According to the Azalea Society of America and other enthusiasts of the many species of Rhododendron Pentanthera and Rhododendron Tsutsuji, the azalea is known as "the royalty of the garden." At the 14th annual Valdosta, Georgia, Azalea Festival, the crown in the Azalea 5K Road Race went to Lake Park's Ryan Kelly, a cross-country coach at Valdosta Middle School. Kelly's winning time in the 8 March 2014 race was 18:21. Not quite 200 meters back at 19:01 was the runner-up, Will Smith, a sophomore at Lowndes High School. Another Viking, freshman cross-country runner Daniel Swilley, was third in 20:53. Anthony Sauger edged Cody Pezent for fourth, 21:49 to 21:53. Valdosta, Georgia, athlete Kenneth Smith was the first master runner in the race, placing sixth overall in 21:59.Lauren Bewley captured the women's crown in the Azalea Festival 5K, crossing the finish line just a step or two ahead of Sylvia Ellis. Bewley was 14th overall in 25:02 and Ellis 15th overall in 25:04. Ellis was the first woman master in the race.
Nearly 70 athletes finished the annual 3.1-mile race. A Course/Line, LLC, of Valdosta, Georgia, provided finish line and timing services.
Top Ten Men, 2014 Valdosta Azalea Festival 5K
- 18:20.9 ~ Ryan Kelly (M, 35) Lake Park, GA
- 19:00.7 ~ Will Smith (M, 15) Valdosta, GA
- 20:53.0 ~ Daniel Swilley (M, 15) Valdosta, GA
- 21:48.8 ~ Anthony Sauger (M, 13) Valdosta, GA
- 21:52.3 ~ Cody Pezent (M, 13) Adel, GA
- 21:58.9 ~ Kenneth Smith (M, 49) Valdosta, GA
- 22:00.0 ~ Thom Amiot (M, 26) Valdosta, GA
- 22:49.4 ~ Gavin Benbow (M, 14) Valdosta, GA
- 22:58.6 ~ Jeff Keaushaar (M, 44) Valdosta, GA
- 23:05.9 ~ Coby Kent (M, 12) Valdosta, GA
Top Ten Women, 2014 Valdosta Azalea Festival 5K
- 25:01.7 ~ Lauren Bewley (F, 32) Valdosta, GA
- 25:03.1 ~ Sylvia Ellis (F, 44) Valdosta, GA
- 25:33.0 ~ Sheena Parrish (F, 30) Valdosta, GA
- 27:04.1 ~ Ansley Harrison (F, 19) Valdosta, GA
- 27:33.9 ~ Katherine Brown (F, 34) Valdosta, GA
- 28:33.8 ~ Angela Pezent (F, 40) Adel, GA
- 28:29.1 ~ Lisa Walker (F, 48) Lake Park, GA
- 29:57.3 ~ Anastasia Lewandowski (F, 28) Valdosta, GA
- 29:57.7 ~ Ryan Springer (F, 34) Valdosta, GA
- 30:43.6 ~ Megan Register (F, 25) Naylor, GA
| Valdosta Azalea Festival 5K champions, 2001-2014 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Men | Women | Finishers |
| 17 March 2001 | |||
| 16 March 2002 | |||
| 15 March 2003 | |||
| 13 March 2004 | |||
| 12 March 2005 | |||
| 11 March 2006 | 16:51 ~ Andrew Minnicks | 20:34 ~ Susan Fischer | 123 |
| 10 March 2007 | 17:17 ~ Todd Smoot | 19:33 ~ Melissa Daugherty | 152 |
| 15 March 2008 | 16:56 ~ John Seppala | 21:46 ~ Brandi Faircloth | 143 |
| 14 March 2009 | 18:16 ~ Chris Gaither | 20:40 ~ Mary Anne Grayson | 155 |
| 13 March 2010 | 16:46 ~ Brandon Skiles | 20:54 ~ Brandi Faircloth | 126 |
| 12 March 2011 | 17:39 ~ James Marino | 20:39 ~ Alice Smoot | 131 |
| 10 March 2012 | 20:33 ~ Toby Wilkey | 22:10 ~ Christie Kingsbury | 109 |
| 9 March 2013 | 16:17 ~ Jesse Prince | 20:10 ~ Danielle Jarnagin | 125 |
| 8 March 2014 | 18:21 ~ Ryan Kelly | 25:02 ~ Lauren Bewley | 67 |
Links
- Complete results of the 2014 Valdosta Azalea Festival 5K, courtesy of A Course/Line, LLC
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AuBsYKIIn3TCdE44NFZkOGo5aVBCaDNKeGEwNXdxdlE
- 2013 story, "Prince and Jarnagin rule Valdosta's Azalea Fest 5K"
http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/03/azalea-fest-2013.html
- 2011 story, "Valdosta celebrates azaleas; Marino and Smoot celebrate wins"
http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/03/azalea-fest-2011.html
- Valdosta, Georgia, Azalea Festival
http://azaleafestival.com/
- Find more upcoming flowery races in the region on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
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