In 1978 a fifteen-kilometer road race, the Gasparilla Distance Classic, became part of the festival. At times the festival has also included a 5K, an 8K, a half marathon, and even a marathon, but the 15K has been run each year since 1978. If any race is the Classic in the Gasparilla Distance Classic, it's the 15K. And on Saturday morning, 23 February 2019, Canadian runner Chris Balestrini won the 42nd annual Gasparilla Distance Classic 15K by nearly 200 meters, running 47:12. Tampa's own Becky Howarth was the first woman in the race, placing 21st overall in 55:50.
The course for the Gasparilla hasn't change much over the years, an out-and-back route along Bayshore Boulevard. There are no hills to speak of, but the runners can be impeded by the breeze off the bay. They were in 2019.
"I thought we had the wind against us on the way out: I was wrong," said Stan Linton. "Wind was pretty bad coming home."
Linton was in a lead group of four runners at the turnaround that included Chris Balestrini, Alex Milne, and three-time Gasparilla champion Austin Richmond. An officer in the United States Navy and a former Florida State Seminole distance runner, Linton didn't shy away from the headwind.
"I took the lead a halfway, held it to 6.5 miles," said Linton. "Then I hit a lactic bomb with two miles to go."
As Linton faded, Balestrini made his move. A second-year medical student at London, Ontario's Western University, left the other three leaders behind to fight over second place. Alex Milne of Nokomis, Florida took that runner-up spot, running 47:44. Overtaking a distressed Richmond with 600 meters to go, Linton kicked home to take third in 47:58. Richmond finished a close fourth in 48:04. Tom Russell of Tampa, Florida was the fastest master runner in the 15K; Russell placed fourteenth overall in 53:46.
Kristen Tenaglia of Seminole, Florida finished runner-up to Howarth in the women's standings, placing 27th overall. Lakeland, Florida's Loni Smith was the third woman and 31st overall in 57:45. Jennifer Sober of Jupiter, Florida was the first woman master and tenth female finisher, 66th overall in 60:21.
5,578 athletes finished the 2019 Gasparilla Distance Classic 15K. The 43rd annual Gasparilla Distance Classic 15K is scheduled for Saturday morning, 22 February 2020.
Top Ten Men, 2019 Gasparilla Distance Classic 15K
- 47:12, Chris Balestrini (M, 27) London, ON
- 47:44, Alex Milne (M, 28) Nokomis, FL
- 47:58, Stan Linton (M, 25) Crawfordville, FL
- 48:04, Austin Richmond (M, 33) Babson Park, FL
- 50:29, Michael MacDonald (M, 33) Clearwater, FL
- 50:56, R J Dorazil (M, 39) Tampa, FL
- 51:06, Mitch Arnold (M, 22) Saint Petersburg, FL
- 52:53, Jonathan Burgess (M, 26) Tampa, FL
- 53:02, Javier Beuzeville (M, 30) Trinity, FL
- 53:17, Stephen Brown (M, 23) Land O Lakes, FL
Top Ten Women, 2019 Gasparilla Distance Classic 15K
- 55:50, Becky Howarth (F, 30) Tampa, FL
- 57:16, Kristen Tenaglia (F, 34) Seminole, FL
- 57:45, Loni Smith (F, 37) Lakeland, FL
- 58:05, Jacki Wachtel (F, 39) New Port Richey, FL
- 58:25, Paige Howard (F, 31) Tampa, FL
- 58:55, Adrienne Zwijacz (F, 29) Land O Lakes, FL
- 58:58, Jaime Duran (F, 33) Tampa, FL
- 59:25, Lauren Csubak (F, 23) Parrish, FL
- 59:40, Kayla Bratcher (F, 29) New Port Richey, FL
- 60:22, Jennifer Sober (F, 43) Jupiter, FL
