Anna James and Alec Munger race to more wins at the Bearcat Invitational

Anna James just keeps winning.


During the 2020 high school cross-country season, the Thomas County Central senior notched wins in the girls' race at the Yellow Jacket Invitational on August 29, the Lee County Invitational on September 12, the Tift Invitational on September 26, and the Westover Invitational on October 3. On 10 October 2020, she added another victory in Bainbridge, Georgia at the Bearcat Invitational, where she ran 20:23.


But aside from James, the story of the Bearcat Invitational was largely one of two schools, Wakulla High and Lowndes High. James may have placed first in the girls' 5K, but the team competition was between Wakulla and Lowndes, with Wakulla prevailing 29 to 42. Lowndes had the edge in the boys' 5K, taking first with 21 points to Wakulla's 94, while Lowndes senior Alec Munger finished first in 17:13.


The girls raced first, with a scheduled starting time of 8:00 AM. No one was close to Anna James as she won the race by nearly 400 meters, covering the course around Bainbridge High School in 20:23. The next three places went to three Wakulla juniors, with Elizabeth Blitch second in 22:01, Marina Whitsell third in 22:05, and Clara Alford fourth in 22:14.


The Wakulla girls had a fourth athlete in the top ten; senior Alejandra Vivaldo Vasquez placed seventh in 22:27. Keri Levingston completed Wakulla's score, finishing fourteenth in 23:50 and giving the War Eagles a winning 29 points. The Lowndes girls were second with 42 points, led by senior Kiley Matheson's 22:15, good for fifth place. Scoring 90 points, Tift County was third in the six-team field, led by senior Katie McMillan (11th, 23:22).


2020 Bearcat Invitational Team Standings, High School Girls

1. Wakulla, 29
2. Lowndes, 42
3. Tift County, 90
4. Thomas County Central, 112
5. Westover, 113
6. Bainbridge, 136

Top Ten High School Girls, 2020 Bearcat Invitational

1. 20:22.10, Anna James (Thomas County Central) 12
2. 22:00.90, Elizabeth Blitch (Wakulla) 11
3. 22:04.60, Marina Whitsell (Wakulla) 11
4. 22:13.30, Clara Alford (Wakulla) 11
5. 22:14.50, Kiley Matheson (Lowndes) 12
6. 22:19.80, Victoria Garcia (Lowndes) 10
7. 22:28.60, Alejandra Vivaldo Vasquez (Wakulla) 12
8. 22:49.00, Laura Mason (Lowndes) 11
9. 23:15.40, Macy Batchelor (Seminole County) 12
10. 23:16.90, Anna Plowden (Westover) 11

Alec Munger didn't win the boys' 5K with as wide a margin as Anna James enjoyed in the girls' race, but he still finished comfortably ahead of the runner-up, Wakulla senior Simon Cole, 17:13 to 17:26. After Cole, it was a lot of Lowndes, as the Vikings put all four of their remaining scorers in the top ten--sophmore Aaron Munger was third in 17:43, junior Matthew Herndon was fourth in 18:00, senior Andrew Carvana was fifth in 18:24, and senior Andrew Francis took eighth in 18:38. With those five athletes, Lowndes had 21 points and first place--improving on their second-place showing in 2018, their previous appearance in the Bearcat Invitational.


Cole and Wakulla were second in the ten-team field with 94 points. Westover was a close third with 101 points, led by the tenth-place finish of senior Kentavious Sessions (18:48).


2020 Bearcat Invitational Team Standings, High School Boys

1. Lowndes, 21
2. Wakulla, 94
3. Westover, 101
4. Bainbridge, 113
5. Cairo, 149
6. Thomas County Central, 156
7. Tift County, 167
8. Grace Christian, 183
9. Thomasville, 252
10. Seminole County, 257

Top Ten High School Boys, 2020 Bearcat Invitational

1. 17:12.10, Alec Munger (Lowndes) 12
2. 17:25.20, Simon Cole (Wakulla) 12
3. 17:42.20, Aaron Munger (Lowndes) 10
4. 17:59.60, Matthew Herndon (Lowndes) 11
5. 18:24.00, Andrew Carvana (Lowndes) 12
6. 18:31.30, Jared Davis (Bainbridge) 11
7. 18:35.70, Wyatt Carpenter (Grace Christian) 12
8. 18:38.00, Andrew Francis (Lowndes) 12
9. 18:39.60, Elias Lopez-Gomez (Cairo) 12
10. 18:47.70, Kentavious Sessions (Westover) 12

The high school races were followed by a middle school two mile. The first girl in that race was eighth-grader Cadence Curnalia of Thomas County Middle School, going 13:24 in her first appearance at the Bearcat Invite. Eighth-grader Isabella Laughton, competing unattached, placed second in 14:01. Thomas County sixth-grader Savannah Dodd went 15:00 for third.


Curnalia and Dodd were joined in the top ten by fellow Yellow Jacket Gabby Lindquist; eighth-grader Lindquist was tenth in 18:30. Two sixth-graders rounded out Thomas County's five scorers, with Julie Vonier thirteenth in 18:55 and Josie Smith sixteenth in 19:41. Once Smith crossed the finish line, the Yellow Jacket girls had 21 points and first place. Led by eighth-grader Geisha Smith (4th, 15:18), Seminole County took second with 36 points.


2020 Bearcat Invitational Team Standings, Middle School Girls

1. Thomas County, 21
2. Seminole County, 36

Top Ten Middle School Girls, 2020 Bearcat Invitational

1. 13:23.60, Cadence Curnalia (Thomas County) 8
2. 14:00.50, Isabella Laughton (Unattached) 8
3. 14:59.30, Savannah Dodd (Thomas County) 6
4. 15:17.70, Geisha Smith (Seminole County) 8
5. 15:37.60, Katya Jackson (Valdosta) 8
6. 15:56.30, Katelyn Bailey (Whigham) 8
7. 17:35.80, Madison Gainous (Whigham) 7
8. 17:55.10, Kyli Alexander (MacIntyre Park) 7
9. 18:19.30, Jenna Collins (MacIntyre Park) 8
10. 18:29.90, Gabby Lindquist (Thomas County) 8

More than 100 meters ahead of the next runner, TaQuan Townsend cruised to a 13:03 victory in the middle school boys' two mile. Dawson McMillan of Tift took second in 13:03, and seventh-grader Henry Lewis was third in 13:48.


The team competition was between the two Thomasville schools--Thomas County and MacIntyre Park. County's Yellow Jackets had three runners in the top ten--sixth-grader Brody Jennings was fourth in 14:11, sixth-grader Mason Tillman was fifth in 14:17, and eighth-grader Tim Watson was eighth in 14:52. Seventh-graders Memphis McKenzie (12th, 15:06) and Conner Marsh (18th, 15:59) filled the two remaining spots on the Thomas County's card of five scorers, giving the Jackets 20 points and first place. MacIntyre Park seventh-grader placed tenth in 15:02, leading his Bulldogs to second place with 36 points.


2020 Bearcat Invitational Team Standings, Middle School Boys

1. Thomas County, 20
2. MacIntyre Park, 36

Top Ten Middle School Boys, 2020 Bearcat Invitational

1. 12:36.20, Ta'Quan Townsend (Unattached) 8
2. 13:02.60, Dawson McMillan (Tift) 8
3. 13:47.30, Henry Lewis (Unattached) 7
4. 14:11.00, Brody Jennings (Thomas County) 6
5. 14:16.30, Mason Tillman (Thomas County) 6
6. 14:33.60, Corbin Thompson (Bainbridge) 7
7. 14:44.30, Aidan Angie (Bainbridge) 8
8. 14:51.40, Tim Watson (Thomas County) 8
9. 15:01.50, Christian Knight (Whigham) 8
10. 15:01.60, Nicholas May (MacIntyre Park) 7

Miles and Minutes, LLC, of Tallahassee, Florida timed the 2020 Bearcat Invitational.

