Chris Balestrini, Becky Howarth, and the ghost of José Gaspar star in the Gasparilla 15K

Nearly every year since 1904, Tampa, Florida has staged the Gasparilla Festival, honoring José Gaspar. It seems strange to celebrate the takeover of the city by a pirate, especially a pirate who most likely never existed, and who was purported to live before Tampa was founded. But any excuse for a party, right?


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

1. 47:12, Chris Balestrini (M, 27) London, ON
2. 47:44, Alex Milne (M, 28) Nokomis, FL
3. 47:58, Stan Linton (M, 25) Crawfordville, FL
4. 48:04, Austin Richmond (M, 33) Babson Park, FL
5. 50:29, Michael MacDonald (M, 33) Clearwater, FL
6. 50:56, R J Dorazil (M, 39) Tampa, FL
7. 51:06, Mitch Arnold (M, 22) Saint Petersburg, FL
8. 52:53, Jonathan Burgess (M, 26) Tampa, FL
9. 53:02, Javier Beuzeville (M, 30) Trinity, FL
10. 53:17, Stephen Brown (M, 23) Land O Lakes, FL

Top Ten Women, 2019 Gasparilla Distance Classic 15K

1. 55:50, Becky Howarth (F, 30) Tampa, FL
2. 57:16, Kristen Tenaglia (F, 34) Seminole, FL
3. 57:45, Loni Smith (F, 37) Lakeland, FL
4. 58:05, Jacki Wachtel (F, 39) New Port Richey, FL
5. 58:25, Paige Howard (F, 31) Tampa, FL
6. 58:55, Adrienne Zwijacz (F, 29) Land O Lakes, FL
7. 58:58, Jaime Duran (F, 33) Tampa, FL
8. 59:25, Lauren Csubak (F, 23) Parrish, FL
9. 59:40, Kayla Bratcher (F, 29) New Port Richey, FL
10. 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
  
  

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