29, Kevin Porter2:02:27, Jane Johnson
5 February 200030K1:57:47, Garth Grumme1:53:04, Anne Van Schuppen
6 February 199930K1:58:17, Doug Gorton2:11:20, Jane Johnson
10 January 199830K1:57:45, Clarence Calloway2:04:34, Jane Johnson
7 January 199730K1:54:26, Tracy Burch2:00:28, Jane Johnson
13 January 199630K1:46:14, John Viitanen2:12:30, Eileen Telford
14 January 199530K1:49:45, Herb Wills2:22:18, Nancy Stuparich
22 January 199430K1:43:50, Herb Wills2:07:27, Lisa Herman
16 January 199330K1:43:54, Herb Wills2:12:42, Carrie Hunnicutt
4 January 199230K1:46:36, Jessie Close2:13:46, Lynda Nilges
12 January 199130K1:37:31, David Keen2:06:03, Paula Johnson
13 January 199030K1:43:57, Herb Wills2:12:00, Paula Johnson
14 January 198930K1:45:31, Jessie Close2:22:07, Mary Jean Yon
16 January 198830K1:45:24, Tom Burr2:10:04, Mae Cleveland
10 January 198730K1:44:45, Larry Greene2:11:59, Karen Macharg
18 January 198630K1:38:54, Herb Wills2:10:48, Missy James
14 January 198530K1:45:10, Herb Wills2:17:56, Mae Cleveland
14 January 198430K1:43:32, Noel Shumann2:04:20, Barbara Balzer
15 January 198330K1:48:18, Andrew Wills2:18:18, Christy Orthman
16 January 198230K1:44:41, Rick Miller1:56:57, Laura Ledbetter
198130K

12 January 198030K1:51:19, Steve Ray2:48:31, Robyn Anderson
3 February 197930K1:42:13, Ken Misner2:12:44, Lynda Heimann
11 March 197830K1:46:19, Tim Simpkins2:22:31, Donna Glotzbach
  • In 1978 the race was run on Apalachicola National Forest roads, starting and finishing near
    Hilliardville.
  • From 1979 to 1981 the race was run on Natural Bridge Road.
  • From 1982 to February 2001 the race was run in the Saint Marks National Wildlife Refuge.
  • From December 2001 to 2005 the race was run at Natural Bridge.
  • From 2006 to 2015 the GWTC 30K was run on Old Centerville Road and Sunny Hill Road,
    starting and finishing at
    Bradley's Retreat in Felkel.


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