Bainbridge High School Bearcat Cross-Country Invitational Champions 2000 - 2017
High School Girls 5K
Date	Team Champ	Individual Champ
27 September 2003	Tift County, 39	22:28, Demonessa Pyle (Berrien County)
24 September 2005	Tift County, 32
23 September 2006
22 September 2007
20 September 2008	Bainbridge, 39	21:06, April Thomas (Bainbridge) 10
19 September 2009	Westover, 45	19:31, April Thomas (Bainbridge) 11
18 September 2010	Lee County
17 September 2011	Tift County, 36	21:50, Ericka Taylor (Westover) 11
22 September 2012	Thomasville, 64	21:05, Ericka Taylor (Westover) 12
14 September 2013	Thomas County Central, 55	19:56, Paige Braswell (Bainbridge) 12
20 September 2014	Maclay, 35	19:11, Elizabeth Funderburk (Colquitt County) 9
26 September 2015	Lincoln, 60	21:10, Juliana Krueger (Lincoln) 12
17 September 2016	Maclay, 31	18:06, Alyson Churchill (Lincoln) 9
16 September 2017	Lincoln, 53	20:41, Emily Golden (Tift County) 10
15 September 2018	Bishop Snyder, 50	19:42, Gianna Forte (Bishop Snyder) 12
21 September 2019	Community Christian, 48	20:40, Rebecca Chandler (Berrien County) 12
10 September 2020	Wakulla, 29	20:23, Anna James (Thomas County Central) 12
High School Boys 5K
Date	Team Champ	Individual Champ
27 September 2003	Westover, 41	17:47, David Marley (Westover)
24 September 2005	Bainbridge, 54
23 September 2006
22 September 2007
20 September 2008	Tift County, 37	17:13, David Daniel (Thomasville) 11
19 September 2009	Tift County, 49	16:04, Hunter Honeycutt (Tift County) 10
18 September 2010	Westover
17 September 2011	Tift County, 55	16:48, Hunter Honeycutt (Tift County) 12
22 September 2012	Bainbridge, 77	16:40, Josh Mason (Westover) 12
14 September 2013	Bainbridge, 65	16:15, Chase Harris (Bainbridge) 11
20 September 2014	Maclay, 51	16:59, Bryce Swindell (Lassiter) 12
26 September 2015	Lowndes, 43	16:52, Kaleb Wolfenden (Lowndes) 11
17 September 2016	Maclay, 32	16:41, Clayburn Milford (Maclay) 10
16 September 2017	Lincoln, 39	17:12, Clayton Carlson (Lincoln) 12
15 September 2018	Lee County, 54	17:41, Christopher Porter (Rickards) 12
21 September 2019	Lee County, 60	16:54, David Andrew Keen (North Florida Christian) 12
10 September 2020	Lowndes, 21	17:13, Alec Munger (Lowndes) 12
Additions and corrections to this table will be accepted gratefully. ~HW

Links

• Complete results of the 2020 Bainbridge High Bearcat Cross-Country Invitational
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQwGmCGyIDxtaS12x2kAlsOWFXAjKon3luv9NVHwN0g0m0-Gc_ag620r24bV29t4nDa72p4G_LZF0AK/pubhtml
  
  
• 2017 story, “A whole lot of Lincoln Trojan at the Bainbridge Bearcat Invitational”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2017/09/bearcat-xc-2017.html
  
  
• 2016 story, “Lincoln frosh Alyson Churchill stuns Southwest Georgia with an 18:06”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/09/bearcat-xc-2016.html
  
  
• 2015 story, “Krueger leads Lincoln and Wolfenden leads Lowndes to victories in Bainbridge”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/09/bearcat-xc-2015.html
  
  
• Trouble Afoot! coverage of running in Bainbridge, Georgia
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/Bainbridge
  
  
• Stop playing on the computer and run a race! You can find one here:
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2709

Lowndes harriers Alec Munger and Victoria Garcia win Valdosta's Labor Day 5K

Valdosta, Georgia's Labor Day 5K wasn't a cross-country meet, but the race date--7 September 2020--was during high school cross-country season. And Lowndes High School cross-country runners swept the titles in the race. Lowndes senior Alec Munger was the overall winner, covering the 3.1-mile course in 16:35. Victoria Garcia, a Lowndes sophomore, placed first in the women's standings, finishing seventeenth overall in 22:39.

Alec Munger

Aaron Munger, the runner-up, was also a Lowndes athlete. A sophomore, the younger Munger went 17:20. Parker Reid Jackson edged Lowndes junior Matt Herndon for third, 18:00 to 18:01. Jackson, a Valdosta High junior, was the Labor Day 5K defending champion. Ryan Kelly of Lake Park, Georgia was the top master runner in the race, placing sixth overall in 19:07.


Lowndes senior Kiley Matheson took second in the women's category, coming in 24th overall in 23:29. Another Lowndes cross-country runner, sophomore Lindsey Whitmer, was the third woman and 26th overall in 23:39. Loretta Tanner of Waycross, Georgia was the first woman master and the tenth female finisher, overall in 26:21.


The top twenty men and the top twenty women each received a Valdosta State University coffee mug, presented just past the finish line.


99 athletes finished the 2020 Valdosta Labor Day 5K. Proceeds of the race benefited the Valdosta State University cross-country teams. A Course/Line, LLC, of Valdosta timed the race and provided finish line services.


Top Ten Men, 2020 Valdosta Labor Day 5K

1. 16:34.1, Alec Munger (M, 17) Valdosta, GA
2. 17:19.9, Aaron Munger (M, 15) Valdosta, GA
3. 17:59.7, Parker Jackson (M, 16) Valdosta, GA
4. 18:01.0, Matthew Herndon (M, 16) Lake Park, GA
5. 18:12.2, Burnis Williams (M, 16) Valdosta, GA
6. 19:06.5, Ryan Kelly (M, 41) Lake Park, GA
7. 19:08.8, Mason Thompson (M, 17) Valdosta, GA
8. 19:33.8, Isaac Chambers (M, 14) Hahira, GA
9. 19:43.9, Will Gerber (M, 16) Valdosta, GA
10. 20:28.4, Blake Jaramillo (M, 16) Hahira, GA

Top Ten Women 2020 Valdosta Labor Day 5K

1. 22:38.4, Victoria Garcia (F, 15) Valdosta, GA
2. 23:28.2, Kiley Matheson (F, 17) Valdosta, GA
3. 23:38.5, Lindsay Whitmer (F, 15) Valdosta, GA
4. 24:11.9, Megan Gemma (F, 17) Valdosta, GA
5. 24:23.3, Laura Solomon (F, 38) Nashville, GA
6. 24:42.5, Bianca Anderson (F, 16) Valdosta, GA
7. 24:55.7, Jamie Brown (F, 36) Valdosta, GA
8. 24:57.2, Emily Asola (F, 16) Valdosta, GA
9. 25:12.8, Katelyn Kotterman (F, 14) Valdosta, GA
10. 26:20.4, Loretta Tanner (F, 42) Waycross, GA

Valdosta Labor Day 5K winners, 2009 - 2020
Date	Men	Women	Finishers
7 September 2009	18:19, Drew Dunbar	20:28, Ashley McGee	122
6 September 2010	16:18, Chris Rice	20:27, Jordanne Helton	290
5 September 2011	17:55, Masked Avenger	20:59, Mary Alice Smoot	108
3 September 2012	17:44, James Marino	22:27, Taylor Harrington	93
2 September 2013	18:15, Matthew Baun	19:48, Mary Alice Smoot	89
1 September 2014	17:07, Matthew Baun	21:58, Alice Smoot	65
7 September 2015	18:56, Ryan Kelly	22:38, Darien Andreu	87
5 September 2016	18:03, Dan Butzin	21:44, Debbie Green	106
4 September 2017	Canceled
3 September 2018	19:39, Rick Mazurkiewicz	21:42, Sandra Griffin	80
2 September 2019	20:35, Parker Jackson	23:29, Kelly Lunceford	44
7 September 2020	16:35, Alec Munger	22:39, Victoria Garcia	99

Links

• Complete results of the 2020 Valdosta Labor Day 5K courtesy of A Course/Line, LLC
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQTC4f7_gQ1r1SUf-98zmYQ0MEhDLwnQt312Js358CIH86r_rwrNSZATcVxT6vHAkLkFJU984pCqktZ/pubhtml
  
