Whitehead and Rittenhouse jingle all the way to victory

In Albany, Georgia, on Saturday morning, 6 December 2014, Darton State College psychology professor Dr. Patrick Whitehead left the field of the Jingle Bell Jog 10K far, far behind. Winning the 27th annual race by over 1200 meters, Whitehead ran 34:35, possibly the fastest 10K ever at the Jingle Bell Jog and certainly the fastest in the past ten years. Arnoldo DeJesus finished runner-up in 39:40, and Ashley Peacock was third in 40:46. Dennis Moore of Leesburg, Georgia, was the top master runner, placing fourth overall in 41:40.


Albany's Julia Rittenhouse was first in the women's standings, running the 6.2-mile race in 46:35. Ashley Barrow edged Mandy Phillips for the second women's spot, 48:43 to 48:54. Albany's Donna Butler was the first woman master in the race, coming in 49th overall in 52:47.


Top Ten Men, 2014 Jingle Bell Jog 10K

1. 34:34.65 ~ Patrick Whitehead (M, 28) 
2. 39:39.10 ~ Arnoldo DeJesus (M, 28) 
3. 40:45.32 ~ Ashley Peacock (M, 33) 
4. 41:40.00 ~ Dennis Moore (M, 46) 
5. 42:50.68 ~ Kurt Anthony (M, 49) 
6. 43:30.28 ~ Jeff Royer (M, 54) 
7. 43:49.72 ~ Antonio Braswell (M, 18) 
8. 43:53.83 ~ Dennis Fuchs (M, 45) 
9. 44:01.28 ~ Brooks Mitchell (M, 25) 
10. 44:14.38 ~ David Vann (M, 57) 

Top Ten Women, 2014 Jingle Bell Jog 10K

1. 46:34.72 ~ Julia Rittenhouse (F, 29) 
2. 48:42.18 ~ Ashley Barrow (F, 33) 
3. 48:53.24 ~ Mandy Phillips (F, 37) 
4. 50:19.42 ~ Brooke Marshall (F, 30) 
5. 50:42.59 ~ Amelia Gibbs (F, 37) 
6. 51:28.84 ~ Emily Phillips (F, 10) 
7. 51:32.57 ~ Angela Gattie (F, 33) 
8. 51:33.26 ~ Lindsey Giles (F, 33) 
9. 51:37.03 ~ Karla Spurlin (F, 30) 
10. 52:46.27 ~ Kelly Roberson (F, 35) 

David Thornton was the overwhelming winner of the Jingle Bell Jog 5K. Crossing the finish line almost 400 meters ahead of the next athlete, the Darton State College cross-country runner posted a 16:45 winning time in the junior race. Another Darton State harrier, Austin Stewart, took second in 18:05. Westover High senior Demetris McCray was third in 18:24, and Deerfield-Windsor School frosh Ethan Merritt finished fourth in 19:10. Brannon White of Albany was the fastest master runner in the short race, coming in ninth overall in 21:13.


Brittney Skiles was a junior on the track team at Lee County High School when she won the women's title at the Jingle Bell Jog 5K in 2005. In 2014 Skiles topped the women's division of that race for the sixth time in the past ten years with a 19:35--not her fastest Jingle Bell Jog time, but faster than the 19:47 she ran as a high school athlete. Skiles is currently the cross-country coach for Georgia Southwestern. Finishing runner-up for the women was a current high school student, Crisp Academy senior Katherine McGarr. McGarr was 11th overall in 21:42. 2012 Jingle Bell Jog 5K women's champion Charlene Pennymon placed third in the women's standings. The first woman master in the race, Pennymon was 21st overall in 23:27.


