Fast times on a sloppy road for Linton and Sherron at the GWTC 30K

20:41 wouldn't be a bad time in a five-kilometer community race. It's fast enough to put an athlete ahead of the anonymous middle of the pack, and in the right race it might win an age group award.


But 20:41 wasn't Stan Linton's time for 5K on Saturday, 23 January 2017. 20:41 was the size of Linton's lead when the Florida State alumnus won the 40th annual Gulf Winds Track Club 30K that morning, running 1:46:13. Katie Sherron enjoyed a similarly large margin in the women's division. Placing fifth overall in 2:15:31, the FSU economics professor won the women's title by more than twenty minutes.

Stan Linton

The race started from the Retreat at Bradley's Pond, heading north on Old Centerville Road. Old Centerville shows up on maps dating from the 1800s, and follows the same route that it did in the nineteenth century. Which isn't to say the road is entirely unchanged since the cotton-growing era. The southernmost couple of miles have been paved, which is the historical-preservation equivalent of slapping vinyl siding on Florida's Old Capitol building. Even the unpaved portions of Old Centerville Road are almost certainly a bit wider than they were in the pre-automotive days when traffic was limited to horses, mules, wagons, and people on foot. The clay has remained constant, though. The unpaved portions are still made of the same bright orange clay that give the Red Hills their name. And the clay still turns to bright orange mud when it rains.


It rained the night before the 30K.

Vince Molosky

Stan Linton took off quickly, hitting the first mile in 5:20 and the two-mile mark in 10:40. Vince Molosky, a five-time winner of the race, tried to stay in contact during those early miles, but soon had to let Linton go. The pace slacked off once the runners left the pavement and had to deal with the mud, but Linton still cruised past the six-mile mark in 32:50. Molosky reached six miles four minutes later. Linton's margin only got wider on his way to the turn-around at the 15K mark on Sunny Hill Plantation Road, and wider still during his return to Bradley's Pond and the finish line, where he crossed in a winning 1:46:13. It was faster than Linton's winning time in the 30K in 2013, and the best time on the course since the race moved to Old Centerville Road in 2006. You'd have to look back to 1994, a month after Linton was born, to find a better winning mark in the GWTC 30K. That was also when the race was on a flat and mud-free course in the St Marks National Wildlife Refuge.

Katie Sherron

Molosky was second in 2:06:54. Doug Bell was the top master runner in the 30K, moving up five places over the last twenty kilometers of the race to take third overall in 2:14:30. Paul Guyas was fourth in 2:14:52.


On the women's side, it would be hard to make a case that the mud slowed down Katie Sherron. Sherron won the GWTC 30K women's title for the fifth time in the last six years and the third time in a row, and her 2:15:31 was her best time yet in the race. Nikky Manausa was the women's runner-up and thirteenth overall in 2:35:40, while Jamila Allen was third in the women's standings and fourteenth overall in 2:39:10. Tsige Tadesse was the first woman master and fourth female finisher, twentieth overall in 2:44:46.

Nikky Manausa

Top Ten Men, 2017 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K

1. 1:46:13, Stan Linton (M, 23)
2. 2:06:54, Vince Molosky (M, 37)
3. 2:14:30, Doug Bell (M, 47)
4. 2:14:52, Paul Guyas (M, 39)
5. 2:18:23, Jon Mason (M, 43)
6. 2:21:00, Don Smith (M, 37)
7. 2:24:21, Michael Nesius (M, 32)
8. 2:30:24, Andy Roberts (M, 49)
9. 2:33:19, David Freni (M, 47)
10. 2:33:49, Matthew Rowan (M, 48)

Top Ten Women, 2017 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K

1. 2:15:31, Katie Sherron (F, 35)
2. 2:35:40, Nikky Manausa (F, 35)
3. 2:39:10, Jamila Allen (F, 27)
4. 2:44:46, Tsige Tadesse (F, 44)
5. 2:46:34, Nancy Stedman (F, 55)
6. 2:58:01, Shannon McNees (F, 46)
7. 2:59:47, April Bentley (F, 43)
8. 3:00:27, Gina Tran (F, 46)
9. 3:12:49, Christine Morse (F, 29)
10. 3:13:56, Lorien Abbey (F, 49)

Matthew Cashin won the concurrent 15K race, running 54:46. The Leon High senior had run the race each of the last three years and finished runner-up in 2016, but this was his first win in the 15K. Matthew McCurdy, a Florida State University grad student, took second in 55:34. Florida A & M University professor Geb Kiros was the top master in the shorter race and third overall in 58:59. Scott Lloyd, a junior on the Wakulla High cross-country team, finished fourth in 59:09.

