Showing posts with label Boston (Georgia). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Boston (Georgia). Show all posts

Saturday, October 26, 2024

Boston, Georgia Half Marathon victories for Gary Rowan and Stephanie Liles-Weyant

On Old US 84, about half a dozen kilometers east of Boston, Georgia and half a dozen kilometers west of Dixie, Georgia, Gary Rowan called out.


"How far back are they?"

Gary Rowan
Gary Rowan

"They," or the fastest of "them," were about 300 meters back. And before Saturday morning, 26 October 2024 was over, they would be closer to 800 meters back when Rowan won the 44th annual Boston Half Marathon, posting a winning time of 1:17:03. Tallahassee, Florida master runner Stephanie Liles-Weyant was the first woman in the race, coming in tenth overall in 1:33:49.


The half marathon got started nearly ten minutes after the scheduled 8:00 AM time with the athletes setting out from downtown Boston, racing east toward the rising sun. Boston is a small city, so in less than a kilometer the athletes were at the edge of town. At the city limits, Gary Rowan of Adel, Georgia was already well over a hundred meters ahead.

Elliot Butler
Elliot Butler

Past cows, cotton in the fields, pinelands, and pecan orchards, Rowan continued to lead. Outside of Dixie, Georgia, at the turnaround for the out-and-back course, he was up 400 meters. The way back to downtown Georgia was more of the same; Rowan arrived first at the finish line in 1:17:03. It was his second win in seven days. The previous Saturday, Rowan had won the 47th annual Swamp Run 10K in Waycross, Georgia.


"I actually ran faster today," noted Rowan. "But that was a trail run."

Stephanie Liles-Weyant
Stephanie Liles-Weyant

Cairo, Georgia's Elliot Butler took second in 1:19:51, one place better and more than six minutes faster than his showing at the 2023 Boston Half Marathon. Stephen Andrews of Tallahassee overtook Tallahassee master runner Ryan Kunz during the second half of the half marathon to place third in 1:25.47. Kunz was the first master runner in the race, placing fourth in 1:26.53.


Stephanie Liles-Weyant led the women's field wire-to-wire, finishing the half marathon more than two kilometers ahead of the next woman in 1:33:49. eighteenth overall in 1:45:11. Another Tallahassee master runner, Laura McDermott, was the women's runner-up, finishing eighteenth overall in 1:45:11. Yet another Tallahassee master runner, Cathy Bond, was the third female finisher and twentieth overall in 1:45:43.

Laura McDermott
Laura McDermott

82 athletes finished the 2024 Boston Half Marathon. Gulf Winds Track Club of Tallahassee, Florida timed and scored the race.


Top Ten Men, 2024 Boston Half Marathon
  1. 1:17:03, Gary Rowan (M, 36) Adel, GA
  2. 1:19:51, Elliot Butler (M, 34) Cairo, GA
  3. 1:25:47, Stephen Andrews (M, 38) Tallahassee, FL
  4. 1:26:53, Ryan Kunz (M, 42) Tallahassee, FL
  5. 1:28:25, Jack McDermott (M, 55) Tallahassee, FL
  6. 1:29:42, Micah Andrews (M, 35) Tallahassee, FL
  7. 1:30:34, Jonah Blay (M, 18) Tallahassee, FL
  8. 1:31:00, Hastings Read (M, 43) Tallahassee, FL
  9. 1:32:51, Camilo Ordonez (M, 45) Tallahassee, FL
  10. 1:37:18, Fanxiu Zhu (M, 55) Tallahassee, FL

Top Ten Women, 2024 Boston Half Marathon
  1. 1:33:49, Stephanie Liles-Weyant (F, 52) Tallahassee, FL
  2. 1:45:11, Laura McDermott (F, 45) Tallahassee, FL
  3. 1:45:43, Cathy Bond (F, 44) Tallahassee, FL
  4. 1:49:43, Nancy Stedman (F, 62) Tallahassee, FL
  5. 1:54:19, Michelle Hadden (F, 35) Tallahassee, FL
  6. 1:54:51, Cara Voyles (F, 25) Thomasville, GA
  7. 1:57:34, Ansley Oliver (F, 19) Tallahassee, FL
  8. 1:58:44, Georgina Hernandez (F, 34) Quincy, FL
  9. 1:59:33, Abbey Lineback (F, 36) Hahira, GA
  10. 2:00:28, Martha Guyas (F, 40) Tallahassee, FL

