Racing is back in Valdosta as Josh Summers and Emily Summers win the Blazer 5K

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

1. 18:07.1, Josh Summers (M, 17) Marietta, GA
2. 20:11.0, Christopher Keegan (M, 36) Valdosta, GA
3. 20:59.6, Milo Mirate (M, 24) Valdosta, GA
4. 21:10.3, Patrick Eaton (M, 20) Spring Hill, GA
5. 21:17.4, Isaac Kennedy (M, 14) Adel, GA
6. 21:55.0, Will Freeman (M, 14) Adel, GA
7. 21:57.5, Jim O'Connor (M, 57) Hahira, GA
8. 22:45.7, Stone Moye (M, 20) Rome, GA
9. 22:56.0, Drew Solomon (M, 14) Nashville, GA
10. 24:05.2, Ariel Godwin (M, 39) Valdosta, GA

Top Ten Women, 2020 Blazer Cross-Country 5K

1. 23:16.0, Emily Summers (F, 15) Marietta, GA
2. 23:46.7, Pollyanna Bass (F, 48) Pavo, GA
3. 24:51.1, Jamie Brown (F, 36) Valdosta, GA
4. 25:04.3, Laura Solomon (F, 38) Nashville, GA
5. 26:20.4, Jessica Hubler (F, 25) Valdosta, GA
6. 29:28.6, Gina Purvis (F, 61) Tifton, GA
7. 31:19.2, Kathleen McCord (F, 32) Valdosta, GA
8. 33:09.4, Sandra Martin Di Pietro (F, 55) Valdosta, GA
9. 35:51.7, Amy Hightower (F, 43) Chula, GA
10. 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
  
  

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