  
• 2019 story, “Parker Jackson and Kelly Lunceford win at Valdosta's Labor Day 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2019/09/valdosta-labor-day-5k-2019.html
  
  
• 2016 story, “Hermine can't halt Butzin or Green”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/09/valdosta-labor-day-5k-2016.html
  
  
• 2015 story, “Kelly and Andreu work the Valdosta roads on Labor Day”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/09/valdosta-labor-day-5k-2015.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “Mary Alice Smoot's 19:48 is a new mark in the Valdosta Labor Day 5K”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/09/valdosta-labor-day-5k-2013.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “Rain can't spoil Valdosta's Labor Day picnic on the roads”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/09/valdosta-labor-day-5k-2011.html
  
  
• 2010 story, “Valdosta Labor Day 5K, Valdosta, Georgia, 6 September 2010”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/09/valdosta-labor-day-5k-2010.html
  
  
• Find your next holiday road race in the region using the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2702

Emily Golden wraps up her sixth straight Tift Invitational victory

724 high school and middle school athletes came to the Tifton, Georgia campus of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College on Saturday morning, 28 September 2019, to compete in one of the four races of the 18th annual Tift Invitational Cross-Country Meet. The Coffee High Trojans put three runners in the top ten of the high school girls' 5K to take the team title in that event, but it was Tift County senior Emily Golden who took individual honors, winning the race in 19:52. Lowndes High was the top team in the high school boys' 5K for the third time in five years, led by their ace, junior Alec Munger, who won the race in 17:09.


Competition opened at ABAC with the high school girls' 5K. You could argue that Emily Golden only visits Abraham Balwin to win races. Each August starting in 2014, Golden has won the women's title of the Run For Love 5K, held at ABAC. Golden also won her first Tift Invitational race that year, the middle school girls' 3200-meter run. She won that race again as an eighth-grader in 2015, then in 2016 she graduated to winning the high school girls' 5K. At the 2019 Invitational, Golden ran the Tift Invitational for the final time in her high school career, collecting a fourth-straight win in the 5K. Maybe she also drops by to take the SAT or something, but for the past six years her main business at ABAC has been winning.


Coffee High senior Abby Arnett was second in the high school girls' 5K with a 21:15. At 21:24, Brianna Zupko, a Worth County senior, was third in 21:24.


Arnett was just the first of three Coffee High runners in the top ten. The other two were sophomore Brayden Bailey (6th, 22:11) and frosh Kate Merritt (10th, 22:46). They were joined by Coffee scorers Zulmia Tapia (36th, 25:22) and Ellie Perkins (57th, 26:47), giving the Trojans 94 points and first place in a field of fifteen teams.


Lowndes High was a close second with 99 points, led by the seniors Tanija Turner (15th, 23:29) and Alexandra Sayre (16th, 23:33). Lee County placed third in the team standings with 109 points; their top runner was sophomore Emily Phillips, who finished fourth in 21:46.


Team Standings, High School Girls, 2019 Tift County Invitational

1. Coffee, 94
2. Lowndes, 99
3. Lee County, 109
4. Perry, 115
5. Tift County, 148
6. Berrien County, 162
7. Valdosta, 191
8. Westover, 202
9. Colquitt County, 216
10. Cook, 229
11. Baconton Charter, 266
12. Trinity Dublin Christian, 268
13. Fitzgerald, 381
14. Bainbridge, 399
15. Wilcox County, 421

Emily Golden

Top 10 High School Girls, 2019 Tift County Invitational

1. 19:52.00, Emily Golden (Tift County)
2. 21:15.00, Abbey Arnett (Coffee)
3. 21:24.00, Brianna Zupko (Worth County)
4. 21:46.00, Emily Phillips (Lee County)
5. 22:05.00, Janie Samson (Trinity Dublin Christian)
6. 22:11.00, Brayden Bailey (Coffee)
7. 22:12.00, Brenna Clark (Valwood)
8. 22:18.00, Hannah Dodd (Berrien County)
9. 22:37.00, Jadon Osei (Westover)
10. 22:46.00, Kate Merritt (Coffee)

The high school boys' 5K followed, the largest race of the morning. Alec Munger of Lowndes had placed third in the 2018 Tift Invitational; he improved on that to win the 2019 race in 17:09. Coffee High junior Cameron Watson took second behind Munger with a 17:23, another improvement--Watson had finished fourth in 2018. Westover senior Henry Plowden ran 17:38 for third; Plowden had won the race in 2017.


Munger had the company of three Lowndes teammates in the top ten--frosh Aaron Munger was sixth in 18:10, junior Cody Galloway was eighth in 18:19, and junior Andrew Caruana was ninth in 18:22. Once Lowndes junior Andrew Francis had crossed the finish line 22nd in 19:16, the Vikings had 46 points and the team title.


Starting with junior Seth Tomlinson (14th, 18:57), Lee County bunched five scorers between 18:57 and 19:15 to take second with 83 points. Perry was a close third in the seventeen-team field with 88 points, led by frosh Dylan Coleman (12th, 18:46).


Team Standings, High School Boys, 2019 Tift County Invitational

1. Lowndes, 46
2. Lee County, 83
3. Perry, 88
4. Coffee, 110
5. Westover, 137
6. Bainbridge, 208
7. Berrien County, 216
8. Valdosta, 227
9. TiftCounty, 242
10. Colquitt County, 244
11. Fitzgerald, 270
12. Worth County, 383
13. Baconton Charter, 415
14. Thomasville, 420
15. Cook, 431
16. Trinity Dublin Christian, 434
17. Wilcox County, 465

Top 10 High School Boys, 2019 Tift County Invitational

1. 17:09.00, Alec Munger (Lowndes)
2. 17:23.00, Cameron Watson (Coffee)
3. 17:38.00, Henry Plowden (Westover)
4. 17:47.00, John Morgan Bolmer (Berrien County)
5. 18:08.00, Stokes Moore (Bainbridge)
6. 18:10.00, Aaron Munger (Lowndes)
7. 18:17.00, Parker Jackson (Valdosta)
8. 18:19.00, Cody Galloway (Lowndes)
9. 18:22.00, Andrew Caruana (Lowndes)
10. 18:23.00, Nevin Swanson (Coffee)

Ava Garrett, a Perry Middle eighth-grader, wen 13:21 to win the middle school girls' 3200 (the distance formerly known as "two miles). Lee County eighth-grader Trace Bridges took second in 13:29, and Berrien County eighth-grader Sadii Davis was third in 13:36. The 2018 Tift Invitational defending champion, Lee County eighth-grader Alma Ostrander, placed fourth in 13:46.


After Bridges and Ostrander, Lee County had scoring performances by eighth-grader Tori Bridges (10th, 14:19), seventh-grader Olivia Vaderwalt (17th, 14:41), and eighth-grader Cadence McClung (18th, 14:45). Once McClung had finished, Lee County had 48 points and the team was taking the trophy back to Leesburg. Ben Hill was second in the fourteen-team field with 105 points; their top runner was eighth-grader Abbie Brown (9th, 14:18).Tift edged Perry for third, 127 to 132, led by the sixteenth-place, 14:39 finish of Tift seventh-grader Grayson Anne Day.


Team Standings, Middle School Girls, 2019 Tift County Invitational

1. Lee County, 48
2. Ben Hill, 105
3. Tift, 127
4. Perry, 132
5. Berrien County, 140
6. Valwood, 149
7. Terrell, 212
8. Cook, 224
9. Baconton Charter, 225
10. Seminole County, 238
11. Colquitt County, 246
12. Wilcox County, 270
13. Tiftarea, 284
14. Coffee, 357

Top 10 Middle School Girls, 2019 Tift County Invitational

1. 13:21.00, Ava Garrett (Perry)
2. 13:29.00, Trace Bridges (Lee County)
3. 13:36.00, Sadii Davis (Berrien County)
4. 13:46.00, Alma Ostrander (Lee County)
5. 13:56.00, Emma Burnett (Valwood)
6. 13:58.00, Geisha Smith (Seminole County)
7. 14:07.00, Destiny Love (Merry Acres)
8. 14:17.00, Addie Gregory (Cook)
9. 14:18.00, Abbie Brown (Ben Hill)
10. 14:19.00, Tori Bridges (Lee County)

Trinity Dublin Christian seventh-grader Nolan Lane was the only athlete to crack 12:00 in the middle school boys' 3200, winning the race in 11:51. That's not to say that no other runner was close to breaking 12:00; Tift eighth-grader Blair Golden was second in 12:02. Tiftarea` sixth-grader Jude Bailey placed third in 12:21.


