Dunkley and Warren were swift in the swamp

First run in 1978, Thomasville's Rose City Run is the oldest currently the oldest race in South Georgia. Oldest, but just barely. Only a few weeks after that first Rose City 10K, the first Okefenokee Swamp Run was held in Waycross, Georgia. Like the Rose City Run, the Swamp Run has been held annually ever since. Whereas not even the course has changed in Thomasville, the Waycross race has gone through some transformations over the years. Originally a 15-mile race, the Swamp Run distance was promoted to 25 kilometers in 1980, then demoted to 10 kilometers in 1988. The first Swamp Runs were staged mostly on the roads and finished in Waycross at the YMCA. In recent years, the 10K has been mostly on trails in Laura S. Walker State Park.


The Swamp Run has changed but it has also persisted, and the 39th annual Swamp Run came back to Walker State Park on Saturday morning, 26 March 2016. Troy Dunkley of Jacksonville, Florida won the race, running 40:09 on rain-soaked trails. The next two places went to a pair of Appling County High frosh cross country runners, Joshua McLean and Frankie Williams. McLean took second in 41:25 and Williams third in 42:45. James Bowen was the top master runner in the race, placing fifth overall in 43:46.


Tiffany Warren, a Swamp Run women's champ in multiple past years, picked up yet another title in the 2016 race, finishing sixth overall in 44:29. Lindsay Hopkins was second in the women's standings, thirteenth overall in 49:16, and Gina Howell was the third female finisher, fourteenth overall in 49:24. Lesley Wheeler was the top woman master and twelfth female finisher, 41st overall in 56:50.


123 athletes finished the 39th annual Okefenokee Swamp Run 10K. The race was hosted by the Okefenokee Track and Cycling Club of Waycross, Georgia.


Top Ten Men, 2016 Okefenokee Swamp Run 10K

1. 40:09 ~ Troy Dunkley (M, Overall) Jacksonville, FL
2. 41:25 ~ Joshua McClean (M, 15-19)
3. 42:45 ~ Frankie Williams (M, 15-19)
4. 43:08 ~ Tyler Flanders (M, 25-29)
5. 43:46 ~ James Bowen (M, Master)
6. 44:38 ~ Bret Campbell (M, 40-44)
7. 45:19 ~ Charles Lagoueyte (M, Grand Master)
8. 46:03 ~ Stephen McNally (M, 20-24)
9. 46:26 ~ Judah Hodges (M, 15-19)
10. 47:53 ~ Derek Lee (M, 40-44)

Top Ten Women, 2016 Okefenokee Swamp Run 10K

1. 44:29 ~ Tiffany Warren (F, Overall) Waycross, GA
2. 49:16 ~ Lindsay Hopkins (F, 35-39)
3. 49:24 ~ Gina Howell (F, 35-39)
4. 51:57 ~ Anna Champion (F, 30-34)
5. 52:15 ~ Correy Emmert (F, 35-39)
6. 55:11 ~ Alison Lee (F, 35-39)
7. 55:26 ~ Amanda Kirkland (F, 35-39)
8. 55:58 ~ Ashley Forbus (F, 25-29)
9. 56:00 ~ MaryAnn Chaney (F, )
10. 56:22 ~ Lindsay Day (F, )

Okefenokee Swamp Run winners, 1978 - 2016
Date	Distance	Men	Women	Finishers
1978	15 Miles	1:24:52, Gary Slayton	2:08:21, Carol Newby
12 May 1979	15 Miles	1:27:16, Craig Barnes	1:54:06, Carol Newby
10 May 1980	25K	1:18:22, Benji Durden	1:49:07, Christy Evans
9 May 1981	25K	1:19:11, Mike Wachholz	1:49:56, Ann Marie Hanrahan
8 May 1982	25K	1:21:05, Jerry Odlin	1:49:28, Becky Motley	117
26 March 1983	25K	1:23:44, Craig Barnes	1:48:07, Becky Motley
31 March 1984	25K	1:21:27, Craig Holm	1:36:26, Kare Cossaboon-Holm
23 March 1985	25K	1:25:56, Craig Barnes	1:47:09, Becky Motley	70
22 March 1986	25K	1:26:15, Craig Barnes	1:51:00, Becky Motley	50
28 March 1987	25K	1:31:58, Craig Barnes	2:01:14, Mary Woodruff	47
26 March 1988	10K	33:14, Frank Reynolds	40:56, Diane Skow	110
1989	10K	33:40, Lyn Rowland	38:01, Jackie Chen
1990	10K	33:40, Craig Barnes, Alvin Nelson	36:55, Jackie Chen
1991	10K	33:04, Alvin Nelson	39:43, Jackie Chen
1992	10K	33:14, Craig Barnes	40:28, Barbara Ebers
1993	10K	32:46, Alvin Nelson	41:00, Vickie Black
1994	10K	33:32, Alvin Nelson	48:27, Linda Chattaway
1995	10K	32:37, Paul Hough	41:48, Barbara Ebers
1996	10K	34:09, Alvin Nelson	48:21, Connie Cole
1997	10K	36:08, Alvin Nelson	45:34, Bonnie Evans
1998	10K	35:27, Alvin Nelson	48:32, Cathy Campbell
1999	10K	34:56, Lee Yaracs	38:06, Michelle LeFleur
2000	10K	34:50, Craig Alderman	35:12, Michelle LeFleur
2001	10K	32:46, Keith Horton	46:40, Cheryl Monroe
2002	10K	34:13, Matt O’Connell	39:00, Jessica Collins
2003	10K	36:39, Claude A. Grenier	46:15, Christi Blount
2004	10K	33:57, Roberto Bonilla	45:53, Christi Blount
2005	10K	34:49, Mike Raymond	46:30, Cindy Tanner
2006	10K	34:30, Mike Raymond	42:52, Kristen Ray
2007	10K	41:18, Clinton Phillips	42:50, Kristen Ray
22 March 2008	10K	39:06, Matthew Garmon	44:27, Tiffany Cochran	154
28 March 2009	10K	37:51, Matthew Garmon	45:04, Tiffany Cochran	127
27 March 2010	10K	37:36, Matthew Garmon	46:46, Hosanna Hodges	134
26 March 2011	10K	35:44, Daniel Broadhead	46:42, Allison Herrin	72
24 March 2012	10K	38:48, Nick Hamlin	51:04, Jennifer Smith
23 March 2013	10K	37:37, Casey Claborn	46:34, Allison Herrin	120
22 March 2014	10K	35:26, Casey Claborn	43:46, Tiffany Warren	90
21 March 2015	10K	39:53, Nathan Skipper	46:41, Katelyn Chancey
26 March 2016	10K	40:09, Troy Dunkley	44:29, Tiffany Warren	123

Links

• Complete results of the 2016 Okefenokee Swamp Run 10K
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fUBcwy09GfOfBLZVnBlfXtwKN4vGAspmE0LWIu70h9E/pubhtml
  
  
• Okefenokee Track and Cycling Club
  http://okefenokeetrackandcyclingclub.com/
  
  
• Laura S. Walker State Park
  http://gastateparks.org/LauraSWalker
  
  
• Find River, Swamp, Lake, and Forest Runs on the Trouble Afoot! racing calendar
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1