Parker Jackson and Kelly Lunceford win at Valdosta's Labor Day 5K

Labor Day distance running has a long heritage in the United States, going back to the days of company picnics, when the new guy would suddenly find out that he was entered in the cross-country race--usually right after his second helping of potato salad. Valdosta, Georgia has kept the tradition of Labor Day racing alive, holding ten events in the eleven years from 2009 to 2019. The most recent of these, on Monday morning, 2 September 2019, was even a cross-country race in Freedom Park--a shade of the old company picnic. Parker Jackson, a sophomore on the Valdosta High cross-country team, won the race by 200 meters, running 20:35. Kelly Lunceford of Valdosta was the first woman in the race, placing fourth overall in 23:29.

Parker Jackson

Jackson wasn't the only prep harrier prominent in the field. Valdosta High junior Colton Baldwin grabbed the runner-up spot with a 21:24. Hayden Coggins, a Valdosta High sophomore, took third in 22:52.


The first master runner in the race was the women's runner-up, Elizabeth Smith. Smith was sixth overall with a 24:04. Twelve-year-old Katya Jackson, a seventh-grader on the Valdosta Middle School cross-country team, placed third in the women's standings and sixteenth overall in 30:39.


Michael Guilmette of Lake Park, Georgia was the first male master in the Labor Day 5K, placing fifth in the men's standings and seventh overall in 25:47.


44 athletes finished Valdosta's 2019 Labor Day 5K. Proceeds of the race benefitted Valdosta city schools cross-country teams. A Course/Line, LLC, of Valdosta timed the race and provided finish line services.


Top Ten Men, 2019 Valdosta Labor Day 5K

1. 20:35, Parker Reid Jackson (M, 15) Valdosta, GA
2. 21:24, Colton Baldwin (M, 16) Valdosta, GA
3. 22:52, Hayden Coggins (M, 15) Valdosta, GA
4. 23:36, Cason Register (M, 14) Lakeland, GA
5. 25:47, Michael Guilmette (M, 56) Lake Park, GA
6. 25:58, Daniel Zenobia (M, 37) Valdosta, GA
7. 26:55, Nathan Smith (M, 41) Valdosta, GA
8. 27:28, Austin Sanderson (M, 12) Valdosta, GA
9. 27:55, Alan Sanderson (M, 44) Valdosta, GA
10. 28:30, Murray Coggins (M, 7) Valdosta, GA

Top Ten Women 2019 Valdosta Labor Day 5K

1. 23:29, Kelly Lunceford (F, 29) Valdosta, GA
2. 24:04, Elizabeth Smith (F, 41) Valdosta, GA
3. 30:39, Katya Jackson (F, 12) Valdosta, GA
4. 34:13, Anna Coggins (F, 43) Valdosta, GA
5. 36:16, Heather Kelly (F, 41) Lake Park, GA
6. 36:32, Elizabeth Cannister (F, 10) Hahira, GA
7. 36:34, Jamie Brown (F, 35) Valdosta, GA
8. 37:50, Rebecca Lancaster (F, 12) Valdosta, GA
9. 39:54, Delleese Collins (F, 42) Valdosta, GA
10. 40:26, Amanda Sanderson (F, 44) Valdosta, GA

Valdosta Labor Day 5K winners, 2009 - 2019
Date	Men	Women	Finishers
7 September 2009	18:19, Drew Dunbar	20:28, Ashley McGee	122
6 September 2010	16:18, Chris Rice	20:27, Jordanne Helton	290
5 September 2011	17:55, Masked Avenger	20:59, Mary Alice Smoot	108
3 September 2012	17:44, James Marino	22:27, Taylor Harrington	93
2 September 2013	18:15, Matthew Baun	19:48, Mary Alice Smoot	89
1 September 2014	17:07, Matthew Baun	21:58, Alice Smoot	65
7 September 2015	18:56, Ryan Kelly	22:38, Darien Andreu	87
5 September 2016	18:03, Dan Butzin	21:44, Debbie Green	106
4 September 2017	Canceled
3 September 2018	19:39, Rick Mazurkiewicz	21:42, Sandra Griffin	80
2 September 2019	20:35, Parker Jackson	23:29, Kelly Lunceford	44

Links:

• Complete results of the 2019 Valdosta Labor Day 5K courtesy of A Course/Line, LLC
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQI0NLYnxn-9nLPnQpDkLcRV_PXThKmqROoY84gpE1TE7nhWwl4wWQp5HZ9iQC47l9BjUkbfKWfUOxn/pubhtml
  
  
• 2016 story, “Hermine can't halt Butzin or Green”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/09/valdosta-labor-day-5k-2016.html
  
  
• 2015 story, “Kelly and Andreu work the Valdosta roads on Labor Day”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/09/valdosta-labor-day-5k-2015.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “Mary Alice Smoot's 19:48 is a new mark in the Valdosta Labor Day 5K”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/09/valdosta-labor-day-5k-2013.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “Rain can't spoil Valdosta's Labor Day picnic on the roads”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/09/valdosta-labor-day-5k-2011.html
  
  
• 2010 story, “Valdosta Labor Day 5K, Valdosta, Georgia, 6 September 2010”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/09/valdosta-labor-day-5k-2010.html
  
  
• Find your next holiday road race in the region using the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

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