Berrien County put two runner in the top ten--sxith-grader Brady Solomon (6th, 12:35) and eighth-grader John Carter (10th, 12:51)--but so did Seminole County--seventh-grader Matthew Smith (8th, 12:47) and sixth-grader Zach King (9th, 12:48)--setting up a fight for the team title. Berrien County brought eighth-graders Carlos Valaquez (16th, 13:11), Zachary Davis (23rd, 13:26), and Oseil Rodriguez (29th, 13:37) to that fight, scoring 76 points and taking placing first among fifteen teams. Seminole County was second with 101 points. Coffee, led by eighth-grader Will Bagwell (7th, 12:40), was third with 125 points.


Team Standings, Middle School Boys, 2019 Tift County Invitational

1. Berrien County, 76
2. Seminole County, 101
3. Coffee, 125
4. Colquitt County, 128
5. Lee County, 132
6. Cook, 143
7. Tiftarea, 181
8. Tift, 185
9. Wilcox County, 200
10. Perry, 243
11. Ben-Hill, 253
12. Valwood, 374
13. Bainbridge, 383
14. Baconton Charter, 384
15. Highland Christian, 394

Top 10 Middle School Boys, 2019 Tift County Invitational

1. 11:51.00, Nolan Lane (Trinity Dublin Christian)
2. 12:02.00, Blair Golden (Tift)
3. 12:21.00, Jude Bailey (Tiftarea)
4. 12:28.00, James Fagan (Colquitt County)
5. 12:32.00, Landon Dale (Lee County)
6. 12:35.00, Brady Solomon (Berrien County)
7. 12:40.00, Will Bagwell (Coffee)
8. 12:47.00, Matthew Smith (Seminole County)
9. 12:48.00, Zach King (Seminole County)
10. 12:51.00, John Carter (Berrien County)

Tift High School Blue Devil Cross Country Invitational Winners, 2008 - 2019
High School Girls 5K
Date	Team Champ	Individual Champ
6 September 2008	Westover, 48 points	21:52, Alexis Skiles (Lee) 9
12 September 2009	Tift Country, 47	21:19, April Thomas (Bainbridge) 11
11 September 2010	Lowndes, 25	21:22, Ashley Powell (Lowndes)
8 October 2011	Lowndes, 22	19:14, Anna Leigh Nix (Veterans)
13 October 2012	Lowndes, 34	19:49, Jacki Pinkerton (Lowndes)
12 October 2013	Camden County, 42	19:47, Paige Braswell (Bainbridge) 12
11 October 2014	Tift County, 23	19:14, Elizabeth Funderburk (Colquitt County) 9
10 October 2015	Lee County, 59	20:15, Elizabeth Funderburk (Colquitt County) 10
8 October 2016	Tift County, 41	20:44, Emily Golden (Tift County) 9
30 September 2017	Tift County, 87	20:07, Emily Golden (Tift County) 10
29 September 2018	Lee County, 74	19:27, Emily Golden (Tift County) 11
28 September 2019	Coffee, 94	19:52, Emily Golden (Tift County) 12
High School Boys 5K
Date	Team Champ	Individual Champ
6 September 2008	Tift County, 40 points	17:25, Hunter Honeycutt (Tift County) 9
12 September 2009	Tift County, 30	17:09, Hunter Honeycutt (Tift County) 10
11 September 2010	Valdosta, 40	17:48, Hunter Honeycutt (Tift County) 11
8 October 2011	Tift County, 50	16:24, Hunter Honeycutt (Tift County) 12
13 October 2012	Lowndes, 65	16:20, Dale Pate (Worth County) 11
12 October 2013	Worth County, 69	16:28, Chase Harris (Bainbridge) 11
11 October 2014	Lee County, 55	16:46, Robert Grooms (Lee County) 11
10 October 2015	Lowndes, 35	16:17, Kaleb Wolfenden (Lowndes)
8 October 2016	Lowndes, 22	16:07, Kaleb Wolfenden (Lowndes) 12
30 September 2017	Valdosta, 60	17:22, Henry Plowden (Westover) 10
29 September 2018	Deerfield Windsor, 53	16:39, Porter Hill (Deerfield Windsor)
28 September 2019	Lowndes, 46	17:09, Alec Munger (Lowndes) 11

Links

• Complete results of Tift County's 2019 Blue Devil Cross Country Invitational
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRFNG78dYNxLhD02-0kTSq4s57VNJd_0MF4wWWbhxtmr6rALLUBNYUzMTEUSeZ2YpfyzwbA8610PGX1/pubhtml
  
  
• 2015 story, “More wins for Funderburk and Wolfenden at the Tift County Invitational”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/10/tift-invitational-2015.html
  
  
• Find an upcoming event to run on the Trouble Afoot! race calendar
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2614

Alec Munger and Sandra Griffin take the cake at the Bun Run

For distance runners, the mantra in July is, "Get Ready For Cross-Country Season." On Saturday morning, 20 July 2019, Lowndes High rising junior Alec Munger showed that if he isn't ready for cross-country, he is well along in his preparations. That morning, Munger won the tenth annual Break Bread Bun Run 5K in Valdosta, Georgia by more than 300 meters, running 17:51. Valdosta master runner Sandra Griffin was the first woman in the race, placing thirteenth overall in 22:53.


It was Munger's second straight Bun Run win and nearly a minute faster than his winning time in the 2018 race. Fourteen-year-old Aaron Munger took the runner-up spot in the 5K, running 19:03. An incoming frosh at Lowndes High, Aaron will be joining his brother Alec on Viking cross-country team. A few steps behind the younger Munger, a pair of master runners battled for third, Myles Gibson and Ryan Kelly. Kelly, from Lake Park, Georgia, had won the Bun Run in 2013 and 2014, as well as finishing ahead of Gibson in the 2018 race. Kelly had also outrun Gibson a week earlier to win the eleventh annual Barnes 5K. This time out, though, Gibson won their duel. The Donalsonville, Georgia athlete went 19:0-8 to take third place and the top master spot with a 19:08. Kelly was fourth in 19:19.


Alexandra Sayre, a rising senior on the Lowndes High cross-country team, took second in the women's standings and fifteenth overall in 23:14. Sayre had also been the women's runner-up in the 2018 Bun Run. Another rising senior, Valdosta High harrier Katelyn Lancaster, was the third woman and seventeenth overall in 24:43. Master runner Martha Mazurkiewicz, a Lowndes High cross-country coach, was the fourth female finisher and eighteenth overall in 25:00.


76 athletes finished the 2019 Break Bread Bun Run 5K. A Course/Line, LLC, of Valdosta timed the race and provided finish line services.


