Trevor Sununu and Jennifer McGranahan claw their way to Bobcat 5K wins

Ever since 2017, when Tallahassee, Florida's Buck Lake Elementary School hosted its first annual Bobcat 5K cross-country race, no one had broken 20:00 in the 3.1-mile event. That was the case until Saturday morning, 29 February 2020, at the fourth annual Bobcat, where five athletes each cracked 20:00 on the five-kilometer course at the Alford Greenway. Fastest of those five was Tallahassee baker Trevor Sununu, the race winner in 17:57. Pensacola, Florida master runner Jennifer McGranahan was the first woman in the race, placing sixth overall in 20:17.

Trevor Sununu

"I'm not used to running on trails, or wearing spikes for five kilometers," said Sununu.


It didn't show. 100 meters into the race, Sununu was already ahead of the rest of the field, more than 200 athletes. He stayed ahead for the remaining 4,900 meters of the race. The pursuit wasn't far behind, though. After overtaking some fast starters, Tallahassee meteorologist Ryan Truchelut moved into second.

Ryan Truchelut

"I could see Trevor!" said Truchelut.


Truchelut still had Sununu in sight when Sununu crossed the finish line first in 17:57. Truchelut took second with an 18:34. A few steps back, Chance Logan placed third in 18:42. Top master runner honors were decided late in the race, with Paul Guyas edging Tony Guillen 19:32 to 19:39. Guyas and Guillen were fourth and fifth overall.

Jennifer McGranahan

With a racing career spanning three decades, Jennifer McGranahan is a Pensacola running icon. She also isn't unfamiliar with the Tallahassee trails. Nine months before the Bobcat 5K, McGranahan raced on the trails south of Lake Lafayette, winning the 10K at the eighteenth annual Tails And Trails. At the Bobcat, she proved equally competitive on the trails north of Lake Lafayette, leading the women's field from start to finish. McGranahan's 20:17 was the fastest time ever posted by a woman at the Bobcat 5K.


Alyssa Terry of Tallahassee placed second in the women's standings, finishing eighth overall in 20:39. Amanda Sava was the third woman and fifteenth overall in 21:11. Eleven-year-old Clifton Lewis, the 2019 Bobcat 5K women's champ, was the fourth female finisher and 24th overall in 22:19.

Alyssa Terry

The Bobcat 5K came at the end of a month that had opened with Trevor Sununu running a 2:38:18 for fourth place in the Tallahassee Marathon. Sununu is already aiming toward his next 26.2-mile race.


"I'm really into my marathon training now," said Sununu. "I'm running Grandma's Marathon in June."


In addition to that Duluth, Minnesota race, Sununu is also planning on the California International Marathon in Sacramento this December. But he's still looking at races that are both shorter and closer to home.

Early in the race

"I'll definitely be tapering for the Palace Saloon 5K," said Sununu.


212 athletes finished the 2020 Bobcat 5K cross-country race. Another 128 completed an earlier one-mile fun run.


Top Ten Men, 2020 Bobcat 5K Cross-Country Race

1. 17:57, Trevor Sununu (M, 24)
2. 18:34, Ryan Truchelut (M, 34)
3. 18:42, Chance Logan (M, 23)
4. 19:32, Paul Guyas (M, 42)
5. 19:39, Tony Guillen (M, 51)
6. 20:19, Andrew Wilber (M, 30)
7. 20:45, Ryan Dennis (M, 33)
8. 20:55, Philip Sura (M, 49)
9. 21:03, Fredrik Forsmans (M, 39)
10. 21:06, Jeremy Roberts (M, 15)

Top Ten Women, 2020 Bobcat 5K Cross-Country Race

1. 20:17, Jennifer McGranahan (F, 41)
2. 20:39, Alyssa Terry (F, 26)
3. 21:11, Amanda Sava (F, 25)
4. 22:19, Clifton Lewis (F, 11)
5. 23:55, Laura Reina (F, 55)
6. 24:14, Ruffian Tyner (F, 44)
7. 24:53, Paula O'Neill (F, 58)
8. 25:28, Kelly Whalon (F, 47)
9. 25:30, Nancy Proctor (F, 59)
10. 25:44, Cara Keogh (F, 26)

Winners of the Bobcat 5K Cross-Country Race, 2017 - 2020
Date	Men	Women	Finishers
25 March 2017	20:41, Kyle Spratt	21:32, Stacie Elliott	102
24 March 2018	20:07, Duane Evans	21:34, Laura McDermott	114
9 March 2019	20:05, Connor Edwards	22:38, Clifton Lewis	150
29 February 2020	17:57, Trevor Sununu	20:17, Jennifer McGranahan	212

Links

• Complete results of the 2020 Bobcat 5K Cross-Country Race
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSHQtOsAraXkH8Pi8owC9zetSI-mRohYNF5-CqcFr6ii_0-QfSB_A3qGmV5mYCDOopNHDIuYFjfUQXF/pubhtml
  
  
• More Trouble Afoot! photos of the 2020 Bobcat 5K Cross-Country Race
  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10115272362395183
  
  
• 2019 story, “Connor Edwards and Clifton Lewis finish first at the Bobcat 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2019/03/bobcat-2019.html
  
  
• 2018 story, “Duane Evans and Laura McDermott ran best at the Bobcat”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2018/03/bobcat-2018.html
  
  
• 2017 story, “Spratt over Spratt, while Stacie Elliott takes the women's title at the Bobcat 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2017/03/bobcat-2017.html
  
  
• Upcoming runs on trails, tracks, and roads on the Trouble Afoot! racing calendar
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2684