Blue ribbon races for Oscar Lopez and Izzy Catron on a red, white, and blue day in Valdosta

For all anyone knows, Independence Day footracing in Valdosta, Georgia may go back to the days before John Henry "Doc" Holliday left the district abruptly. It's certain, though, that seventeen fourth of July races have been run on the Valdosta Streets from 2006 to 2023, three eight-kilometer races and fourteen five-kilometer events. Valdosta athlete Oscar Lopez won the Valdosta Indepence Day 5K of Tuesday, 4 July 2023, going the distance in 18:17. Isidora "Izzy" Catron of Rochelle, Georgia--a rising sophomore on the Wilcox County High cross-country team--took the women's title, placing thirteenth overall in 20:18.


A few steps behind Lopez, Hahira's Jacob Howington finished runner-up in 18:23. Howington Howington is a rising senior at Highland Christian Academy where he races on the cross-country team. Another high school harrier, Lowndes High senior Toshiya Bass, was third in 18:34. Bass was the 2022 Independence Day 5K champion. David Burnett of Valdosta was the first master runner in the race for the second year in a row; this time out he was eleventh overall in 20:14.


In the women's division, the runner-up spot went to Cook High cross-country runner Stella McClain, 29th overall in 23:23. Three weeks earlier, McClain had won the Valdosta Break Bread Bun Run. Ella Burnett, a rising senior at Valwood, was third in the women's standings for the second year in a row, improving her time to 23:30 and placing 30th overall. Tamara Martin of Valdosta was the first woman master, the fifth female and 36th overall in 24:39.


129 athletes finished the 2023 race, making it the largest Valdosta Independence Day 5K since 2013. A Course/Line, LLC, of Valdosta timed the race and provided finish line services.


Top Ten Men, 2023 Valdosta Independence Day 5K

1. 18:16.4, Oscar Lopez (M, 32) Valdosta, GA
2. 18:22.3, Jacob Howington (M, 16) Hahira, GA
3. 18:33.4, Toshiya Bass (M, 17) Valdosta, GA
4. 18:51.9, Patrick Wallace (M, 16) Valdosta, GA
5. 18:54.6, Ethan Burnett (M, 15) Valdosta, GA
6. 19:12.3, Aiden Keen (M, 17) Valdosta, GA
7. 19:20.2, Ty Milligan (M, 17) Valdosta, GA
8. 19:25.6, Chad Northcutt (M, 39) Quitman, GA
9. 19:43.0, David Boatright (M, 16) Valdosta, GA
10. 20:11.1, Brandon Reyes (M, 16) Valdosta, GA

Top Ten Women, 2023 Valdosta Independence Day 5K

1. 20:17.3, Izzy Catron (F, 15) Rochelle, GA
2. 23:23.0, Stella McClain (F, 14) Hahira, GA
3. 23:29.3, Ella Burnett (F, 17) Valdosta, GA
4. 24:04.4, Kelly Lunceford (F, 33) Valdosta, GA
5. 24:38.1, Tamara Martin (F, 45) Valdosta, GA
6. 24:55.1, Emma Burnett (F, 17) Valdosta, GA
7. 25:10.8, Vanessa Smith (F, 14) Valdosta, GA
8. 25:11.7, Sara Hamblin (F, 38) Valdosta, GA
9. 26:03.6, Melissa Lutey (F, 27) Valdosta, GA
10. 26:57.2, Laura Solomon (F, 41) Nashville, GA

Champions of the Valdosta Independence Day 5K, 2009 - 2023
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
4 July 2022	18:50, Toshiya Bass	23:02, Emma Burnett	86
4 July 2023	18:17, Oscar Lopez	20:18, Izzy Catron	129
* 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 2023 Independence Day 5K
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSsCH5-YXxs0dO2kMQ5lhtAxgjHmMCrqdsO6CtX9Br20MNnZuPX6txAc833rLeV02dmF-A06dOm70jW/pubhtml
  
  
• Independence Day 2023 racing coverage on Trouble Afoot!
  • Gainesville FL: https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2023/07/ftc-melon-2023.html
  • Jay FL: [ COMING SOON! PLEASE CHECK BACK! ]
  • Keystone Heights FL: https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2023/07/keystone-heights-freedom-2023.html
  • Tallahassee FL: https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2023/07/firecracker-2023.html
  • Valdosta GA: https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2023/07/valdosta-independence-2023.html
  
  
• 2022 story, “Toshiya Bass and Emma Burnett made it a prep sweep at Valdosta's Independence Day 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2022/07/valdosta-independence-2022.html
  
  
• 2021 story, “Happy returns to the Valdosta Independence Day 5K for Aaron Munger and Alice Smoot”
  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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