Top Ten Men, 2019 Break Bread Bun Run 5K

1. 17:50.5, Alec Munger (M, 16) Valdosta, GA
2. 19:02.8, Aaron Munger (M, 14) Valdosta, GA
3. 19:07.5, Myles Gibson (M, 53) Iron City, GA
4. 19:18.7, Ryan Kelly (M, 40) Lake Park, GA
5. 20:14.6, Michael Kelly (M, 18) Valdosta, GA
6. 20:46.8, Rick Mazurkiewicz (M, 52) Valdosta, GA
7. 20:47.1, Colton Baldwin (M, 16) Valdosta, GA
8. 21:16.1, Chad Northcutt (M, 35) Quitman, GA
9. 21:18.2, Matthew Herndon (M, 15) Lake Park, GA
10. 21:42.2, Isaac Chambers (M, 13) Hahira, GA

Top Ten Women, 2019 Break Bread Bun Run 5K

1. 22:52.9, Sandra Griffin (F, 52) Valdosta, GA
2. 23:13.8, Alexandra Sayre (F, 17) Valdosta, GA
3. 24:42.5, Katie Lancaster (F, 17) Valdosta, GA
4. 24:59.2, Martha Mazurkiewicz (F, 51) Valdosta, GA
5. 25:02.0, Traci Ferris (F, 36) Valdosta, GA
6. 26:21.8, Mary Sue Thompson (F, 36) Moultrie, GA
7. 27:01.1, Selena Curfman (F, 15) Hahira, GA
8. 27:13.3, Carragen Young (F, 17) Clyattville, GA
9. 29:44.7, Catherine Moody (F, 14) Valdosta, GA
10. 30:12.8, Jamie Brown (F, 35) Valdosta, GA

Break Bread Bun Run 5K champions, 2010 - 2019
Date	Men	Women	Finishers
24 July 2010	18:28, Scott Gardner	24:16, Nicole Kump	49
23 July 2011	18:47, Masked Avenger	23:07, Minerva Arreguin	78
21 July 2012	18:21, Mark McLeod	21:11, Alice Smoot	56
20 July 2013	18:54, Ryan Kelly	22:30, Alison Peters	71
12 July 2014	18:19, Ryan Kelly	21:20, Makenzee Page	49
11 July 2015	17:49, Matthew Baun	21:10, Erica Schloemer	38
23 July 2016	18:58, Jackson Green	23:10, Debbie Green	65
22 July 2017	18:55, Brishen House	22:58, Vanessa Spry	87
21 July 2018	18:45, Alec Munger	23:39, Brenna Clark	88
20 July 2019	17:51, Alec Munger	22:53, Sandra Griffin	76

Links

• Complete results of the 2019 Break Bread Bun Run 5K
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vTTSDn8UorpNx741uhHFy2tlngUGuTa8fuLGwcqbNxXdtETth2p9FDvdolr0gTj1bTVkW7rkGv_1cil/pubhtml
  
  
• 2018 story, “Alec Munger and Brenna Clark were on a roll at the Break Bread Bun Run”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2018/07/bun-run-2018.html
  
  
• 2017 story, “House and Spry were the athletic upper crust of the Bun Run”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2017/07/bun-run-2017.html
  
  
• 2016 story, “Green and Green pour on some flour power at Bun Run”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/07/bun-run-2016.html
  
  
• 2015 story, “Baun and Schloemer bake some fresh records in the Bun Run”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/07/bun-run-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Kelly and Page rise to the occasion at Bun Run”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/07/bun-run-2014.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “Kelly and Peters break away at Break Bread Bun Run”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/07/bun-run-2013-.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “McLeod and Smoot kick some buns in Valdosta's Wood Valley”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/07/bun-run-2012.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “Avenger and Arreguin emerge from the Wood Valley Hills as Bun Run Champs”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/07/bun-run-2011.html
  
  
• 2010 story, “Gardner conquers Valdosta's Wood Valley hills to win the Bun Run 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/07/break-bread-2010.html
  
  
• Find another baked good race on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2558

Alec Munger and Kelly Lunceford repeat in Valdosta's Independence Day 5K

In Valdosta, Georgia's 2019 Independence Day 5K Road Race, Alec Munger was the first overall male and Kelly Lunceford the first overall female in a field of 91 athletes.


Wait a second.


In Valdosta, Georgia's 2018 Independence Day 5K Road Race, Alec Munger was the first overall male and Kelly Lunceford the first overall female in a field of 91 athletes.


You may be getting a sense of deja vu, or suspecting that someone simply changed the year on the 2018 results, but it actually happened that way. Of course, not everything was the same about the two races--in the event on Thursday morning, 4 July 2019, Alec Munger ran over half a minute faster than the previous year, posting a winning time of 17:22. Likewise, Valdosta's Lunceford ran a few seconds faster than her 2018 mark, placing eleventh overall in 21:19.


It was also a year where young runners excelled in the race. Alec Munger, first overall, is a rising junior at Lowndes High, where he was the ace of the boys' cross-country team during the 2018 season. Aaron Munger edged Michael Kelly for second, 19:33 to 19:34. Aaron is just fourteen years old, and Michael finished his final cross-country season at Lowndes High only eight months ago. Of the top ten runners, eight were less than twenty years old. A notable exception was Brian Rohrback of Lake Park, Georgia. Rohrback was the first master runner in the race, placing eighth overall in 20:32.


Sandra Griffin of Valdosta, Georgia was the first woman master, coming in second in the women's standings and thirteenth overall in 21:53. Pinetta, Florida master runner Tracey Cole was the third female finisher, placing sixteenth overall in 22:42.


As for 91 athletes finishing both the tenth annual and the eleventh annual Independence Day 5K, that's just eerie. Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket.


Top Ten Men, 2019 Valdosta Independence Day 5K

1. 17:21.2, Alec Munger (M, 16) Valdosta, GA
2. 19:33.0, Aaron Munger (M, 14) Valdosta, GA
3. 19:33.3, Michael Kelly (M, 18) Dasher, GA
4. 19:49.3, Chad Northcutt (M, 35) Quitman, GA
5. 20:05.0, Andrew Caruana (M, 16) Valdosta, GA
6. 20:15.9, Andrew Smith (M, 18) Valdosta, GA
7. 20:25.0, Andrew Francis (M, 16) Hahira, GA
8. 20:31.4, Brian Rohrback (M, 42) Lake Park, GA
9. 20:42.7, Isaac Chambers (M, 13) Hahira, GA
10. 20:47.5, Aidan Evans (M, 14) Tifton, GA

Top Ten Females, 2019 Valdosta Independence Day 5K

1. 21:18.2, Kelly Lunceford (F, 29) Valdosta, GA
2. 21:52.6, Sandra Griffin (F, 52) Valdosta, GA
3. 22:41.4, Tracey Cole (F, 40) Pinetta, FL
4. 23:46.3, Tanija Turner (F, 18) Lake Park, GA
5. 23:50.0, Alexandra Sayre (F, 17) Valdosta, GA
6. 23:56.4, Greta Mikell (F, 21) Lakeland, GA
7. 25:47.6, Jamie Brown (F, 35) Valdosta, GA
8. 26:10.4, Lindsay Colson (F, 34) Valdosta, GA
9. 26:23.8, Kaylee O'Quinn (F, 15) Valdosta, GA
10. 26:27.3, Suzie Puckett (F, 48) Hahira, GA

Champions of the Valdosta Independence Day 5K, 2009 - 2019
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
* 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 2019 Independence Day 5K
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQ631rUFLtA-60sBkBk2PGSjZ2ujf8lIdvtRiAEFCCcd5_iHWZ3lPGbLIrxkvd3Y9K7ryFqtRzkvAgM/pubhtml
  
  
• Independence Day 2019 racing coverage on Trouble Afoot!
  • Gainesville FL: https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2019/07/ftc-melon-2019.html
  • Jay FL: https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2019/07/jay-freedom-2019.html
  • Saint George Island FL: https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2019/07/spritzer-2019.html
    
  • Tallahassee FL: https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2019/07/firecracker-2019.html
    
  • Valdosta GA: 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
  
  

#2545

Alec Munger repeats in a big way at Valdosta's Memorial Day 5K

In 2018, Alec Munger won Valdosta, Georgia's tenth annual Memorial Day 5K by a hundred meters. If the race had been on a standard track rather than the roads, the second runner would have been just coming off the final turn while Munger was on the opposite end of the homestretch, crossing the finish line. So that's a big lead, right?


Well, try 800 meters. Because on Monday morning, 27 May 2019, Munger returned to win the eleventh annual Memorial Day 5K in Valdosta by well over 800 meters, running 17:18. Remember that standard track? The Lowndes High sophomore cross-country runner would have lapped the entire field twice. Kelly Lunceford of Valdosta won the women's division by 250 meters in the same race, which is a huge margin even if you compare it to Alec Munger's. Lunceford came in eighth overall in 22:31.


