A speedy Thanksgiving morning in Valdosta for Norton and Bielmyer

It was a battle of two cross-country runners, one from Americus and one from Tallahassee, meeting on the neutral streets of Valdosta, Georgia. Darton College's Nathan Norton finished just ahead of Will McDuffie of Tallahassee's Chiles High to win the Thanksgiving Day 5K, 17:42 to 17:44, on Thursday morning, 24 November 2011. The defending champion, Valdosta's Masked Avenger, was over 200 meter back in a distant third place, clocking 18:35. Valdosta's Tom Phillips was the first master runner across the finish line, placing seventh overall in 19:56. Dr. Gretchen Bielmyer, a biologist at Valdosta State University, repeated as the women's champion, finishing 13th overall in 22:01. The women's runner-up, Melanie Hall of Tifton, was 20th overall in 23:15. Valdosta's Beth Ford was the first woman master in the Thanksgiving Day race, 51st overall in 27:49.


There were 146 recorded finishers in the 5K.


Top Ten Men, 2011 Valdosta Thanksgiving 5K

1. 17:42 ~ Nathan Norton (M, 20) Americus, GA
2. 17:44 ~ Will McDuffie (M, 17) Tallahassee, FL
3. 18:35 ~ Masked Avenger (M, 32) Valdosta, GA
4. 19:04 ~ Matt Triick (M, 28) Valdosta, GA
5. 19:38 ~ Christopher Corcoran (M, 25) Washington, DC
6. 19:53 ~ Dallon Shirley (M, 37) Cumming, GA
7. 19:56 ~ Tom Phillips (M, 48) Valdosta, GA
8. 21:09 ~ Justo Cabral (M, 39) Valdosta, GA
9. 21:41 ~ Joel Harper (M, 35) Valdosta, GA
10. 21:50 ~ Alan Johnson (M, 51) Valdosta, GA

Top Ten Women, 2011 Valdosta Thanksgiving 5K

1. 22:01 ~ Gretchen Bielmyer (F, 35) Valdosta, GA
2. 23:15 ~ Melanie Hall (F, 38) Tifton, GA
3. 23:58 ~ Karen Sunara (F, 37) Suwanee, GA
4. 24:09 ~ Maggie Adams (F, 29) Valdosta, GA
5. 24:50 ~ LeAnna Greene (F, 24) Lake Park, GA
6. 25:03 ~ Eryn Wilkey (F, 8) Valdosta, GA
7. 25:04 ~ Melissa Mekpongsatorn (F, 30) Naylor, GA
8. 25:14 ~ Michelle Morrison (F, 28) Hahira, GA
9. 25:55 ~ Alden Walker (F, 15) Valdosta, GA
10. 26:11 ~ Angie Owens (F, 36) Lakeland, GA

Links:

• Complete results of the 2011 Valdosta Thanksgiving Day 5K
  http://www.runningintheusa.com/Results/View.aspx?ResultsID=96747
  
  
• Tom Durham's photos of the 2011 Valdosta Thanksgiving Day 5K
  http://tdurham.zenfolio.com/p34364364
  
  
• 2010 story, "Avenger, Bielmyer run to Thanksgiving Day wins in Valdosta"
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/11/valdosta-thanksgiving-2010.html
  
  
• Another holiday, another race. Find your next race on the Trouble Afoot! calendar!
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1