Gasparilla Distance Classic 15K winners, 1978 - 2019 | ||
---|---|---|
Date | Men | Women |
12 February 1978 | 44:29, Bill Rodgers | 55:40, Kim Merritt |
11 February 1979 | 44:12, Ralph King | 53:17, Gayle Olinekova |
9 February 1980 | 43:40, Greg Meyer | 48:01, Grete Waitz |
7 February 1981 | 43:12, Ric Rojas | 48:12, Grete Waitz |
6 February 1982 | 43:09, Michael Musyoki | 48:26, Grete Waitz |
5 February 1983 | 42:47, Robert de Castella | 48:18, Wendy Sly |
11 February 1984 | 42:55, Mike McLeod | 47:52, Grete Waitz |
9 February 1985 | 43:02, Mike McLeod | 48:10, Grete Waitz |
8 February 1986 | 42:59, John Treacy | 48:00, Ingrid Kristiansen |
7 February 1987 | 43:17, Marcos Barreto | 48:50, Grete Waitz |
13 February 1988 | 42:37, Marcos Barreto | 47:43, Liz McColgan |
11 February 1989 | 42:50, Keith Brantly | 48:14, Ingrid Kristiansen |
17 February 1990 | 43:25, John Halvorsen | 49:26, Judi St. Hilaire |
9 February 1991 | 43:14, John Halvorsen | 49:00, Jill Boltz |
15 February 1992 | 43:10, Valdenor dos Santos | 49:11, Wilma van Onna |
27 February 1993 | 42:41, Valdenor dos Santos | 49:03, Carmem de Oliveira |
26 February 1994 | 42:35, Philemon Hanneck | 48:11, Elana Meyer |
18 February 1995 | 42:37, Josephat Machuka | 48:38, Delilah Asiago |
24 February 1996 | 42:42, Jon Brown | 48:30, Tegla Loroupe |
25 January 1997 | 43:11, Joseph Kimani | 48:48, Elana Meyer |
14 February 1998 | 43:23, Gabino Apolonio | 49:24, Lornah Kiplagat |
13 February 1999 | 46:48, Russ Gerbers | 54:33, Laura Drake |
12 February 2000 | 46:37, Russ Gerbers | 52:59, Laura Drake |
24 February 2001 | 48:50, Muchapiwa Mazano | 54:47, Laura Drake |
9 February 2002 | 46:36, Tony Teats | 55:10, Monica Joyce |
4 January 2003 | 46:40, Ronnie Holassie | 52:21, Amy Begley |
24 January 2004 | 46:37, Joep Tigchelaar | 55:20, Rosa Gutierrez |
5 February 2005 | 48:23, Elias Gonzalez | 54:00, Victoria Gill |
25 February 2006 | 48:39, Elias Gonzalez | 53:47, Victoria Gill |
17 February 2007 | 45:48, Todd Snyder | 54:27, Christa Benton |
9 February 2008 | 46:45, Joseph Sitienei | 56:00, Annie Cooper-Gasway |
28 February 2009 | 43:26, Ryan Hall | 54:42, Christa Benton |
27 February 2010 | 46:49, Austin Richmond | 54:05, Briana Whaley |
26 February 2011 | 46:22, Jeremy Criscione | 54:05, Briana Whaley |
3 March 2012 | 46:55, Jeremy Criscione | 54:59, Sara Petrick |
23 February 2013 | 47:26, Austin Richmond | 55:35, Briana Whaley |
22 February 2014 | 48:44, Jonathan Mott | 55:49, Sara Petrick |
21 February 2015 | 47:49, Jonathan Mott | 52:17, Megan Goethals |
20 February 2016 | 46:38, Mark Parrish | 54:47, Becky Howarth |
25 February 2017 | 47:26, Austin Richmond | 54:58, Stephanie Pezzullo |
24 February 2018 | 47:01, Jonathan Mott | 57:15, Paige Howard |
23 February 2019 | 47:12, Chris Balestrini | 55:50, Becky Howarth |
Links
- Complete results of the 2019 Gasparilla Distance Classic
http://www.shawgraphicdesign.com/results/#xact_results_tabs_agegroup
- The Gasparilla Distance Classic
https://rungasparilla.com/
- 2019 USATF course certification map for the 2019 Gasparilla Distance Classic 15K
http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/maps/showMap.asp?courseID=FL14014EBM
- Upcoming race in the Tallahassee region on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1