McAllister and Daily master the Draggin' in Torreya

In a recent issue of Georgia's Great Places, a magazine published by the Friends of Georgia State Parks, an article about photography in state parks included some advice from Ranger Randell Meeks. One of his tips is:

Take your time. Hike slowly and pay attention to your surroundings. Oftentimes snakes, flowers, and insects are right right there but we pass by them without noticing.

In Florida's Torreya State Park on Saturday, 11 April 2015, 68 athletes had no use for Ranger Meeks' words. They weren't shutterbugs, though; they were the participants in the eighth annual Draggin' Tail Ultra Trail Challenge, featuring a 50K and a 25K race up and down the Apalachicola River bluffs. Charn McAllister won the 50K event, covering the rugged 31 miles in 4:54:04. Some of his competition might consider handing him a camera before the next race. In winning the race, McAllister unseated the Trail Challenge's seven-time defending champion and record holder, Vince Molosky. Until this year Molosky had not only never lost the 50K Trail Challenge, no one but Molosky had ever won it. This time around, though, Molosky was runner-up in 5:16:14. Andy Roberts was the fastest master runner in the 50K, placing third overall in 5:38:12.


Ashley Daily topped the women's standings, placing seventh overall in 6:15:07. Daily had also won the women's title at the 2013 Challenge, where she set the women's event record of 5:47:48. Sandra Garrett was the first woman master and second female finisher in the 50K, coming in 12th overall in 7:36:10. On an unseasonably warm and humid day, 18 ultrarunners finished the long race.


Top Ten Men, 2015 Torreya Draggin' Tail 50K

1. 4:54:04 ~ Charn McAllister (M, 32)
2. 5:16:14 ~ Vince Molosky (M, 35)
3. 5:38:12 ~ Andy Roberts (M, 48)
4. 5:38:55 ~ Elliott Smith (M, 33)
5. 6:03:42 ~ Steven Speakman (M, 42)
6. 6:10:50 ~ Keith Gates (M, 33)
7. 6:47:07 ~ Luis Barrios (M, 50)
8. 6:53:48 ~ Andrew Barrett (M, 24)
9. 7:13:20 ~ Dana Stetson (M, 58)
10. 7:18:08 ~ Steven Specht (M, 32)

Top Six Women, 2015 Torreya Draggin' Tail 50K

1. 6:15:07 ~ Ashley Daily (F, 28)
2. 7:36:10 ~ Sandra Garrett (F, 41)
3. 7:40:34 ~ Heather Davenport (F, 48)
4. 7:57:42 ~ Lydia Miles (F, 42)
5. 9:02:57 ~ Letha Cruthirds (F, 61)
6. 9:16:31 ~ Mary Holley (F, 55)

Eric Godin won the 25K at the Draggin' Tail Trail Challenge, running 2:18:40. Not far behind Godin at 2:19:19 was the first master runner in the short race, Jon Mason. Master runner Kristen Bowers was the first female finisher, placing 10th overall in 3:03:15.


Top Ten Men, 2015 Torreya Draggin' Tail 25K

1. 2:18:40 ~ Eric Godin (M, 31)
2. 2:19:19 ~ Jon Mason (M, 41)
3. 2:28:31 ~ Mark Jones (M, )
4. 2:39:27 ~ Hal Fravel (M, 34)
5. 2:48:50 ~ Jimbo Smart (M, 45)
6. 2:52:12 ~ Steven Romo (M, 22)
7. 2:55:04 ~ Landon Jones (M, 30)
8. 2:55:59 ~ Michael Kennett (M, 41)
9. 2:58:34 ~ Michael McAdams (M, )
10. 3:08:11 ~ Matt Pollard (M, 37)

Top Ten Women, 2015 Torreya Draggin' Tail 25K

1. 3:03:15 ~ Kristen Bowers (F, 40)
2. 3:23:27 ~ Megan Federico (F, 32)
3. 3:23:30 ~ Amelia Crooms (F, 25)
4. 3:38:36 ~ Heather York (F, 37)
5. 3:39:26 ~ Cathy Tibbetts (F, 60)
6. 3:43:40 ~ Jo Lena Bryan (F, 43)
7. 3:44:32 ~ Amy Wood (F, )
8. 3:45:38 ~ Sue Cottrill (F, 52)
9. 3:52:42 ~ Lynn Masimore (F, 37)
10. 3:54:30 ~ Alison Hand (F, 41)

Winners of Torreya State Park's Draggin' Tail Ultra Trail Challenge, 2008 - 2015
Date	Distance	Men	Women	Finishers
19 April 2008	50K	5:52:53, Vince Molosky	7:21:59, Casey Rodgers	12
	25K	2:34:59, Brian Corbin	2:49:16, Lisa Purul	25
23 May 2009	50K	5:10:06, Vince Molosky	6:38:20, Shana Ryberg	15
	25K	2:28:40, Michael Kennett	3:02:57, Kirsten Baggett	20
10 April 2010	50K	4:59:06, Vince Molosky	6:42:39, Chrissy Coutts	17
	25K	2:19:29, Mike McConnell	3:10:30, Kate McCabe	23
9 April 2011	50K	4:44:35, Vince Molosky	6:27:34, Chrissy Coutts	11
	25K	2:26:59, Paul Brannon	2:44:03, Ashley Daily	33
7 April 2012	50K	4:53:55, Vince Molosky	6:09:44, Chrissy Coutts	15
	25K	2:15:43, Camilo Ordonez	2:45:07, Kate Chunka	41
6 April 2013	50K	4:40:06, Vince Molosky	5:47:48, Ashley Dailey	19
	25K	2:18:46, Michael Kennett	2:58:15, Melissa Hooke	38
5 April 2014	50K	4:45:02, Vince Molosky	6:05:30, Kathleen Baker	20
	25K	2:32:41, Joel Piotrowski	3:00:30, Amanda Hudson	48
11 April 2015	50K	4:54:04, Charn McAllister	6:15:07, Ashley Daily	18
	25K	2:18:40, Eric Godin	3:03:15, Kristen Bowers	50

Links

• Complete results of Torreya State Park's 2015 Draggin' Tail 50K & 25K at gulfwinds.org
  http://www.gulfwinds.org/raceresults/2015/Torreya%20Draggin%20Tail%202015.asp
  
  
• Torreya State Park's Draggin' Tail 25k/50k Ultra Trail Challenge on Facebook
  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Torreya-State-Parks-Draggin-Tail-25k50k-Ultra-Trail-Challenge/112939732129824
  
  
• Torreya State Park
  https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Torreya
  
  
• If there's a race involving dragons, unicorns, or basilisks, you'll find it on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

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