Scott and Liles-Weyant prevail at Trojan Pride 5K

Hunter Scott held on just long enough to defeat Colin Abbey 18:10 to 18:15 for the title at the second annual Trojan Pride 5K in Tallahassee's Tom Brown Park on Saturday morning, 3 September 2011. Doug Covert was the morning's fastest master, finishing eighth overall in 19:55. Stephanie Liles-Weyant was the first woman finisher in the field, placing 14th overall in 21:12 and coming in almost 400 meters ahead of women's runner-up Naliyah Gilbert (26th, 23:00) of Lincoln High School. Gulf Winds Track Club's Paula O'Neill was the third woman finisher and first woman master, 28th overall in 23:08.


Immediately after the start of the race, Hunter Scott went right to the front. About halfway through the 3.1-mile race Scott led by about 30 seconds. Colin Abbey, on the other hand, had started off a bit more conservatively, but by the halfway point he had worked his way up to second place and now had his sights on Scott. Over the next two kilometers Abbey nibbled at Scott's margin. When the leaders crossed Connor Boulevard with half a kilometer left to race, Scott was still ahead of Abbey, but only by 15 seconds. The runners charged up the slope onto the Lincoln High School campus with Abbey still closing on Scott. The race finished with half a lap on the Lincoln track. Abbey was still chasing. Scott still clung to a shrinking lead. At race's end, Scott reached the finish line five seconds before Abbey for the win. Behind the dueling leaders, Raa Middle School cross-country runner Evan Francis took third in 19:01.


Stephanie Liles-Weyant didn't grab the lead in the women's division right away, but by halfway through the race she had a comfortable lead of over 50 seconds, with Lincoln High cross-country runner Naliyah Gilbert in second place. While Liles-Weyant widened the gap on her pursuers, Gilbert was being stalked by Paula O'Neill. But while O'Neill closed in on Gilbert, Zoe Sheldon was making up ground on O'Neill. Gilbert managed to stay eight seconds up on O'Neill, but Sheldon closed to within two steps of O'Neill, and it took a final sprint on the Lincoln track to decide third place. When the dash was over O'Neill had prevailed over Sheldon by a single second, 23:08 to 23:09.


Proceeds from the Trojan Pride 5K go to support athletics at Tallahassee's Lincoln High School.


Top Ten Males, Second Annual Trojan Pride 5K

1. 18:10 ~ Hunter Scott (M, 15) Tallahassee, FL
2. 18:15 ~ Colin Abbey (M, 16) Tallahassee, FL
3. 19:01 ~ Evan Francis (M, 14) Tallahassee, FL
4. 19:35 ~ Eric Godin (M, 27) Tallahassee, FL
5. 19:38 ~ Anthony Walker (M, 15) Tallahassee, FL
6. 19:38 ~ Jaryd Walton (M, ) Tallahassee, FL
7. 19:49 ~ Dustin Rhodes (M, 27)
8. 19:51 ~ Jean Isenberg (M, 14)
9. 19:55 ~ Douglas Covert (M, 47) Tallahassee, FL
10. 20:11 ~ Erik Isenberg (M, 14)

Top Ten Females, Second Annual Trojan Pride 5K

1. 21:12 ~ Stephanie Liles-Weyant (F, 39) Tallahassee, FL
2. 23:00 ~ Naliyah Gilbert (F, 16) Tallahassee, FL
3. 23:08 ~ Paula O'Neill (F, 50) Tallahassee, FL
4. 23:09 ~ Zoe Sheldon (F, 12)
5. 23:27 ~ Fran McLean (F, 53) Tallahassee, FL
6. 23:36 ~ Madeline Horgan (F, 14)
7. 24:30 ~ Heather Hill (F, 15)
8. 25:01 ~ Sara Rysavy (F, 17)
9. 25:13 ~ Sandra Canada (F, 48) Woodville, FL
10. 25:50 ~ Kristie Matherne (F, 28)

Links:

• Complete results of the 2011 Trojan Pride 5K at gulfwinds.org
  http://www.gulfwinds.org/raceresults/2011/Lincoln%20Trojan%20Pride%202011.html
  
  
• More photos of the 2011 Trojan Pride 5K
  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100991335946663.3200476.5215641&l=3d9ceb2e6f
  
  
• Fred Deckert's photos of the 2011 Trojan Pride 5K
  https://picasaweb.google.com/Freddecka/Trojan11
  
  
• 2010 story, "Brannen and Harvey champs at Trojan Pride 5K"
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/08/trojan-2010.html
  
  
• If you're looking for an upcoming race in the Tallahassee region, look here!
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1