"We have two road races on campus every weekend," said the Florida State University police officer. "This one is the biggest."He was at the top of College Avenue in front of Westcott Hall, looking down College Avenue at the horde gathering for the start of Zeta Tau Alpha's annual Race To Live 5K on Saturday morning, 15 October 2011. There aren't actually two runs in FSU's streets each weekend, or even most weekends, but it is indisputable that ZTA's 5K is the largest. There were hundreds and hundreds assembled for this year's race, but you'll have to take my word for it--it has been several years since ZTA even attempted to compile complete results of the event.
A little over twenty minutes later than the schedule 10:00AM starting time, the field was released to start its charge west up the College Avenue approach of Gallows Hill. One runner sprinted the first 150 meters to the hilltop, stopped, and declared victory before jogging onward. The other leaders at the top of the hill had one thing in common with him--they wouldn't be near the front at the finish of the race.
That honor went to Nick Ribble, a former cross-country runner at Clearwater, Florida's Countryside High School (c/o 2009). At the halfway point of the race Ribble was out in front with an eight second lead. He widened that gap to 23 seconds on the way to the finish, winning the race in 19:06. In the women's division, Chloe Jenkins of the FSU Swim Club was even more dominant. Jenkins led the women's division almost from the start, racing to a 20:42 win and finishing over a minute ahead of the female runner-up, Megan O'Conner, who clocked 21:44. Jenkins' time was also faster than Katie Showman's winning time of 21:17 in the 2010 Race To Live. The fastest master runner of the morning was Matt Curran, who crossed the finish line at 21:04.
The FSU chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha has staged the Race To Live 5K for more than a few years, but this was only the second year that they've held the race in October. The fall date is actually quite appropriate--October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and the Race To Live is a breast cancer benefit. The move from fall to spring hasn't hurt attendance, either. Nor has either the festive atmosphere of the event diminished at all, likewise the amount of effort the ZTA sisters lavish on their race. Just don't count on seeing your name in the results--bring your own watch.| Award winners at the 2011 FSU ZTA Race To Live 5K | ||
|---|---|---|
| Age Division | Male | Female |
| Overall | 19:06 Nick Ribble | 20:42 Chloe Jenkins |
| 12 & under | 22:27 Ben Smith | 37:04 Kaylnn Lynden |
| 13 to 17 | 22:14 Chase Savery | 38:07 Christina Cerrone |
| 18 to 24 | 19:29 Nicoli H | 21:44 Megan O'Conner |
| 25 to 35 | 25:08 Michael Oats | 27:03 Natalie Perfetti |
| 36 to 46 | 21:04 Matt Curran | 29:16 Kim Curran |
| 47 to 59 | 27:49 | 31:30 Melissa Napier |
| 60 & over | 44:19 Mike Bates | 55:16 Carolyn Overminder |
Links:
- More photos of the 2011 FSU ZTA Race To Live 5K
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10101086258261583.3221304.5215641&type=1&l=1453a4fc2d - 2010 story, "Chisena and Showman win ZTA's Race to Live"
http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/10/fsu-zta-2010.html - Upcoming races in the Tallahassee region, on and off the FSU campus
http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
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