Quitman, Georgia athlete Chad Northcutt took second in the 5K, running 20:59. For the second year in a row, Lowndes High cross-country coach Rick Mazurkiewicz was the top master runner, third overall in 21:07. Just behind Mazurkiewicz, Tallahassee master runner Michael Kennett edged fourteen-year-old Aaron Munger for fourth, 21:20 to 21:22.


Tracey Cole of Pinetta, Florida was the first woman master and second female finisher, placing twelfth overall in 23:44. Valdosta's Jamie Brown placed third in the women's standings and nineteenth overall in 25:39.


2019 was the second year that the Valdosta Real Estate Memorial Day 5K was sponsored by United Country Real Estate and directed by Rob McGhin. 91 athletes finished the race.


Top Ten Men, 2019 Valdosta Real Estate Memorial Day 5K

1. 17:17:8, Alec Munger (M, 16) Valdosta, GA
2. 20:58:3, Chad Northcutt (M, 34) Quitman, GA
3. 21:06:5, Rick Mazurkiewicz (M, 52) Valdosta, GA
4. 21:19:1, Michael Kennett (M, 45) Tallahassee, FL
5. 21:21:7, Aaron Munger (M, 14) Valdosta, GA
6. 21:40:2, Blake Jaramillo (M, 15) Valdosta, GA
7. 21:50:2, William Carter (M, 54) Perry, FL
8. 23:01:9, Gage Stenact (M, 15) Hahira, GA
9. 23:07:1, Phil Wynn (M, 35) Valdosta, GA
10. 23:37:4, Connor Lites (M, 14) Valdosta, GA

Top Ten Women, 2019 Valdosta Real Estate Memorial Day 5K

1. 22:30:7, Kelly Lunceford (F, 29) Valdosta, GA
2. 23:43:3, Tracey Cole (F, 40) Pinetta, FL
3. 25:38:3, Jamie Brown (F, 35) Valdosta, GA
4. 25:49:5, Tanijz Turno (F, 18) Lake Park, GA
5. 26:12:8, Addie Gregory (F, 11) Quitman, GA
6. 27:14:3, Maggie Gregory (F, 15) Quitman, GA
7. 27:42:0, Kyleigh Leisey (F, 15) Hahira, GA
8. 27:51:5, Victoria Garcia (F, 14) Valdosta, GA
9. 28:14:8, Selena Curfman (F, 14) Hahira, GA
10. 28:24:7, Linda Smidt (F, 55) Naylor, GA

Valdosta Memorial Day 5K Champions, 2009 - 2019
Date	Men	Women	Finishers
25 May 2009	16:34, Chris Rice	20:47, Ashley McGee	86
31 May 2010	16:50, Chris Rice	21:38, Jordan Helton	79
30 May 2011	17:10, Chris Rice	21:06, Alice Smoot	102
28 May 2012	18:33, Masked Avenger	21:38, Alison Peters	53
27 May 2013	18:05, Ryan Kelly	23:21, Debbie Green	87
26 May 2014	17:26, Dylan Rogers	22:01, Makenzee Page	92
25 May 2015	17:54, Ryan Kelly	22:44, Debbie Green	73
30 May 2016	18:05, Matthew Baun	22:25, Debbie Green	99
29 May 2017	17:31, Andrew Elam	20:23, Rebecca Chandler	136
28 May 2018	18:11, Alec Munger	21:51, Sandra Griffin	83
28 May 2018	17:18, Alec Munger	22:31, Kelly Lunceford	97

Links

• Complete results of the 2019 Valdosta Real Estate Memorial Day 5K
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vTqLetfIrd3XbIWK9UhWyYhiIGbBrQCJUyfWP8bu6xK3vmkK9aiS_KyVREPWKwduZCJccdzYOb6YVlt/pubhtml
  
  
• 2018 story, “Munger and Griffin each make a happy return to Valdosta's Memorial Day 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2018/05/valdosta-memorial-day-2018.html
  
  
• 2017 story, “Elam, Chandler race to victory in Valdosta on Memorial Day”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2017/05/valdosta-memorial-day-2017.html
  
  
• 2016 story, “Baun and Green are swift in the streets on Memorial Day”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/05/valdosta-memorial-day-2016.html
  
  
• 2015 story, “Kelly and Green deserve decoration at Valdosta's Memorial Day 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/05/valdosta-memorial-day-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Rogers and Page rule the roads in Valdosta on Memorial Day”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/05/valdosta-memorial-day-2014.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “Kelly and Green lead the charge at Valdosta's Memorial Day 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/06/valdosta-memorial-day-2013.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “Avenger and Peters mark Memorial Day with wins”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/05/valdosta-memorial-day-2012.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “Memorial Day three-peat for Rice in Valdosta”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/05/valdosta-memorial-day-2011.html
  
  
• 2010 story, “Blazers Rice and Helton race to victory in Valdosta”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/06/valdosta-memorial-day-5k-2010.html
  
  
• Upcoming races in Valdosta and other cities in the Trouble Afoot! region
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2528

Alec Munger and Tracey Cole lead at Lake Park

Three months after Saturday morning, 27 April 2019, it's likely that Alec Munger will be starting his junior year cross-country season at Lowndes High in Valdosta, Georgia. But on 27 April 2019 itself, Munger was a few miles south of Valdosta in Lake Park, Georgia winning the inaugural Calvary 5K. Racing on roads rather than trails, Munger went the 3.1 miles in 17:15. Tracey Cole, a master runner from Pinetta, Florida, was the first woman in the race, placing fourth overall in 23:21.

Alec Munger

Lake Park's own Justin Tracy finished runner-up in the Calvary 5K, coming in just over a hundred meters behind the winner in 17:40. Fourteen-year-old Aaron Munger of Valdosta, Georgia took third in 21:35. Billy Taylor, a 70-year-old Valdosta athlete, was the first male master in the 5K, placing fifth overall and fourth in the men's standings at 24:20.


Valdosta master runner Galen Mirate was the second woman in the race, eighth overall in 32:04. Ashley Thompson of Valdosta was the third female finisher and fourteenth overall in 34:22.


51 athletes finished the 2019 Calvary 5K. A Course/Line, LLC, of Valdosta timed the race and provided finish line services for the first-year race.


Top Ten Men, 2019 Calvary 5K

1. 17:15.0, Alec Munger (M, 15) Valdosta, GA
2. 17:40.0, Justin Tracy (M, 24) Lake Park, GA
3. 21:34.3, Aaron Munger (M, 14) Valdosta, GA
4. 24:19.6, Billy Taylor (M, 70) Valdosta, GA
5. 26:01.1, James Cazares (M, 26) Valdosta, GA
6. 26:27.8, Ken Taylor (M, 59) Valdosta, GA
7. 33:26.0, Taylor Douglas (M, 10) Lake Park, GA
8. 33:26.2, Hunter Boyd (M, 9) Valdosta, GA
9. 33:55.9, Garrett Dowling (M, 30) Valdosta, GA
10. 34:07.1, Dylan Carr (M, 13) Lake Park, GA

Top Ten Women, 2019 Calvary 5K

1. 23:20.5, Tracey Cole (F, 40) Pinetta, FL
2. 32:03.8, Galen Mirate (F, 63) Valdosta, GA
3. 34:21.6, Ashley Thompson (F, 27) Valdosta, GA
4. 35:01.9, Ginny Howell (F, 29) Lake Park, GA
5. 35:08.1, Victoria Cazares (F, 25) Valdosta, GA
6. 37:11.4, Melissa Cowart (F, 29) Valdosta, GA
7. 39:53.2, Annie Eilders (F, 17) Hahira, GA
8. 41:40.5, Wendi O'Neal (F, 50) Quitman, GA
9. 42:44.0, Brooke Dowling (F, 29) Valdosta, GA
10. 44:07.1, Kayla Boyd (F, 32) Valdosta, GA

• Complete results of the 2019 Calvary 5K, courtesy of A Course/Line, LLC
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSXQ6nDtLARAWHM1845OzwKP873toaKvCT8YiFLttkZTX3wWTiZcDdsVQr_EsR341YHt5LGMIPQoyNR/pubhtml
  
  
• Upcoming races in Lake Park and elsewhere in the region on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2502

Alec Munger rides again at Valdosta's Run For Missions Four Mile

Ryan Kelly had won Valdosta, Georgia's Run For Missions three times, taking first place in the annual four-mile road race in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Alec Munger had one Run For Missions title after winning in 2018. Munger is catching up, though. On Saturday morning, 26 January 2019, at the eighth annual Run For Missions, Munger outran Kelly 23:34 to 23:43 to pick up his second title in the four-mile race. Valdosta master runner Sandra Griffin was the first woman in the race, placing ninth overall in 29:03.

