Kelly and Page headline a New Year's Runnin' Eve in Valdosta

They might have been complicit in solidifying a new tradition in south Georgia athletics. The 75 runners didn't care, though; they were eager enough to race Valdosta's second annual New Year's Eve 5K. They were 25 more than the 50 runners who had finished the first New Year's Eve 5K in 2012. They were all at Lowndes High on Tuesday night, 31 December, for one more race in 2013.


Valdosta Middle School cross-country coach Ryan Kelly won the 3.1-mile race by about 100 meters, posting a time of 18:04. There was a tight battle for second place among three member of the Lowneds High cross-country team. Sophomore Andrew Elam edged freshman Dylan Rogers for the runner-up spot, 18:25 to 18:26, while senior Jadon Long followed a few steps back in fourth at 18:31. Valdosta's Tom Phillips took top master honors, coming in eighth overall in 20:54.


Fourteen-year-old Makenzee Page of Ray City, Georgia, led the women's standings, coming in 14th overall in 22:30. Page's time set a new women's course record for the event, bettering the 24:56 run in 2012 by Valdosta master runner Martha Mazurkiewicz. Elizabeth Smith of Valdosta was the next woman across the finish line, 15th overall in 22:48. Valdosta's Debbie Green was the third woman finisher and first woman master, placing 17th overall in 23:09.


Expect the third annual Valdosta New Year's Eve 5K back on a closed course at Lowndes High School on Wednesday night, 31 December 2014. It's one party that won't have you waking up with painful regrets on January 1.


Top Ten Men, Valdosta's 2013 New Year's Eve 5K

1. 18:03.3 ~ Ryan Kelly (M, 35) Lake Park, GA
2. 18:24.3 ~ Andrew Elam (M, 15) Valdosta, GA
3. 18:25.6 ~ Dylan Rogers (M, 15) Valdosta, GA
4. 18:30.3 ~ Jadon Long (M, 17) Hahira, GA
5. 19:02.1 ~ Nathan Crews (M, 16) Valdosta, GA
6. 19:30.9 ~ Tyler Thurman (M, 18) Valdosta, GA
7. 20:29.1 ~ Michael Roche (M, 38) Valdosta, GA
8. 20:53.8 ~ Tom Phillips (M, 50) Valdosta, GA
9. 20:57.3 ~ Justin Pickett (M, 16) Valdosta, GA
10. 21:49.8 ~ Milo Mirate (M, 18) Valdosta, GA

Top Ten Women, Valdosta's 2013 New Year's Eve 5K

1. 22:29.3 ~ Makenzee Page (F, 14) Ray City, GA
2. 22:47.4 ~ Elizabeth Smith (F, 35) Valdosta, GA
3. 23:08.8 ~ Debbie Green (F, 47) Valdosta, GA
4. 25:47.1 ~ Candice Arnold (F, 34) Lake Park, GA
5. 26:06.9 ~ Melaine Ellis (F, 40) Valdosta, GA
6. 27:31.0 ~ Beth Ford (F, 45) Valdosta, GA
7. 28:23.2 ~ Sylvia Ellis (F, 44) Valdosta, GA
8. 28:24.9 ~ Brooke Meindl (F, 12) Valdosta, GA
9. 28:25.4 ~ Stephanie Adams (F, 46) Jennings, FL
10. 28:33.0 ~ Lexi Metts (F, 10) Hahira, GA

Links

• Complete results of Valdosta's 2013 New Year's Eve 5K (Courtesy of A Course/Line, LLC)
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AuBsYKIIn3TCdGRobmZxcjJPRUh0emxLTTVjSExaU0E
  
  
• 2012 story, "In Valdosta, McLeod and Mazurkiewicz ring out the old year with new wins"
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/01/valdosta-nye-2012.html
  
  
• Find upcoming races in the region during the new year using the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

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