Sunday, June 23, 2024

Henry Lewis and Isabella Laughton make it a Wakulla High sweep at the Freedom 5K

Each June since 2013, the Wakulla High School Cross-Country Boosters have hosted the Freedom 5K at Florida's Wakulla Springs State Park. The park isn't close to the school, more than twelve miles away. It's not a regular workout venue for the team.

Henry Lewis
Henry Lewis

"We only come here once a year," said Wakulla harrier Henry Lewis, a rising junior and the team's ace. "Just for this race."


Nevertheless, on Saturday morning, 22 June 2023, at the eleventh annual Paul Hoover Freedom 5K, Lewis ran like he owned Wakulla Springs. He won the race by over 200 meters in 16:31, setting a new course record. Rising senior Isabella Laughton made it a Wakulla High sweep, taking first in the women's standings in 21:19, good for eleventh overall.

Tyler Godwin
Tyler Godwin

The 2023 Freedom 5K winner, Tyler Godwin, joined Lewis on the starting line, as did Tallahassee, Florida master runner Leonardo Canete. Canete had taken third in the 2023 race behind Godwin and Lewis. In the 2024 event, Canete darted into the lead right after the start. Lewis was never far behind, though, and 200 meters into the race he had taken over. Godwin also overtook Canete, but no one was going to catch Lewis that morning. Out the Cherokee Sink Trail, around the Sink, and back to the Springs, Lewis stayed in command, crossing the finish line in a winning 16:31--just better than the old course record of 16:32, set in 2017 by Justin Keefe.


Godwin, the defending champ, took second in 17:14. Canete was the first master runner in the 5K, coming in third overall in 17:49.

Isabella Laughton
Isabella Laughton

Isabella Laughton had raced the Freedom 5K in 2021, 2022, and 2023, finishing runner-up in the women's division twice and third once. In 2024 the race was all hers as she won by more than 250 meters with a 21:19, her best time yet at the Freedom 5K. Another Wakulla senior-to-be, Lana Hawkins, went 22:29 for the second women's spot and sixteenth overall. Serafina Rietow, a rising junior on the John Paul II Catholic High cross-country team, was the third woman and eighteenth overall in 22:52. Melissa Martin was the first woman master and sixth female finisher, 24th overall in 24:12.


After the Freedom 5K, it was still nine weeks till Wakulla High's cross-country opener at the Dueling Summits Meet in Tallahassee. Henry Lewis didn't plan to be idle during that time.

Lana Hawkins
Lana Hawkins

"We've got two races I want to do before cross-country season," said Lewis. "The Saint George Island Sizzler 5K and the Miller Landing Madness 8K."


And other than that?


"Just running a lot of miles," said Lewis.

Freedom 5K
The start of the 2024 Paul Hoover Freedom 5K

129 athletes finished the Wakulla High Cross-Country Boosters' eleventh annual Paul Hoover Freedom 5K. Gulf Winds Track Club of Tallahassee chip-timed the race.


Top Ten Men, 2024 Freedom 5K
  1. 16:30.30, Henry Lewis (M, 16)
  2. 17:13.40, Tyler Godwin (M, 18)
  3. 17:48.30, Leonardo Canete (M, 45)
  4. 18:02.60, Sean Hart (M, 39)
  5. 18:40.40, Andrew Nix (M, 19)
  6. 20:50.70, Oscar Bendeck (M, 16)
  7. 21:01.70, Michael Martinez (M, 58)
  8. 21:12.20, Jack McDermott (M, 55)
  9. 21:13.10, Brra Wigslen (M, 15)
  10. 21:15.30, Josiah Friddle (M, 17)

Top Ten Women, 2024 Freedom 5K
  1. 21:18.20, Isabella Laughton (F, 16)
  2. 22:28.20, Lana Hawkins (F, 17)
  3. 22:51.40, Serafina Rietow (F, 16)
  4. 23:34.40, Emily Smith (F, 39)
  5. 23:49.80, Madison Miracle (F, 12)
  6. 24:11.60, Melissa Martin (F, 50)
  7. 24:19.50, Nancy Proctor (F, 63)
  8. 25:22.00, Georgiana Hernandez (F, 34)
  9. 25:54.80, Stephanie Odom (F, 51)
  10. 26:10.10, Dani Roseman (F, 33)

Paul Hoover Freedom 5K winners, 2013 - 2024
DateMenWomenFinishers
29 June 201317:33, Stanley Linton21:12, Madison Harris107
28 June 201419:23, Reikan Lin20:12, Madison Harris82
27 June 201517:36, Zack DeVeau19:51, Katie Sherron173
25 June 201617:48, Wright Calhoun20:00, Madison Harris138
24 June 201716:32, Justin Keefe21:52, Haleigh Martin183
30 June 201818:21, Ryan Truchelut19:10, Amy Hines213
29 June 201918:31, Daniel Wiedeman21:18, Meg Ogle183
26 June 202117:07, Brock Granberg21:12, Liliana Lewis111
25 June 202217:17, Chris O'Kelley18:35, Katie Sherron159
24 June 202317:13, Tyler Godwin20:32, Megan Churchill182
22 June 202416:31, Henry Lewis21:19, Isabella Laughton129


Top ten men's times, Paul Hoover Freedom 5K
TimeAthleteYear
16:31Henry Lewis2024
16:32Justin Keefe2017
17:07Brock Granberg2021
17:13Tyler Godwin2023
17:14Tyler Godwin2024
17:17Chris O'Kelley2022
17:29Henry Lewis2023
17:33Stanley Linton2013
17:36Zach Deveau2015
17:36Leonardo Canete2023
17:48Wright Calhoun2016
        
Top ten women's times, Paul Hoover Freedom 5K
TimeAthleteYear
18:35Katie Sherron2022
19:10Amy Hines2018
19:51Katie Sherron2015
20:00Madison Harris2016
20:12Madison Harris2014
20:32Megan Churchill2023
20:56Brittney Skiles2016
21:07Renee Cox2014
21:11Alli Hay2016
21:12Madison Harris2013
21:12Liliana Lewis2021

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