Alec Munger

Alec Munger is a sophomore on the cross-country team at Lowndes High, while Kelly is a cross-country coach at Lowndes' rival, Valdosta High. Kelly's runner-up finish made him the top master runner in the race. Parker Reid Jackson, a frosh on Kelly's team at Valdosta High, placed third in 24:52. Valdosta master runner Rick Mazurkiewicz, a Lowndes High cross-country coach, was fourth in 26:32.


From just over the state line in Pinetta, Florida, Tracey Cole took the runner-up spot in the women's standings, placing fifteenth overall in 31:14. Martha Mazurkiewicz of Valdosta was the top woman master in the race, finishing third in the women's division and 21st overall in 32:22.


91 athletes finished the 2019 Run For Missions Four-Mile. A Course/Line, LLC, of Valdosta timed the race and provided finish line services.


Top Ten Men, 2019 Run 4 Missions

1. 23:33.1, Alec Munger (M, 15) Valdosta, GA
2. 23:43.0, Ryan Kelly (M, 40) Lake Park, GA
3. 24:51.4, Parker Reid Jackson (M, 14) Valdosta, GA
4. 26:31.7, Rick Mazurkiewicz (M, 51) Valdosta, GA
5. 27:19.4, Carl Hook (M, 32) Valdosta, GA
6. 27:46.9, John Hall (M, 48) Tifton, GA
7. 27:52.5, Michael Kelly (M, 17) Dasher, GA
8. 28:21.2, Andrew Marzen (M, 48) Tifton, GA
9. 29:38.4, Mark McCarra (M, 53) Alford, FL
10. 30:22.6, Landon Jackson (M, 16) Valdosta, GA

Top Ten Women, 2019 Run 4 Missions

1. 29:02.2, Sandra Griffin (F, 51) Valdosta, GA
2. 31:13.1, Tracey Cole (F, 39) Pinetta, FL
3. 32:21.7, Martha Mazurkiewicz (F, 51) Valdosta, GA
4. 33:00.4, Kim Munger (F, 47) Valdosta, GA
5. 33:29.0, Hilary Willis (F, 27) Valdosta, GA
6. 34:12.8, Chelsea Holcombe (F, 29) Valdosta, GA
7. 34:50.2, Jacinta Howell (F, 34) Valdosta, GA
8. 35:13.8, Megan Morris (F, 40) Valdosta, GA
9. 35:33.0, Kaibeh Alcon (F, 25) Valdosta, GA
10. 36:03.4, Karina Amandson (F, 49) Valdosta, GA

Valdosta BCM Run 4 Missions Four-Mile Road Race champions, 2012 - 2019
Date	Men	Women	Finishers
21 January 2012	22:50, Parker Childree	28:10, Alice Smoot	140
19 January 2013	23:48, Ryan Kelly	31:08, Audrey Williams	100
18 January 2014	23:32, Ryan Kelly	28:49, Mackenzie Morse	86
24 January 2015	23:19, Ryan Kelly	26:48, Makenzee Page	116
23 January 2016	25:43, Rick Mazurkiewicz	28:44, Debbie Green	109
21 January 2017	26:46, John Lewis	29:32, Melanie Ellis	128
20 January 2018	24:35, Alec Munger	28:46, Alice Smoot	93
26 January 2019	23:34, Alec Munger	29:03, Sandra Griffin	91

Links

• Complete results of the 2018 Run 4 Missions four-mile road race
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQIjq_s4MDwoQX4GSSuIL1OXdBZtRObSN_D0YslRm3268Fth-KcOb-NljHf5x6O0AIh78U40GDy_YdZ/pubhtml
  
  
• 2018 story, “Alec Munger and Alice Smoot were at the fore in the Run For Missions Four”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2018/01/missions-2018.html
  
  
• 2017 story, “Four fast for Lewis and Ellis at Miles For Missions”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2017/01/missions-2017.html
  
  
• 2016 story, “Four-mile wins in Valdosta for master runners Mazurkiewicz and Green”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/01/missions-2016.html
  
  
• 2015 story, “A third win for Kelly and record run for Page at Run 4 Missions”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/01/missions-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Kelly and Morse take four”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/01/missions-2014.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “Mission accomplished for Ryan Kelly and Audrey Williams”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/01/missions-2013.html
  
  
• USATF course-certification map GA18031WC for the 2019 Run For Missions
  http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/maps/showMap.asp?courseID=GA18031WC
  
  
• Find your next Valdosta road race on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2413

Alec Munger and Alice Smoot headline the Saint John Road Race

Saturday morning, 27 October 2018, was seven days after Alec Munger placed third in the GHSA Area 1-7A Cross-Country Championship in Conyers, Georgia. It was seven days before the Lowndes High sophomore would race with his team in the GHSA State Cross-Country Championships in Carrollton, Georgia. It was also the morning that Munger won the fifteenth annual Saint John 5K Road Race in his hometown of Valdosta, Georgia, running 16:57. Valdosta master runner Alice Smoot won the Saint John Road Race women's title for the second time in three years, placing eighteenth overall in 22:51.


Tanner Reid, a first-year Valdosta State University student and recent alum of the Perry High cross-country team, took second in 17:23. Armarius Patterson, a senior on the Lowndes High cross-country team, was third in 18:00. Rick Mazurkiewicz of Valdosta was the first master runner in the 5K, coming in twelfth overall in 20:25.


Pavo, Georgia master runner Pollyanna Bass was the second woman in the race and 21st overall in 23:23. Emma Campbell of Hahira finished third in the women's standings and 24th overall in 23:34.


172 athletes finished the 2018 Saint John Road Race 5K. A Course/Line, LLC, of Valdosta, Georgia timed the race and provided finish line services.


Top Ten Men, 2018 Saint John Road Race

1. 16:56.6, Alec Munger (M, 15) Valdosta, GA
2. 17:23.0, Tanner Reid (M, 18) Valdosta, GA
3. 17:59.2, Armarius Patterson (M, 17) Lake Park, GA
4. 18:15.7, Ryan Kelly (M, 39) Lake Park, GA
5. 19:08.1, Caleb Starling (M, 16) Valdosta, GA
6. 19:08.6, Ben Carlson (M, 17) Valdosta, GA
7. 19:21.9, Andrew Caruana (M, 15) Valdosta, GA
8. 19:24.7, Jake Steinberg (M, 16) Valdosta, GA
9. 19:28.0, Michael Kelly (M, 17) Dasher, GA
10. 19:41.4, Pate King (M, 17) Valdosta, GA

Top Ten Women, 2018 Saint John Road Race

1. 22:50.1, Alice Smoot (F, 61) Valdosta, GA
2. 23:22.4, Pollyanna Bass (F, 46) Pavo, GA
3. 23:25.3, Daun Caruana (F, 16) Valdosta, GA
4. 23:33.3, Emma Campbell (F, 17) Hahira, GA
5. 23:43.8, Martha Mazurkiewicz (F, 50) Valdosta, GA
6. 24:19.2, Kiley Matheson (F, 15) Valdosta, GA
7. 24:20.8, Madison Wagenaar (F, 15) Valdosta, GA
8. 25:26.5, Carragen Young (F, 16) Valdosta, GA
9. 25:36.3, Michela Marshall (F, 14) Hahira, GA
10. 25:47.3, Kelly Lunceford (F, 29) Valdosta, GA