Boston Half Marathon Champions, 1979 - 2024
DateMenWomen
26 October 202477:03, Gary Rowan93:49, Stephanie Liles-Weyant
28 October 202378:15, Leonardo Canete79:13, Katie Sherron
29 October 202278:22, Hawthorne Hay1:47:20, Angela McNeely
30 October 202180:19, Leonardo Canete88:08, Sheryl Rosen
31 October 2020no race held
26 October 201978:44, Troy Dunkley85:24, Ann Centner
27 October 201875:48, Joshua Grant82:07, Sheryl Rosen
28 October 201774:47, Joshua Grant85:42, Sheryl Rosen
29 October 201667:00, Stanley Linton83:05, Allison Eagen
31 October 201579:50, Drew Rabun96:10, Jillian Heddaeus
25 October 201472:20, Chris Lake85:15, Katie Sherron
26 October 201371:17, Stanley Linton80:42, Sheryl Rosen
27 October 201273:46, Chris Lake83:27, Sheryl Rosen
29 October 201169:29, Kevin Sullivan82:10, Sheryl Rosen
30 October 201075:13, Vince Molosky86:59, Lisa Johnson
31 October 200979:49, Vince Molosky87:10, Sheryl Rosen
25 October 200881:50, Myles Gibson86:19, Sheryl Rosen
27 October 200776:18, John Seppala87:35, Sheryl Rosen
28 October 200681:18, Michael Martinez82:49, Sheryl Rosen
29 October 200581:11, Myles Gibson96:32, Jennifer Kilinski
30 October 200483:55, David Yon91:57, Jane Johnson
25 October 200376:20, Myles Gibson97:52, Lisa Whitworth
26 October 200284:38, Mike Posey92:41, Carrie Weyant
27 October 200182:36, Steven Walker95:24, Carrie Weyant
28 October 200075:28, Art Remillard83:20, Sarah Docter-Williams
30 October 199978:22, Corey Cherr95:28, Julie Carico
31 October 199880:25, Rusty Jones97:01, Peggy Simpson
25 October 199781:21, Rusty Jones82:55, Michelle LeFleur
26 October 199676:26, Jeff Nielsen86:12, Carrie Weyant
28 October 199578:21, Paul Hough91:01, Katherine Perez
29 October 199472:42, Paul Hough92:34, Diane Turchick
30 October 199375:33, Paul Hough86:09, Carrie Weyant
31 October 199277:45, Steve Carney86:05, Carrie Hunnicutt
26 October 1991
27 October 199079:33, Brian Murphy86:44, Donna Miller
28 October 198971:23, Alex Walmsley93:10, Mary Jean Yon
29 October 198874:22, T. C. Carroll1:41:54, Nancy Widener
1987no race held
8 November 1986
11 November 198567:30, Herb Wills88:06, Patti Sudduth
27 October 198474:21, Scott HinkleDot Skofronick
29 October 198370:25, Noel Shuman87:01, Patti Sudduth
30 October 198267:48, Noel Shuman91:41, Donna Murdock
31 October 198169:57, Gary Slayton88:56, Lt. Vickie Monroe
25 October 198071:49, Gary Slayton96:03, Judy Taylor
27 October 197970:52, Bruce Carpenter1:47:13, Robin Anderson
Got any information on the missing years? Let me know! Send an
e-mail to hwills@gmail.com, or leave a comment below.


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Saturday, October 28, 2023

Leonardo Canete and Katie Sherron each tally a second Boston Mini win

The course for the Boston Mini Marathon is a 6.55-mile stretch of Old Highway 84, the Dixie Road, stretching from the starting line in Boston, Georgia to the turnaround near the outskirts of Dixie, Georgia. Most of the route is rural; on Saturday morning, 28 October 2023, you could hear lowing cattle along the way, as well as crowing roosters, barking dogs, and buzzing honeybees. On the road itself that morning, you might hear footsteps and panting athletes as the runners in the 43rd annual Boston Mini Marathon passed by. Tallahassee, Florida master runner Leonardo Canete led the 13.1-mile procession, running a winning 1:18:15. Another Tallahassee master runner, Dr. Katie Sherron, was the first woman in the race, placing second overall in 1:19:13. It was the second Boston title for both winners; Canete had won the mini in 2021 and Sherron had won in 2014.

Leonardo Canete
Leonardo Canete

Leonardo Canete was leading the race almost immediately after the 8:00 AM start. In fact, heading out of Boston he was even ahead of the police car that was supposed to be leading the field. At the city limits, the vanguard of the mini was Canete, the police car, Caden Vandermeulen, and Katie Sherron. After three kilometers the police car dropped out.


Canete continued to lead on the way to Dixie, widening the gap between himself and Vandermeulen, a Florida State University undergraduate. Sherron, a Florida State University economics professor, remained a few steps behind Vandermeulen. By the turnaround, Canete's lead had grown to almost 400 meters. Shortly after the turnaround, Sherron passed Vandermeulen, moving into second. Sherron narrowed Canete's lead on the way back to Boston, but Canete was too far ahead to catch; he won the race in 1:18:15. Sherron was next across the finish line in 1:19:13, more than four kilometers ahead of the next woman. Vandermeulen was third in 1:19:50.