Top Ten Men, 2014 Jingle Bell Jog 5K

1. 16:44.46 ~ David Thornton (M, 21)
2. 18:04.29 ~ Austin Stewart (M, 19)
3. 18:23.33 ~ Demetris McCray (M, 17)
4. 19:09.84 ~ Ethan Merritt (M, 14)
5. 20:37.18 ~ Jimmy Creamer (M, 16)
6. 20:37.90 ~ Ford Bennett (M, 14)
7. 21:04.65 ~ Caine Bickerstaff (M, 26)
8. 21:12.63 ~ Brannon White (M, 50)
9. 21:36.47 ~ Rupert Dyer, Jr. (M, 14)
10. 22:20.88 ~ Tom Rittenhouse (M, 32)

Top Ten Women, 2014 Jingle Bell Jog 5K

1. 19:34.65 ~ Brittney Skiles (F, 25)
2. 21:41.05 ~ Katherine McGarr (F, 17)
3. 23:26.62 ~ Charlene Pennymon (F, 50)
4. 24:04.54 ~ Deena Willcox (F, 12)
5. 24:15.85 ~ Gail Morris (F, 33)
6. 24:19.70 ~ Nancy Herring (F, 59)
7. 24:38.44 ~ Caroline Taylor (F, 13)
8. 25:01.27 ~ Stacie Smith (F, 25)
9. 25:52.47 ~ Willa Dyer (F, 12)
10. 26:09.93 ~ Lauren Ballenger (F, 13)

A benefit for the Phoebe Foundation, the Jingle Bell Jog has been an institution in Albany, Georgia, for 27 years. 206 runners finished the 10K in 2014, with another 452 in the 5K.

Winners of the Albany Jingle Bell Jog, 2004 - 2014
Date	Distance	Men	Women	Finishers
4 December 2004	10K
	5K	18:40, Warren Juster	20:37, Wendy Donnan	311
3 December 2005	10K	37:25, Robert Feldman	43:34, Ashley Elam	104
	5K	18:06, Cooper Browning	19:47, Brittney Skiles	236
2 December 2006	10K	37:42, Brandon Skiles	45:45, Wendy Donnan	155
	5K	16:43, Bruce Skiles	21:06, Kelly Conway	241
1 December 2007	10K	*26:00, Roman Drankin	*35:13, Jennifer Pollock	132
	5K	16:19, David Marley	19:22, Brittney Skiles	332
6 December 2008	10K	35:54, Josh Fix	46:14, Andrean Edwards	160
	5K	15:52, David Marley	20:11, Brittney Skiles	325
5 December 2009	10K	36:12, Adam Ross	47:03, Brenna Waack	149
	5K	16:59, Brandon Skiles	19:07, Brittney Skiles	242
4 December 2010	10K	35:51, Adam Ross	45:23, Karen Hamby	194
	5K	19:57, Will Howell	22:49, Katherine McGarr	351
3 December 2011	10K	36:24, Nathan Norton	43:50, Jane Spetoskey	229
	5K	17:06, Heath Lamb	21:28, Beth Young	485
1 December 2012	10K	37:28, Josh Fix	46:30, Anne Cheek	271
	5K	17:49, Wright Calhoun	23:00, Charlene Pennymon	616
7 December 2013	10K	41:22, Duncan Moore	47:15, Heidi Taylor	217
	5K	17:12, Austin Stewart	19:23, Brittney Skiles	590
6 December 2014	10K	34:35, Patrick Whitehead	46:35, Julia Rittenhouse	206
	5K	16:45, David Thornton	19:35, Brittney Skiles	452

Links

• Complete results of the 2014 Albany Jingle Bell Jog at active.com
  http://results.active.com/events/jingle-bell-jog-5k-10k
  
  
• 2012 story, "Mathematician Fix adds a Jingle Bell Jog title to his resumé"
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/12/albany-jingle-2012.html
  
  
• 2010 story, "Ross and Hamby ring up wins at Albany's Jingle Bell 10K"
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/12/albany-jingle-2010.html
  
  
• Find more races in Albany or other cities within 100 miles of Tallahassee!
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

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