On Saturday morning, 22 August 2020, Sprayberry High athletes swept the overall titles at Valdosta, Georgia's Blazer Cross-Country 5K. A senior from the Marietta, Georgia school, Josh Summers, won the race in 18:08, while Emily Summers, a Sprayberry sophomore, took the women's title by placing tenth overall in 23:16.Road racing had been absent from the streets of Valdosta for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Blazer 5K marked a return to the sport, but if you thought that everything was back to normal, you would be convinced otherwise by the instructions accompanying registration:
Follow the Valdosta City request to wear a mask at all times, except when running.
Treat others like you would like to be treated--please keep distance between you and others--cover any cough/sneeze. If you do not feel well, have a temperature over 100.0 degrees F, or any other symptoms--do not attend.
Bring your own water bottles--no water coolers will be offered at the start/finish or on the course. Carry what you will need to keep yourself safe throughout the morning. Please do not share water bottles with non-family members.
Please bring Hand Sanitizer to keep your hands clean.
Social distancing guidelines are for people to remain at least two meters apart. Josh Summers took that to extremes during the race. The Sprayberry High Yellow Jacket finished more than 500 meters ahead of the next runner, posting a winning 18:08. Chris Keegan of Valdosta placed second in 20:11, and Valdosta's Milo Mirate was third in 21:00. Hahira, Georgia athlete Jim O'Connor was the first master runner in the 5K, placing seventh overall in 21:58.
Fifteen-year-old Emily Summers' 23:16 put her across the finish line more than 100 meters ahead of the rest of the women's field. Pollyanna Bass of Pavo, Georgia was the first female master and the women's runner-up, coming in eleventh overall in 23:47. Jamie Brown of Valdosta took third in the women's standings, placing fourteenth overall in 24:52.
34 athletes finished the 2020 Blazer Cross-Country 5K. A Course/Line, LLC, of Valdosta timed the race and provided finish line services. Proceeds of the event went to support the Valdosta State University cross-country program.
Top Ten Men, 2020 Blazer Cross-Country 5K
- 18:07.1, Josh Summers (M, 17) Marietta, GA
- 20:11.0, Christopher Keegan (M, 36) Valdosta, GA
- 20:59.6, Milo Mirate (M, 24) Valdosta, GA
- 21:10.3, Patrick Eaton (M, 20) Spring Hill, GA
- 21:17.4, Isaac Kennedy (M, 14) Adel, GA
- 21:55.0, Will Freeman (M, 14) Adel, GA
- 21:57.5, Jim O'Connor (M, 57) Hahira, GA
- 22:45.7, Stone Moye (M, 20) Rome, GA
- 22:56.0, Drew Solomon (M, 14) Nashville, GA
- 24:05.2, Ariel Godwin (M, 39) Valdosta, GA
Top Ten Women, 2020 Blazer Cross-Country 5K
- 23:16.0, Emily Summers (F, 15) Marietta, GA
- 23:46.7, Pollyanna Bass (F, 48) Pavo, GA
- 24:51.1, Jamie Brown (F, 36) Valdosta, GA
- 25:04.3, Laura Solomon (F, 38) Nashville, GA
- 26:20.4, Jessica Hubler (F, 25) Valdosta, GA
- 29:28.6, Gina Purvis (F, 61) Tifton, GA
- 31:19.2, Kathleen McCord (F, 32) Valdosta, GA
- 33:09.4, Sandra Martin Di Pietro (F, 55) Valdosta, GA
- 35:51.7, Amy Hightower (F, 43) Chula, GA
- 46:34.1, Deborah McDonald (F, 62) Valdosta, GA
| Valdosta State University 2020 Blazer Cross-Country 5K champions, 2006 - 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Men | Women |
| 19 August 2006 | 16:54, Derek Storbeck | 20:06, Melissa Daugherty |
| 18 August 2007 | 16:58, John Seppala | 20:12, Jana Grygarova |
| 23 August 2008 | 17:17, Austin McDonald | 20:12, Jordanne Helton |
| 22 August 2009 | 16:15, Christopher Rice | 20:03, Ashley McGee |
| 21 August 2010 | 16:40, Christopher Rice | 20:13, Sarah Turner |
| 20 August 2011 | 17:03, Christopher Rice | 20:23, Jordanne Helton |
| 25 August 2012 | 16:33, Christopher Rice | 20:22, Jessie Usry |
| 24 August 2013 | 20:04, Colin Prinsloo | 21:55, Alice Smoot |
| 23 August 2014 | 20:13, Shaundon Moore | 22:33, Carsen Pastirik |
| 29 August 2015 | 18:22, Greg George | 22:04, Anne Price |
| 27 August 2016 | 18:00, Jackson Green | 21:47, Alice Smoot |
| 26 August 2017 | 19:00, Ryan Kelly | 22:22, Vanessa Spry |
| 25 August 2018 | 17:16, Cameron Watson | 18:37, Ann Centner |
| 24 August 2019 | 19:42, Nevin Swanson | 23:48, Tracey Cole |
| 22 August 2020 | 18:08, Josh Summers | 23:16, Emily Summers |
Links
- Complete results of the 2020 Blazer Cross-Country 5K courtesy of A Course/Line, LLC, of Valdosta, Georgia
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQ6etM0BShhehm4DX1k4YDPfbMIK_Y8WdXiPqNBilKZywQpApMvNkuv3DWr-kA5-oXLx_5in7IgC_Xr/pubhtml
- 2019 story, “Nevin Swanson and Tracey Cole were on fire at the Blaze The Day 5K”
https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2019/08/vsu-community-2019.html
- 2018 story, “Cameron Watson and Ann Centner scorch the streets at the Blaze The Day 5K”
https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2018/08/vsu-community-2018.html
- 2017 story, “Kelly and Spry light up the course at Blaze The Day”
https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2017/08/vsu-community-2017.html
- 2015 story, “George and Price celebrate in a hurry at the Blazer Dash's tenth anniversary”
https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/08/vsu-community-2015.html
- 2014 story, “Moore and Pastirik are the fastest Blazer Dashers in 2014”
https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/08/vsu-community-2014.html
- 2013 story, “Prinsloo and Smoot say 'Welcome to VSU!' in the Community 5K”
https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/08/vsu-community-2013.html
- 2011 story, “Rice goes for three and Helton for two at VSU Community 5K”
https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/08/vsu-community-2011.html
- 2010 story, “Rice and Turner victorious at VSU Community 5K”
https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/09/vsu-community-2010.html
- USATF course certification map GA18010WC for the 2020 Blazer Cross-Country 5K
https://certifiedroadraces.com/certificate/?type=l&id=GA18010WC
- Upcoming races on and off university campuses listed on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