Katie Sherron
Katie Sherron

Elliot Butler overtook two athletes during the second half of the race to move up to a fourth place finish, third in the men's standings at 1:26:51.


Alyssa Terry was second in the women's division, placing eleventh overall in 1:39:35. Less than a hundred meters back, Melanie Leitman was the third female finisher, coming in twelfth overall in 1:39:58.

Caden VanderMeulen
Caden Vandermeulen

89 athletes finished the 2023 Boston Mini Marathon. Race Krewe of Auburn, Alabama timed and scored the race.


Top Ten Men, 2023 Boston (mini) Marathon
  1. 1:18:15, Leonardo Canete (M, 45) Tallahassee, FL
  2. 1:19:50, Caden Vandermeulen (M, 19) Panama City, FL
  3. 1:26:25, Elliot Butler (M, 33)
  4. 1:26:51, Elijah Oquendo (M, 23)
  5. 1:30:57, Jack McDermott (M, 54) Tallahassee, FL
  6. 1:31:32, Edward Nabong (M, 33)
  7. 1:31:47, Greg George (M, 35)
  8. 1:33:50, Kenneth Gloeckner (M, 39)
  9. 1:35:44, Myles Gibson (M, 57) Donalsonville, GA
  10. 1:42:26, Dan Manausa (M, 53)

Top Ten Women, 2023 Boston (mini) Marathon
  1. 1:19:13, Katie Sherron (F, 42) Tallahassee, FL
  2. 1:39:35, Alyssa Terry (F, 30)
  3. 1:39:58, Melanie Leitman (F, 39)
  4. 1:41:35, Cammie Hungerford (F, 31)
  5. 1:44:37, Laura McDermott (F, 44) Tallahassee, FL
  6. 1:46:58, Michelle Hadden (F, 34)
  7. 1:47:56, Ali Kelly (F, 51)
  8. 1:48:21, Ruffian Tyner (F, 48) Tallahassee, FL
  9. 1:49:21, Nikky Manausa (F, 42)
  10. 1:49:32, Katie Maxwell (F, 26)

Boston (mini) Marathon Champions, 1979 - 2023
DateMenWomen
28 October 202378:15, Leonardo Canete79:13, Katie Sherron
29 October 202278:22, Hawthorne Hay1:47:20, Angela McNeely
30 October 202180:19, Leonardo Canete88:08, Sheryl Rosen
31 October 2020no race held
26 October 201978:44, Troy Dunkley85:24, Ann Centner
27 October 201875:48, Joshua Grant82:07, Sheryl Rosen
28 October 201774:47, Joshua Grant85:42, Sheryl Rosen
29 October 201667:00, Stanley Linton83:05, Allison Eagen
31 October 201579:50, Drew Rabun96:10, Jillian Heddaeus
25 October 201472:20, Chris Lake85:15, Katie Sherron
26 October 201371:17, Stanley Linton80:42, Sheryl Rosen
27 October 201273:46, Chris Lake83:27, Sheryl Rosen
29 October 201169:29, Kevin Sullivan82:10, Sheryl Rosen
30 October 201075:13, Vince Molosky86:59, Lisa Johnson
31 October 200979:49, Vince Molosky87:10, Sheryl Rosen
25 October 200881:50, Myles Gibson86:19, Sheryl Rosen
27 October 200776:18, John Seppala87:35, Sheryl Rosen
28 October 200681:18, Michael Martinez82:49, Sheryl Rosen
29 October 200581:11, Myles Gibson96:32, Jennifer Kilinski
30 October 200483:55, David Yon91:57, Jane Johnson
25 October 200376:20, Myles Gibson97:52, Lisa Whitworth
26 October 200284:38, Mike Posey92:41, Carrie Weyant
27 October 200182:36, Steven Walker95:24, Carrie Weyant
28 October 200075:28, Art Remillard83:20, Sarah Docter-Williams
30 October 199978:22, Corey Cherr95:28, Julie Carico
31 October 199880:25, Rusty Jones97:01, Peggy Simpson
25 October 199781:21, Rusty Jones82:55, Michelle LeFleur
26 October 199676:26, Jeff Nielsen86:12, Carrie Weyant
28 October 199578:21, Paul Hough91:01, Katherine Perez
29 October 199472:42, Paul Hough92:34, Diane Turchick
30 October 199375:33, Paul Hough86:09, Carrie Weyant
31 October 199277:45, Steve Carney86:05, Carrie Hunnicutt
26 October 1991
27 October 199079:33, Brian Murphy86:44, Donna Miller
28 October 198971:23, Alex Walmsley93:10, Mary Jean Yon
29 October 198874:22, T. C. Carroll1:41:54, Nancy Widener
1987no race held
8 November 1986
11 November 198567:30, Herb Wills88:06, Patti Sudduth
27 October 198474:21, Scott HinkleDot Skofronick
29 October 198370:25, Noel Shuman87:01, Patti Sudduth
30 October 198267:48, Noel Shuman91:41, Donna Murdock
31 October 198169:57, Gary Slayton88:56, Lt. Vickie Monroe
25 October 198071:49, Gary Slayton96:03, Judy Taylor
27 October 197970:52, Bruce Carpenter1:47:13, Robin Anderson
Got any information on the missing years? Let me know! Send an
e-mail to hwills@gmail.com, or leave a comment below.


