Roe and Wilkey make their rivals look like buzzard bait

Want to do well at Reed Bingham State Park's Road Kill Run 5K? The secret at this year's race seemed to be youth. Nine of the first ten runners across the finish line were high school age or younger. Chance Roe, a Lowndes High School distance man, led this charge of emerging talent, winning the race in 18:43. Colquitt County High School senior Jonathan Florencio was next across the finish line, running 19:00 for the 3.1 miles through the park. Third place was decided by a kicker's duel betwen Lowndes's Tyler Thurman and Colquitt's Bayley Yarbrough with Thurman prevailing by a fraction of a second in 19:47.


Ten-year-old Eryn Wilkey of Valdosta was the first female finisher, placing ninth overall in 22:28. Just behind Wilkey, Hahira's Heather Barfield took second in the female division, finishing tenth in 22:37.


Amidst all the youth, let's not forget the master runners. James Hawke of Sylvester was the first master runner in the 2013 Road Kill Run 5K, finishing 13th overall in 23:39. The top female master was Valdosta's Sylvia Ellis, at 24:29 the fifth female runner and 16th finisher overall.


A total of 65 runners completed the five-kilometer tour of Reed Bingham State Park. The course was USATF certified, with professional timing and finish line services by A Course/Line, LLC. The race was sponsored by the Friend of Reed Bingham State Park, with proceeds going to support the park. Even if you're not running, the park is worth a visit for walking, watching birds, spotting gopher tortoises, or just enjoying the outdoors in south Georgia. It's also the winter home for enormous flocks of turkey vultures and black vultures, the inspiration for the parks Buzzard Day and Road Kill Run.


Top Ten Males, 2013 Road Kill Run 5K

1. 18:43.0 ~ Chance Roe (M, 15) Valdosta, GA
2. 18:59.8 ~ Jonathan Florencio (M, 17) Moultrie, GA
3. 19:46.1 ~ Tyler Thurman (M, 17) Valdosta, GA
4. 19:46.3 ~ Bayley Yarbrough (M, 17) Moultrie, GA
5. 21:41.8 ~ Jake Merritt (M, 13) Moultrie, GA
6. 22:01.8 ~ Milo Mirate (M, 17) Valdosta, GA
7. 22:12.8 ~ Cody Pezent (M, 12) Adel, GA
8. 22:17.6 ~ Toby Wilkey (M, 14) Valdosta, GA
9. 22:59.1 ~ Kenneth Wilkey (M, 38) Valdosta, GA
10. 23:38.4 ~ James Hawke (M, 46) Sylvester, GA

Top Ten Females, 2013 Road Kill Run 5K

1. 22:27.4 ~ Eryn Wilkey (F, 10) Valdosta, GA
2. 22:36.3 ~ Heather Barfield (F, 36) Hahira, GA
3. 22:40.2 ~ Melissa Roe (F, 35) Valdosta, GA
4. 23:41.4 ~ Makenzee Page (F, 13) Ray City, GA
5. 24:28.1 ~ Sylvia Ellis (F, 43) Valdosta, GA
6. 25:28.8 ~ Katelin Stecz (F, 13) Valdosta, GA
7. 25:29.0 ~ Destiny Roe (F, 13) Valdosta, GA
8. 26:13.1 ~ Christina DiTomasso (F, 39) Hahira, GA
9. 26:17.3 ~ Angela Pezent (F, 39) Adel, GA
10. 27:21.7 ~ Joanna Bryan (F, 34) Sparks, GA

Links

• Complete results of the 2013 Road Kill Run 5K
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AuBsYKIIn3TCdGFnMkxENEt4T2R1dDNFejdQei0wOEE
  
  
• 2012 story, "Avenger and Cherry leave 'em behind for the buzzards"
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/05/road-kill-2012.html
  
  
• Road Kill Run 5K course certification map (USATF #GA11076WC)
  http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/maps/showMap.asp?courseID=GA11076WC
  
  
• Reed Bingham State Park
  http://www.gastateparks.org/ReedBingham
  
  
• Look for an upcoming race with a more charismatic mascot on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1