The start of the 2017 GWTC 30K and 15K

Sheryl Rosen, a four-time women's champ in the 30K, was the top woman in the 15K for the second time in three years. Rosen ran 65:27, placing eighteenth overall. Katie Sack was the second woman and 33rd overall in 1:12:01. Emma Spencer took third in the women's standings and 36th overall in 1:12:39. Angela Wable was the first woman master in the 15K, the tenth female finisher and 48th overall in 1:16:41.


Top Ten Men, 2017 Gulf Winds Track Club 15K

1. 54:46, Matthew Cashin (M, 17)
2. 55:34, Matthew McCurdy (M, 23)
3. 58:59, Geb Kiros (M, 50)
4. 59:09, Scott Lloyd (M, 16)
5. 59:30, Christopher O'Kelley (M, 23)
6. 59:57, Colter Foster (M, 18)
7. 60:24, Jim Halley (M, 37)
8. 61:02, Mickey Moore (M, 46)
9. 61:12, Eric Godin (M, 32)
10. 62:32, Jon Nash (M, 37)

Top Ten Women, 2017 Gulf Winds Track Club 15K

1. 65:27, Sheryl Rosen (F, 32)
2. 72:01, Katie Sack (F, 25)
3. 72:39, Emma Spencer (F, 35)
4. 73:01, Katherine Resavage (F, 16)
5. 73:11, Zoe Sheldon (F, 17)
6. 74:58, Anna Gill (F, 17)
7. 75:27, Brittney Barnes (F, 29)
8. 76:02, Sandy Johnson (F, 31)
9. 76:04, Alyssa Terry (F, 23)
10. 76:41, Angela Wable (F, 43)

56 athletes finished the 2017 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K and another 219 completed the 15K. Gulf Winds Track Club chip timed both races.

Gulf Winds Track Club 30K champions, 1978 - 2017
Dates	Race	Men	Women	Finishers
14 January 2017	30K	1:46:13, Stan Linton	2:15:31, Katie Sherron	56
	15K	54:46, Matthew Cashin	65:27, Sheryl Rosen	219
16 January 2016	30K	1:54:12, Charlie Johnson	2:16:21, Katie Sherron	73
	15K	52:17, Matt Mizereck	60:54, Adriana Piekarewicz	192
17 January 2015	30K	1:53:19, Nate Kaiser	2:22:32, Katie Sherron	107
	15K	50:11, Sukhi Khosla	58:37, Sheryl Rosen	165
11 January 2014	30K	1:57:29, Vince Molosky	2:34:23, Laura McDermott	55
	15K	51:06, Sukhi Khosla	61:27, Seeley Gutierrez	169
12 January 2013	30K	1:48:22, Stanley Linton	2:16:41, Katie Showman	150
	15K	52:57, Sukhi Khosla	64:19, Kristin Sweeney	200
14 January 2012	30K	1:51:30, Charlie Johnson	2:17:38, Katie Showman	150
	15K	53:29, Stanley Linton	60:42, Pasca Cheruiyot	176
15 January 2011	30K	1:51:48, Vince Molosky	2:17:15, Heather Griffis	103
	15K	53:03, Stephen Cox	59:55, Lisa Johnson	169
16 January 2010	30K	1:56:14, Vince Molosky	2:14:22, Sheryl Rosen	90
	15K	51:50, Matt Mizereck	63:45, Lisa Johnson	101
17 January 2009	30K	1:54:06, Vince Molosky	2:11:41, Sheryl Rosen	87
	15K	51:05, Will Stanford	61:49, Lisa Johnson	96
12 January 2008	30K	2:00:29, Vince Molosky	2:17:24, Sheryl Rosen	77
	15K	54:23, Matt Mizereck	63:13, Lisa Johnson	126
13 January 2007	30K	2:01:23, Justin Dickieson	2:04:21, Sheryl Rosen	70
	15K	58:18, Matthew Mizereck	73:40, Anna Busby	50
21 January 2006	30K	2:03:36, Michael Douma	2:09:27, Stephanie Liles	65
	15K	58:51, Chris Holland	60:30, Sarah Docter-Williams	59
22 January 2005	30K	1:56:18, Art Remillard	2:13:50, Jane Johnson	38
16 January 2004	30K	1:56:00, Timothy Bolton	2:09:27, Jane Johnson	69
18 January 2003	30K	2:02:28, Larry Mengelkoch	2:07:46, Jane Johnson	59
15 December 2001	30K	2:09:43, Tom Ratliffe	2:22:56, Carrie Weyant	31
3 February 2001	30K	2:00:29, Kevin Porter	2:02:27, Jane Johnson	43
5 February 2000	30K	1:57:47, Garth Grumme	1:53:04, Anne Van Schuppen	77
6 February 1999	30K	1:58:17, Doug Gorton	2:11:20, Jane Johnson	87
10 January 1998	30K	1:57:45, Clarence Calloway	2:04:34, Jane Johnson	79
7 January 1997	30K	1:54:26, Tracy Burch	2:00:28, Jane Johnson
13 January 1996	30K	1:46:14, John Viitanen	2:12:30, Eileen Telford	50
14 January 1995	30K	1:49:45, Herb Wills	2:22:18, Nancy Stuparich	50
22 January 1994	30K	1:43:50, Herb Wills	2:07:27, Lisa Herman	51
16 January 1993	30K	1:43:54, Herb Wills	2:12:42, Carrie Hunnicutt	60
4 January 1992	30K	1:46:36, Jessie Close	2:13:46, Lynda Nilges	79
12 January 1991	30K	1:37:31, David Keen	2:06:03, Paula Johnson	92
13 January 1990	30K	1:43:57, Herb Wills	2:12:00, Paula Johnson	87
14 January 1989	30K	1:45:31, Jessie Close	2:22:07, Mary Jean Yon	98
16 January 1988	30K	1:45:24, Tom Burr	2:10:04, Mae Cleveland	102
10 January 1987	30K	1:44:45, Larry Greene	2:11:59, Karen Macharg	82
18 January 1986	30K	1:38:54, Herb Wills	2:10:48, Missy James	92
14 January 1985	30K	1:45:10, Herb Wills	2:17:56, Mae Cleveland	94
14 January 1984	30K	1:43:32, Noel Shumann	2:04:20, Barbara Balzer	99
15 January 1983	30K	1:48:18, Andrew Wills	2:18:18, Christy Orthman	100
16 January 1982	30K	1:44:41, Rick Miller	1:56:57, Laura Ledbetter	74
1981	30K
12 January 1980	30K	1:51:19, Steve Ray	2:48:31, Robyn Anderson	70
3 February 1979	30K	1:42:13, Ken Misner	2:12:44, Lynda Heimann	124
11 March 1978	30K	1:46:19, Tim Simpkins	2:22:31, Donna Glotzbach	25
In 1978 the race was run on Apalachicola National Forest roads, starting and finishing near Hilliardville. From 1979 to 1981 the race was run on Natural Bridge Road. From 1982 to February 2001 the race was run in the Saint Marks National Wildlife Refuge. From December 2001 to 2005 the race was run at Natural Bridge. From 2006 to 2017 the GWTC 30K was run on Old Centerville Road and Sunny Hill Road, starting and finishing at Bradley's Retreat in Felkel.

