Happy returns to the Valdosta Independence Day 5K for Aaron Munger and Alice Smoot

Aaron Munger placed runner-up in Valdosta, Georgia's 2019 Independence Day 5K. He returned to the race for its Saturday, 3 July 2021, edition and finished second to no one, winning the 3.1-miler in 17:46. Alice Smoot took fourth in the women's standings of the 2013 Independence Day 5K. She also returned for the 2021 race and was first woman, placing ninth overall in 22:50.


Smoot is a Valdosta master runner. Munger is also a Valdosta athlete, a rising junior on the Lowndes High cross-country team.


Another Lowndes harrier, rising senior Matthew Herndon, finished second to Munger in 18:17. Rising sophomores from Lowndes took the next two places, with Connor Lites third in 21:00 and Isaac Chambers fourth in 22:00. Steve Taylor was the first male master in the race and tenth in the men's division, coming in twelfth overall in 23:45.


Kelly Lunceford was the second woman in the race, placing 11th overall in 23:22. Lunceford had won the women's title in the Independence Day 5K in both 2019 and 2020. Meshea Hardeman took third in the women's standings, placing fourteenth overall in 24:57.


39 athletes finished the 2021 Valdosta Independence Day 5K. The race was a fund-raiser for the Lowndes High School cross-country program.

Top Ten Men, 2021 Valdosta Independence Day 5K

1. 17:45.5, Aaron Munger (M, 16) Valdosta, GA
2. 18:16.9, Matthew Herndon (M, 17) Lake Park, GA
3. 20:59.2, Connor Lites (M, 16) Hahira, GA
4. 21:59.7, Isaac Chambers (M, 15) Hahira, GA
5. 22:02.1, Michael Gemma (M, 13) Valdosta, GA
6. 22:02.7, Hogan Wright (M, 14) Valdosta, GA
7. 22:36.3, Milo Mirate (M, 25) Valdosta, GA
8. 22:38.2, Dylan Chambers (M, 13) Hahira, GA
9. 22:56.6, Cadeh Barker (M, 16) Hahira, GA
10. 23:44.3, Steve Taylor (M, 56) Valdosta, GA

Top Ten Females, 2021 Valdosta Independence Day 5K

1. 22:50.0, Alice Smoot (F, 64) Valdosta, GA
2. 23:21.6, Kelly Lunceford (F, 31) Valdosta, GA
3. 24:56.2, Meshea Hardeman (F, 32) Hahira, GA
4. 25:40.4, Bianca Anderson (F, 17) Valdosta, GA
5. 26:20.1, Stephanie Taylor (F, 22) Valdosta, GA
6. 29:09.8, Haley Eidson (F, 40) Hahira, GA
7. 32:40.9, Kelsie Herndon (F, 12) Lake Park, GA
8. 34:24.5, Rebecca Taylor (F, 17) Valdosta, GA
9. 34:26.4, Delleese Collins (F, 44) Valdosta, GA
10. 35:14.7, Jennifer Carter (F, 27) Valdosta, GA

Champions of the Valdosta Independence Day 5K, 2009 - 2021
Date	Men	Women	Finishers
4 July 2006*	32:33, Dave Bernacki	35:28, Susan Fischer	144
4 July 2007*	28:16, John Seppala	37:47, Beth DeLoach	181
4 July 2008*	28:42, John Seppala	33:15, Kelly Fleming	193
4 July 2009	16:38, Alan McGough	20:32, Ashley McGee	228
4 July 2010	16:32, Chris Rice	20:26, Angelina Horne	215
4 July 2011	16:15, Jeff Powers	20:16, Jordanne Helton	123
4 July 2012	16:57, Chris Rice	20:18, Christine Shattles	192
4 July 2013	17:28, Wright Calhoun	20:13, Mary Alice Smoot	163
4 July 2014	17:38, Chance Roe	21:04, Makenzee Page	124
4 July 2015	16:36, Roberto Bonilla, Jr	22:26, Debbie Green	128
4 July 2016	16:28, Kaleb Wolfenden	22:37, Brianna Prinsloo	119
4 July 2017	17:49, Brishen House	21:46, Brianna Prinsloo	126
4 July 2018	18:00, Alec Munger	21:25, Kelly Lunceford	91
4 July 2019	17:22, Alec Munger	21:19, Kelly Lunceford	91
3 July 2021	17:46, Aaron Munger	22:50, Alice Smoot	39
* The predecessor of the Valdosta Independence Day 5K was the Baytree 8K, run in the streets of Valdosta on Independence Day from 2006 to 2008.

Links

• Complete results of Valdosta's 2021 Independence Day 5K
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vTN6atDnmEtHSJwn1bCwiXOUQMeSw2XMXITTPVhqs7BiaIAP1n50xRKM7wOCcGEGfqMauQuS9jqJ9Z-/pubhtml
  
  
• Independence Day 2021 racing coverage on Trouble Afoot!
  • Gainesville FL: https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2021/07/ftc-melon-2021.html
  • Jay FL: https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2021/07/jay-freedom-2021.html
  • Tallahassee FL: https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2021/07/firecracker-2021.html
    
  • Valdosta GA: https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2021/07/happy-returns-to-valdosta-independence.html
  
  
• 2019 story, “Alec Munger and Kelly Lunceford repeat in Valdosta's Independence Day 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2019/07/valdosta-independence-2019.html
  
  
• 2018 story, “Alec Munger and Kelly Lunceford were first on the Fourth in Valdosta”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2018/07/valdosta-independence-2018.html
  
  
• 2017 story, “In Valdosta, House and Prinsloo lead the Independence Day 5K fireworks”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2017/07/valdosta-independence-2017.html
  
  
• 2015 story, “Bonilla and Green keep 'em flying in Valdosta”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/07/valdosta-independence-2015.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “Calhoun wins and Smoot sets record on Independence Day in Valdosta”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/07/valdosta-independence-2013.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “Rice and Shattles celebrate America's birthday with Valdosta 5K wins”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/07/valdosta-independence-2012.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “Powers and Helton make the records fall in Valdosta”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/07/valdosta-independence-2011.html
  
  
• 2010 story, “2010 story, "Rice and Horne rock the Fourth in Valdosta”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/07/2010-valdosta-independence-day-5k.html
  
  
• Find a race to run on the next patriotic holiday using the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

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