Ryan Kelly and Traci Ferris put the sting on the competition at the Honey Bee 5K

Honey bees aren't native to the Americas. You could even call them an invasive species, especially if they're nesting in the chimney or the attic of your house. But during the five centuries that honey bees have been in the New World, they've become an important part of the economy. At one time, this was especially true in Hahira, Georgia, which as a town was a major supplier of queen bees. That heritage is celebrated in Hahira's annual Honey Bee Festival, especially the Honey Bee 5K. On Saturday morning, 5 October 2019, Lake Park, Georgia master runner Ryan Kelly won the latest edition of the Honey Bee 5K, running 18:42. Traci Ferris of Valdosta, Georgia was the first woman in the race, placing eighth overall in 22:54.


It was the fourth Honey Bee win for Kelly; the Valdosta High cross-country coach had also won the race in 2012, 2013, and 2015. Hahira's own Colin Prinsloo finished runner-up to Kelly in 19:54. Ruben Pule of Valdosta took third in 20:40. Cason Register, an athlete on the Lanier County High cross-country team, edged Chad Northcutt of Quitman for fourth, 21:04 to 21:05.


Unlike Kelly, Traci Ferris hadn't won the Honey Bee 5K before, but she had posted a win in another Hahira race just seven days earlier, taking the women's title at the ninth annual Get-A-Mammy 5K. Amber Cardoza of Midland, Georgia placed second in the women's standings and tenth overall in 24:27. Hahira's Sarah Gatzemeier squeaked into third just ahead of Jamie Brown of Valdosta, 24:40 to 24:43. Gatzemeier and Brown were eleventh and twelfth overall. Leesburg, Georgia athlete Beth Cowles was the top woman master and nineteenth female finisher, 41st overall in 28:59.


152 athletes finished the 2019 Honeybee 5K. A Course/Line, LLC, of Valdosta, Georgia timed the race and provided finish line services.


Top Ten Men, 2019 Hahira Honeybee 5K

1. 18:41.5, Ryan Kelly (M, 40) Lake Park, GA
2. 19:53.8, Colin Prinsloo (M, 33) Hahira, GA
3. 20:39.9, Ruben Pule (M, 24) Valdosta, GA
4. 21:03.8, Cason Register (M, 14) Lakeland, GA
5. 21:04.9, Chad Northcutt (M, 35) Quitman, GA
6. 21:08.0, Mark Diehl (M, 36) Valdosta, GA
7. 21:36.0, Jed Soloman (M, 26) Hahira, GA
8. 24:07.9, Jeremie Waldvogel (M, 21) Valdosta, GA
9. 24:44.4, Shelton Ansley (M, 67) Cairo, GA
10. 24:59.7, Mike Guilmette (M, 56) Lake Park, GA

Top Ten Women, 2019 Hahira Honeybee 5K

1. 22:53.8, Traci Ferris (F, 37) Valdosta, GA
2. 24:26.6, Amber Cardoza (F, 30) Midland, GA
3. 24:39.5, Sarah Gatzemeier (F, 33) Hahira, GA
4. 24:42.9, Jamie Brown (F, 35) Valdosta, GA
5. 25:51.0, Kaylee O'Quinn (F, 16) Hahira, GA
6. 26:15.1, Malissa Glisson (F, 24) Valdosta, GA
7. 26:46.4, Luaren Sandbach (F, 30) Hahira, GA
8. 26:46.8, Shannon Emanuel (F, 32) Ray City, GA
9. 26:52.2, Meshea Hardeman (F, 30) Hahira, GA
10. 26:59.8, Kansas Wadsworth (F, 10) Hahira, GA

Known Honeybee 5K Champions, 2001 - 2019
Date	Men	Women
2 October 1999
6 October 2001	17:21, Rich Sumrall
4 October 2003	16:31, John Seppala	23:14, Amy Mark
2 October 2004	16:30, John Seppala	22:13, Sundonia Williams
8 October 2005	16:47, John Seppala	20:41, Susan Fischer
7 October 2006	16:54, John Seppala	20:43, Susan Fischer
6 October 2007	16:54, John Seppala	18:57, Jana Grygarova
4 October 2008	17:02, John Seppala	21:13, Heidi Gonzalez
3 October 2009	16:51, John Seppala	20:12, Ashley Powell
9 October 2010	16:46, Scott Gardner	20:08, Ashley Powell
8 October 2011	17:49, Masked Avenger	19:46, Mary Alice Smoot
6 October 2012	18:37, Ryan Kelly	21:52, Gretchen Bielmyer
5 October 2013	18:39, Ryan Kelly	22:27, Debbie Allen
4 October 2014	19:26, Nick Rosatti	19:51, Mary Alice Smoot
3 October 2015	18:16, Ryan Kelly	22:44, Katie Lancaster
1 October 2016	19:14, David Burnett	21:42, Meredith Foskey
7 October 2017	18:58, Morgan Bolmer	20:43, Rebecca Chandler
6 October 2018	17:29, Alec Munger	20:51, Kelly Lunceford
5 October 2019	18:42, Ryan Kelly	22:54, Traci Ferris

Links

• Complete results of the 2019 Honeybee 5K, courtesy of A Course/Line, LLC
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRZ6ayoOXtOgrvMJXPTJchdHfuJcO5hO6CzUD2J6APtwpswDcT9bwwON6XTrrLs5Nri5zOXgnZvMioG/pubhtml
  
  
• 2018 story, “Alec Munger and Kelly Lunceford take care of beeswax in Hahira”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2018/10/honeybee-2018.html
  
  
• 2017 story, “Berrien County's Bolmer and Chandler each taste sweet victory at the Honeybee 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2017/10/honeybee-2017.html
  
  
• 2015 story, “A honey of a run in Hahira for Kelly and Lancaster”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/10/honeybee-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Harriers Rosatti and Smoot win Hahira's Honeybee 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/10/honeybee-2014.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “Ryan Kelly and Debbie Allen are victors at Hahira's 2013 Honeybee 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/10/honeybee-2013.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “Avenger and Smoot lead the swarm at Honeybee 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/10/honeybee-2011.html
  
  
• 2010 story, “Gardner stings Seppala at Honeybee 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/10/honeybee-2010.html
  
  
• Find the next insect-themed race in the region on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

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