Independence Day weekend 2011 in Live Oak, Florida opened on Saturday morning at 8:00am, July 2, with the second annual God & Country 5K. Valdosta's Todd Smoot opened his Independence Day weekend with a winning performace of 18:36 in the Live Oak race, setting a new event record. Smoot was also the fastest master in the field. Angela Wable of Tallahassee won the women's division, posting a 22:11.
The race started on the south side of Live Oak at the Suwannee County Sportsplex. After running almost completely around the park, the runners went out-and-back on the school roads to the east then returned to complete the loop around the Sportsplex. Before the runners left the Sportsplex, Todd Smoot was already in the front, a couple of steps ahead of John Bailey. Smoot continued to pull steadily away throughout the race, ultimately finishing over half a minute ahead of runner-up Bailey, 18:36 to 19:08. Spence Holben didn't leave the Sportsplex with the leaders, and was back in seventh place midway through the second kilometer. Over the next two kilometers, though, Holben worked up to fourth place, then finished strong to place third in 20:04.
Angela Wable also took command early in the women's competition. Lake City's Jackie Lewis chased Wable out of the Sportsplex, but Wable led big after a kilometer and a half, and bigger after three kilometers. At the finish line Wable posted a 22:11 winning time, nearly a minute ahead of Lewis' second-place effort of 23:05. Both runners bested last year's winning women's time (Lori Simpson, 25:06), and Lewis was the race's fastest female master. At 24:04, third-place woman Nancy Nelson was also under last year's record. Nelson finished the first kilometer in sixth place among the women, but moved up steadily to take control of the third position just over halfway through the race.88 athletes finished the second year event. The race is hosted by Westwood Baptist Church of Live Oak.
Top Ten Men, 2011 God & Country 5K
18:36 Todd Smoot (M, 49) Valdosta, GA- 19:08 John Bailey (M, 30)
- 20:04 Spence Holben (M, 36)
- 20:07 Octavio Escamilla (M, 17)
- 20:26 Craig Smoot (M, 17) Valdosta, GA
- 21:00 Aubrey Goff (M, 43) Lake City, FL
- 21:12 Daniel Martin (M, 24)
- 21:41 Nicholas Goff (M, 19)
- 23:15 Wes Haney (M, 52)
- 23:31 Kevin Wable (M, 43) Tallahassee, FL
Top Ten Women, 2011 God & Country 5K
22:11 Angela Wable (F, 37) Tallahassee, FL- 23:05 Jackie Lewis (F, 42) Lake City, FL
- 24:04 Nancy Nelson (F, 49)
- 24:38 Lori Simpson (F, 37)
- 24:58 Alesh Waller (F, 27)
- 26:21 Hayley Lewis (F, 16)
- 27:36 Sandi Raulerson (F, 39)
- 27:59 Brianna Muntean (F, 20)
- 28:02 Michelle Meeks (F, 28)
- 28:21 Nicole Hadley (F, 25)
Links:
- Complete results of the 2011 "God & Country" 5K at active.com
http://results.active.com/pages/page.jsp?eventLinkageID=128733&year=2011 - More photos of the 2011 "God & Country" 5K
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100902224491733.3169918.5215641&l=db255feee8 - Find more upcoming road races in the Tallahassee Region
http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
Excellent, Herb! Angela takes a GREAT picture, doesn't she? Thanks for taking/sharing photos & blog so those of us who can't make these races can still feel like we were there!
ReplyDeletejudy
Great article Herb. Long way from Tallahassee. True dedication.
ReplyDeleteJudy,
ReplyDeleteIt's not Angela's fault. She can't help it.
Herb.
Nolelaw,
ReplyDeleteLive Oak is still more or less in Tallahassee's back yard. Granted, it's in the far corner of the back yard, and you have to play quietly or old Mrs. Gruber who lives next door will complain to your parents, but it's still the back yard.
Thank you for your kind words!
Herb.
The results are up now...thanks for your patience. We will add the home towns of the runners some time this week.
ReplyDeleteJust read Herb's comment. Live Oak is a little far for Tallahassee's back yard but my husband and sons travel to Tallahassee on Thanksgiving for the Turkey Trot. It has become a family tradition.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I should have said travel from Live Oak to Tallahassee for the Turkey Trot.
ReplyDeleteSandy,
ReplyDeleteThe runners' names are missing from the results.
Herb.
Herb,
ReplyDeleteIf you click on Show more Columns, it shows their names. I'm not sure why it is like that but try that and see if it works for you.
Herb,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the pictures. We didn't have anyone extra to take pictures so I just took a very few from the start finish line. I really enjoyed looking at them.