Links

• Complete results of the 2017 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K and 15K at gulfwinds.org
  http://www.gulfwinds.org/raceresults/2017/30K%2015K%202017.asp
  
  
• More photos of the 2017 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K and 15K
  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10108950772217573.1073742254.5215641&l=3e36b01012
  
  
• Fred Deckert's photos of the 2017 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K and 15K
  https://plus.google.com/photos/112560881455823075870/albums/6378189881160111937
  
  
• 2016 story, “Charlie Johnson outlasts Roger Schmidt in the long run at the GWTC 30K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/01/gwtc-30k-2016.html
  
  
• 2015 story, “Kaiser wins the GWTC 30K while Khosla and Rosen tumble records in the 15K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/01/gwtc-30k-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Tough mudders Molosky and McDermott win a messy GWTC 30K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/01/gwtc-30k-2014.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “A no-excuse 30K for Linton and Showman”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/01/gwtc-30k-2013.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “Johnson and Showman roll through the Red Hills in the GWTC 30K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/01/gwtc-30k-2012.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “Molosky and Griffis run top 30K times on timeless Old Centerville Road”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/01/gwtc-30k-2011.html
  
  
• 2010 story, “Molosky and Rosen defend titles at a muddy 30K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/01/molosky-and-rosen-defend-titles-at.html
  
  
• 2009 story, “2009 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K / 15K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2009/01/2009-gulf-winds-track-club-30k-15k.html
  
  
• 2008 story, “2008 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2008/01/2008-gulf-winds-track-club-30k.html
  
  
• USATF course certification map FL16079TY for the Gulf Winds Track Club 30K
  http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/maps/showMap.asp?courseID=FL16079TY
  
  
• USATF course certification map FL16080TY for the Gulf Winds Track Club 15K
  http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/maps/showMap.asp?courseID=FL16080TY
  
  
• Find upcoming races, long and short, in the Tallahassee region
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#1866