Seymour and Dixon heat the streets at 35th Hot Trot 5K

David Seymour is the captain of Fort Rucker's team for the All-Army 10-Miler Race. That doesn't mean that the Staff Sergeant doesn't occasionally run something shorter. For instance, on Saturday morning, 29 June 2013, Staff Sgt. Seymour raced 3.1 miles in 16:36, winning the 35th annual Hot Trot 5K in Chipley, Florida. Kevin Potts, an alumnus of the cross-country squad at nearby Graceville High School, finished runner-up in 17:07. Jay, Florida master runner Matt Dobson, took third in 17:23. A many-time winner of the Hot Trot 5K, Dobson won the race for the 14th time in 2011.


In May Alex Dixon was winning medals at the South Carolina high school track and field championships. But in June the Wren High School distance runner was in Chipley, Florida racing the Hot Trot 5K--racing well enough to win the women's division with a 21:01, placing 11th overall. Right behind Dixon was Lauren Rattan, an alumna of the track team at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Rattan took the second women's spot, finishing 12th overall in 21:09. Stephanie Rose (13th, 21:23) was the third female finisher. Debbie Wittmer (17th, 21:39) of Blakely, Georgia was the fourth female finisher and the first master woman.


The Hot Trot 5K is part of Chipley's annual Panhandle Watermelon Festival. First run in 1979, the race is one of oldest in the Florida Panhandle. Perhaps the oldest, depending on how you want to define the Panhandle.


Top Ten Males, 2013 Hot Trot 5K

1. 16:36 ~ David Seymour (M, 25) Fort Rucker, AL
2. 17:07 ~ Kevin Potts (M, 21) Graceville, FL
3. 17:23 ~ Matt Dobson (M, 43) Jay, FL
4. 17:59 ~ Jeff Dixon (M, 40) Powdersville, SC
5. 19:44 ~ Mark Clements (M, 36)
6. 20:15 ~ Michael Houston, Jr. (M, 14) Dothan, AL
7. 20:27 ~ Matthew Keusey (M, 17)
8. 20:52 ~ Cameron Golden (M, 26) Graceville, FL
9. 20:59 ~ Brian Burns (M, 16) Bonifay, FL
10. 21:00 ~ Nicholas Lewis (M, 28)

Top Ten Females, 2013 Hot Trot 5K

1. 21:01 ~ Alex Dixon (F, 17) Powdersville, SC
2. 21:09 ~ Lauren Rattan (F, 23)
3. 21:23 ~ Stephanie Rose (F, 36)
4. 21:39 ~ Debbie Wittmer (F, 50) Blakely, GA
5. 22:09 ~ Heather Hingson (F, 36)
6. 22:43 ~ Brooke Houppert (F, 35)
7. 23:54 ~ Carolyn Houston (F, 41) Dothan, AL
8. 24:06 ~ Val Lichner (F, 54) Bonifay, FL
9. 24:45 ~ Nina Korges (F, 54)
10. 26:05 ~ Marty Kirkland (F, 60) Southport, FL

Winners of the Chipley, Florida Hot Trot, 1979 - 2013
Date	Men	Women
June 1979
21 June 1980	32:34 ~ Lee Fidler	39:10 ~ Dolly Jill Harrison
20 June 1981	31:24 ~ Carlton Law	38:55 ~ Laura Ledbetter
19 June 1982	15:46 ~ Keith Lee	17:51 ~ Judy Stokely
18 June 1983	15:23 ~ David Parker	19:49 ~ Donna Duty
30 June 1984	15:31 ~ David Parker	19:32 ~ Donna Duty
29 June 1985	15:10 ~ Paul Buchanan	21:11 ~ Lisa Weldon
28 June 1986	15:50 ~ David Parker	20:00 ~ Donna Duty
27 June 1987	15:20 ~ James Frazier	20:02 ~ Lisa Kutschera
25 June 1988	15:36 ~ Paul Buchanan	21:19 ~ Marty Kirkland
24 June 1989	14:52 ~ Matt Parker	20:25 ~ Marty Kirkland
23 June 1990	15:53 ~ Matt Dobson	19:52 ~ Donna Duty
29 June 1991	15:36 ~ Matt Dobson	18:45 ~ Angela Crook
27 June 1992	15:23 ~ Matt Dobson	20:33 ~ Lou Ellen Eaddy
26 June 1993	16:34 ~ Sam Graves	19:51 ~ Lou Ellen Eaddy
25 June 1994	16:25 ~ Sam Graves	21:03 ~ Donna Duty
24 June 1995	16:11 ~ Matt Parker	21:46 ~ Lou Ellen Eaddy Jayroe
29 June 1996	16:03 ~ Paul Hough	21:00 ~ Lou Ellen Jayroe
28 June 1997	15:54 ~ Myles Gibson	17:52 ~ Sarah Kramer
27 June 1998	16:25 ~ Tracy Burch	22:23 ~ Marty Kirkland
26 June 1999	15:48 ~ Matt Dobson	20:52 ~ Virginia Hayden
24 June 2000	16:22 ~ Matt Dobson	21:48 ~ Terri Gray
23 June 2001	15:28 ~ Matt Dobson	22:20 ~ Lou Ellen Jayroe
29 June 2002	15:38 ~ Matt Dobson	20:22 ~ Tricia Snyder
28 June 2003	15:25 ~ Matt Dobson	21:52 ~ Teresa Lafleur
26 June 2004	15:49 ~ Matt Dobson	22:22 ~ Piper Stockman
25 June 2005	17:57 ~ Sam Fernandez	21:37 ~ Debbie Wittmer
24 June 2006	15:56 ~ Matt Dobson	22:03 ~ Lauren Eschbach
23 June 2007	16:25 ~ Matt Dobson	22:32 ~ Sara Jackson
28 June 2008	16:22 ~ Matt Dobson	21:48 ~ Terri Gray
27 June 2009	16:38 ~ Matt Dobson	22:08 ~ Katrina Bokenfohr
26 June 2010	18:41 ~ Chris Neal	19:42 ~ Masie Stromenger
25 June 2011	16:37 ~ Matt Dobson	22:52 ~ Kristina Bennett
24 June 2012	17:21 ~ Jordan Green	21:02 ~ Brittny Johnson
29 June 2013	16:36 ~ David Seymour	21:01 ~ Alex Dixon
From 1979 to 1981 the Hot Trot was a 10K race. From 1982 onward it was a 5K. A huge thank you to Larry Dykes for delving into the archives of the Dothan Runners to find the names and times of the Hot Trot champions  from 1980 to 2010.

Links

• Complete results of the 2013 Hot Trot 5K
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AuBsYKIIn3TCdFktOUtHMklJamUzemc0aGU4ckFvWkE
  
  
• Photos at chipleybugle.com of the 2013 Watermelon Festival, including the Hot Trot 5K
  http://chipleybugle.com/2013/06/30/watermelon-festival-photos/
  
  
• 2012 story, "Green and Johnson cross Georgia to win Chipley's Hot Trot 5K"
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/06/hot-trot-2012.html
  
  
• 2011 story, "Dobson and Bennett turn the heat on the competition at the Hot Trot"
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/06/hot-trot-2011.html
  
  
• Map of Chipley's 2012 Hot Trot 5K course
  http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/104231371
  
  
• Fort Rucker Ten-Mile Run-Off 2013
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/05/rucker-ten-2013.html
  
  
• Melons, peanuts, corn, cucumbers--if there's a run for it, you'll find it here
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1