Winners of the Saint John School 5K Road Race, 2004 - 2018
Date	Men	Women	Finishers
30 October 2004	16:17 John Seppala	20:26 Susan Fischer
29 October 2005	16:10 Andy Minnicks	18:32 Melissa Daugherty
28 October 2006	16:26 Brandon Young	19:27 Melissa Daugherty	329
27 October 2007	16:38 D. J. Smith	19:06 Jana Grygarova	328
25 October 2008	17:23 Corey Stejback	19:57 Ashley Rall-McGee	286
31 October 2009	17:55 Marc Kaiser	19:42 Ashley McGee	338
30 October 2010	16:09 Chris Rice	21:03 Brandi Faircloth	326
29 October 2011	17:44 Austin Wallace	21:27 Amy Sharon	296
27 October 2012	15:54 Jesse Prince	21:29 Kelsey Morse	288
26 October 2013	17:13, Joshua Hall	20:46, Mackenzie Morse	598
25 October 2014	21:02, George Powell	22:33, Debbie Green	150
31 October 2015	18:27, Max Steele	22:20, Debbie Green	213
29 October 2016	18:59, Dan Butzin	21:48, Alice Smoot	157
28 October 2017	17:36, Justin Tracy	21:30, Elizabeth Smith	173
27 October 2018	16:57, Alec Munger	22:51, Alice Smoot	172

Links

• Complete results of the 2018 Saint John School 5K
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQXfo6oIIz8HcEJ1uSj_smoF6rbGyu8zcdNENSLbYsgNSqJXZmTPkd0d7eShNTTK7PJKdncDxE6Rn0V/pubhtml
  
  
• 2015 story, “Steele and Green treat themselves on Hallowe'en at the St John Road Race”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/11/st-john-2015.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “Jesse Prince is the first to break 16:00 at the St. John 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/10/st-john-2012.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “Wallace takes a time out from trails to win St John 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/11/st-john-2011.html
  
  
• Saint John Road Race
  https://www.stjohnroadrace.org/
  
  
• Find an upcoming race to run in Valdosta or any other city within 100 miles of Tallahassee
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2366

Alec Munger and Kelly Lunceford take care of beeswax in Hahira

In 2017 a Berrien County High cross-country runner, Morgan Bolmer, won the Hahira, Georgia Honeybee 5K. In 2018 a Lowndes High harrier took a turn. LHS sophomore Alec Munger won the 3.1-mile race on Saturday morning, 6 October 2018, running 17:29. Kelly Lunceford of Valdosta, Georgia was the first woman in the race, placing fifteenth overall in 20:51.


Sometimes success comes through specialization. Jefferson County, Florida didn't build an agricultural empire by growing watermelon, but by producing watermelon seeds. Likewise, Gadsden County, Florida achieved greatness not by simply producing tobacco, but by growing shade tobacco, a variety specifically used for the outer wrapper of cigars. Hahira, Georgia didn't just produce honey or honey bees, the Lowndes County village made its mark through raising queen bees.


As well as these endeavors served their communities, the industries are all gone now. But Monticello, Florida still has an annual Melon Run 5K as a reminder of the great days of watermelon seed production. Hahira still has a Honeybee 5K. Quincy, Florida, however, doesn't even have a Tobacco Trot or a Stogie Run.


Munger's 17:29 wasn't a Honeybee 5K record, but it was the fastest time at the race since 2010, when Scott Gardner won the race in 16:46. Ryan Kelly, a three-time winner of the Honeybee 5K and the cross-country coach at Valdosta High, took second in the race, running 18:08. Gene Davis of Hahira placed third in 18:20. Valdosta's Rick Mazurkiewicz was the fastest master runner in the Honeybee 5K, coming in eleventh overall in 20:25.


Daun Carauna, a junior on the Lowndes High cross-country team, was second in the women's standings and 38th overall in 23:11. Martha Mazurkiewicz of Valdosta was the first woman master and third female finisher, 43rd overall in 23:23.


220 athletes finished the 2018 Honeybee 5K. A Course/Line, LLC, of Valdosta, Georgia timed the race and provided finish line services.


Top Ten Men, 2018 Hahira Honeybee 5K

1. 17:28.2, Alec Munger (M, 15) Valdosta, GA
2. 18:08.0, Ryan Kelly (M, 39) Lake Park, GA
3. 18:19.6, Gene Davis (M, 34) Hahira, GA
4. 19:19.0, Caleb Starling (M, 16) Valdosta, GA
5. 19:24.9, Andrew Caruana (M, 15) Valdosta, GA
6. 19:30.8, Gabriel Ponce (M, 18) Adel, GA
7. 19:44.4, Daniel Carver (M, 34) Hahira, GA
8. 19:58.2, Brandon Vigil (M, 34) Valdosta, GA
9. 20:15.2, Sam Trimble (M, 16) Lake Park, GA
10. 20:19.2, Austin Bruhl (M, 15) Hahira, GA

Top Ten Women, 2018 Hahira Honeybee 5K

1. 20:51.0, Kelly Lunceford (F, 29) Valdosta, GA
2. 23:10.3, Daun Caruana (F, 16) Valdosta, GA
3. 23:22.3, Martha Mazurkiewicz (F, 51) Valdosta, GA
4. 23:35.2, Alexandra Sayre (F, 16) Valdosta, GA
5. 23:37.7, Meshea Hardena (F, 29) ,
6. 24:11.5, Brandy Van Jura (F, 39) Hahira, GA
7. 24:25.1, Kiley Matheson (F, 15) Valdosta, GA
8. 24:28.0, Maryann Rowe (F, 16) Nashville, GA
9. 25:39.7, Madison Wagenaar (F, 15) Valdosta, GA
10. 25:43.1, Carragen Young (F, 16) Valdosta, GA

Known Honeybee 5K Champions, 2001 - 2018
Date	Men	Women
2 October 1999
6 October 2001	17:21, Rich Sumrall
4 October 2003	16:31, John Seppala	23:14, Amy Mark
2 October 2004	16:30, John Seppala	22:13, Sundonia Williams
8 October 2005	16:47, John Seppala	20:41, Susan Fischer
7 October 2006	16:54, John Seppala	20:43, Susan Fischer
6 October 2007	16:54, John Seppala	18:57, Jana Grygarova
4 October 2008	17:02, John Seppala	21:13, Heidi Gonzalez
3 October 2009	16:51, John Seppala	20:12, Ashley Powell
9 October 2010	16:46, Scott Gardner	20:08, Ashley Powell
8 October 2011	17:49, Masked Avenger	19:46, Mary Alice Smoot
6 October 2012	18:37, Ryan Kelly	21:52, Gretchen Bielmyer
5 October 2013	18:39, Ryan Kelly	22:27, Debbie Allen
4 October 2014	19:26, Nick Rosatti	19:51, Mary Alice Smoot
3 October 2015	18:16, Ryan Kelly	22:44, Katie Lancaster
1 October 2016	19:14, David Burnett	21:42, Meredith Foskey
7 October 2017	18:58, Morgan Bolmer	20:43, Rebecca Chandler
6 October 2018	17:29, Alec Munger	20:51, Kelly Lunceford

Links

• Complete results of the 2018 Honeybee 5K, courtesy of A Course/Line, LLC
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vTaeJuFwnD1WFmfiXpypx4cqwu32pIkML3wGN6e4BkibVr-SFZRXCDSUp9TwfbXQ0JfOohHzFVU9Msy/pubhtml
  
  
• 2017 story, “Berrien County's Bolmer and Chandler each taste sweet victory at the Honeybee 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2017/10/honeybee-2017.html
  
  
• 2015 story, “A honey of a run in Hahira for Kelly and Lancaster”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/10/honeybee-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Harriers Rosatti and Smoot win Hahira's Honeybee 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/10/honeybee-2014.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “Ryan Kelly and Debbie Allen are victors at Hahira's 2013 Honeybee 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/10/honeybee-2013.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “Avenger and Smoot lead the swarm at Honeybee 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/10/honeybee-2011.html
  
  
• 2010 story, “Gardner stings Seppala at Honeybee 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/10/honeybee-2010.html
  
  
• Find the next insect-themed race in the region on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2349