Jackson Johnson puts the pedal to the metal at the Cast Iron 5K

Ryan Kelly won Quitman, Georgia's Cast Iron 5K in 2016, and he won the annual race again in 2017. But on Saturday morning, 20 October 2018, Kelly finished 40 meters behind Jackson Johnson as Johnson won the eighth annual Cast Iron 5K, running 18:48. The women's competition was even closer, with Pollyanna Bass edging Addie Gregory for the title, 25:39 to 25:40.


Johnson is a sophomore at Cook County High in Adel, Georgia, where he runs for the school's cross-country team. Just four days after the Cast Iron 5K, the Cook County harriers were due at the Region 1-AAA cross-country meet in Cordele, Georgia. Nevertheless, Johnson found the time to race in Quitman and spoil Kelly's attempt at a hat trick. Kelly, who took second in 18:58, also has a cross-country connection--he's the coach of the Valdosta High team. Chad Northcutt of Quitman placed third in the race, running 22:11. At 24:20, Billy Taylor of Valdosta, Georgia was the first master runner in the race and the fifth male finisher.


Pavo, Georgia master runner Pollyanna Bass had more success against the cross-country runners. Addie Gregory, who Bass outkicked for the women's title, is a sixth-grader on the cross-country team at Cook County Middle School. Bass and Gregory placed seventh and eighth overall. Placing tenth overall in 26:28, Maggie Gregory, a frosh-year runner on the Cook County High cross-country team, took third in the women's standings.


41 athletes finished the 2018 Cast Iron 5K. A Course/Line, LLC, of Valdosta timed the race and provided finish line services.


Top Ten Men, 2018 Cast Iron 5K

1. 18:47.9, Jackson Johnson (M, 16) Quitman, GA
2. 18:57.5, Ryan Kelly (M, 39) Lake Park, GA
3. 22:10.1, Chad Northcutt (M, 34) Quitman, GA
4. 24:06.4, Caden McDaniel (M, 11) Adel, GA
5. 24:19.2, Billy Taylor (M, 69) Valdosta, GA
6. 25:11.3, Jim Tully (M, 71) Lamont, FL
7. 25:52.7, Regie Zandonade (M, 46) Valdosta, GA
8. 27:00.4, Mark Ellis (M, 56) Ashburn, GA
9. 27:38.3, Paul Brown (M, 45) Valdosta, GA
10. 28:26.7, Dean Surgeon (M, 52) Hahira, GA

Top Ten Women, 2018 Cast Iron 5K

1. 25:38.4, Pollyanna Bass (F, 46) Pavo, GA
2. 25:40.0, Addie Gregory (F, 11) Quitman, GA
3. 26:27.3, Maggie Gregory (F, 14) Quitman, GA
4. 26:59.4, Stephanie Hurt (F, 66) Greenville, GA
5. 28:56.8, Heather Kelly (F, 40) Lake Park, GA
6. 29:25.4, Jessie Burton (F, 37) Barney, GA
7. 29:51.7, Jamie Brown (F, 34) Valdosta, GA
8. 31:41.9, Adriene (F, 43) Valdosta, GA
9. 33:08.6, Anna Lauri Parrott (F, 12) Quitman, GA
10. 36:22.2, Kayla Boyd (F, 31) Valdosta, GA

Cast Iron 5K winners, 2011 - 2018
Date	Men	Women	Finishers
17 September 2011	17:51, Masked Avenger	22:08, Gretchen Bielmyer	101
15 September 2012	18:30, Masked Avenger	24:22, Rebecca Meindl	55
19 October 2013	20:48, Gareth Pyle	22:18, Makenzee Page	86
18 October 2014	20:16, Gareth Pyle	21:36, Elizabeth Smith	59
17 October 2015	18:17, Michael Martinez	22:25, Beverly Hamilton	74
15 October 2016	18:37, Ryan Kelly	21:33, Elizabeth Smith	68
21 October 2017	18:35, Ryan Kelly	23:45, Vanessa Spry	43
20 October 2018	18:48, Jackson Johnson	25:39, Pollyanna Bass	41
The historic predecessor of the Cast Iron 5K was an 8K race that was held annually in Quitman from 2007 to 2010.

Links

• Complete results of the 2018 Quitman, Georgia, Cast Iron 5K, courtesy of A Course/Line, LLC
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vR1erf_CoSGHDPjHQvX7hVJrSTvC_nXunsDlw6Hmnd8yH6qrFSoQPYVTVllgFH9S7Nl-FnLqCCJULqM/pubhtml
  
  
• 2017 story, “Seasoned athletes Kelly and Spry win the Cast Iron 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2017/10/cast-iron-2017.html
  
  
• 2016 story, “Kelly and Smith forge wins at the Cast Iron 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/10/cast-iron-2016.html
  
  
• 2015 story, “No rust on Martinez or Hamilton at the Cast Iron 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/10/cast-iron-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Pyle, Smith prove no flash-in-the-pan at Skillet Festival's Cast Iron 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/10/cast-iron-2014.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “Avenger and Bielmyer show their mettle at Cast-Iron Man 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/09/cast-iron-2011.html
  
  
• Find more ferrous races on the Trouble Afoot! racing calendar
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

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