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Saturday, October 29, 2022

Hawthorne Hay and Angela McNeely were bright spots on a gray day at the Boston Mini

Most people regard "good weather" as a warm, sunny day, maybe with a slight breeze. But as a distance runner, I had a contrary weather preferences. A cool day was good; a cold day was better. Sun? Who wanted to be logging miles on a track or on the road in the bright sun? It's not like marathoners are the only people who like dreary conditions, though. I'm sure the Addams Family enjoy the same sort of weather.


So when I say that it was a cloudy morning in Boston, Georgia on Saturday morning, 29 October 2022, I'm saying that it was a good morning for the 42nd annual Boston (mini) Marathon. Hawthorne Hay won that venerable half marathon, now in it's fifth decade, by over half a kilometer, running 1:18:22. Master runner Angela McNeely was the first woman in the race, placing fifteenth overall in 1:47:20.


An alum of the Chiles High and Rhodes College cross-country teams, Hawthorne Hay was no stranger to long distance. Earlier in 2022 he had run 1:21:00 in the Tallahassee Half Marathon, and just three weeks before the Boston Mini he had placed third in the Pine Run 20K, running 1:15:03 on a challenging cross-country course. Compared to the Pine Run, the gentle rolls, long straights, and firm pavement of Boston must have been smooth sailing for Hay as he raced to a 1:18:22 win. Brad Busboom finished runner-up to Hay in 1:20:22. Busboom had finished fifth in the 2018 Mini. Behind Busboom, Micah Andrews took third in 1:28:04. The first master runner in the race was Donalsonville, Georgia's Myles Gibson, fifth overall in 1:31:35.


The women's competition was much closer than the men's, with only fourteen seconds separating the top two women. Angela McNeely was the victor in 1:47:20, while another master runner took runner-up in 1:47:34--Katasha Cornwell, who finished seventeenth overall. Master runner Nancy Stedman placed third in the women's standings, coming in nineteenth overall in 1:49:00.


101 athletes finished the 2022 Boston Mini Marathon. Gulf Winds Track Club of Tallahassee, Florida chip-timed the race.


Top Ten Men, 2022 Boston (mini) Marathon
  1. 1:18:22, Hawthorne Hay (M, 20)
  2. 1:20:22, Brad Busboom (M, 34)
  3. 1:28:04, Micah Andrews (M, 33)
  4. 1:31:05, Edward Nabong (M, 32)
  5. 1:31:35, Myles Gibson (M, 56)
  6. 1:32:37, Jack McDermott (M, 53)
  7. 1:38:24, Paul Guyas (M, 45)
  8. 1:40:15, Jerome Roberts (M, 37)
  9. 1:40:53, Jared Hammond (M, 42)
  10. 1:41:01, Bryce Widner (M, 14)

Top Ten Women, 2022 Boston (mini) Marathon
  1. 1:47:20, Angela McNeely (F, 49)
  2. 1:47:34, Katasha Cornwell (F, 45)
  3. 1:49:00, Nancy Stedman (F, 60)
  4. 1:50:26, Kendall Meikenhous (F, 35)
  5. 1:51:57, Jackie Smith (F, 33)
  6. 1:53:16, Nancy Moody (F, 38)
  7. 1:57:11, Tiffany Nunnally (F, 43)
  8. 1:57:25, Ashlee Blake (F, 37)
  9. 1:57:25, Mary Fran Rowe (F, 41)
  10. 1:58:12, Jemma Thompson (F, 25)

Boston (mini) Marathon Champions, 1979 - 2022
DateMenWomen
29 October 202278:22, Hawthorne Hay1:47:20, Angela McNeely
30 October 202180:19, Leonardo Canete88:08, Sheryl Rosen
26 October 201978:44, Troy Dunkley85:24, Ann Centner
27 October 201875:48, Joshua Grant82:07, Sheryl Rosen
28 October 201774:47, Joshua Grant85:42, Sheryl Rosen
29 October 201667:00, Stanley Linton83:05, Allison Eagen
31 October 201579:50, Drew Rabun96:10, Jillian Heddaeus
25 October 201472:20, Chris Lake85:15, Katie Sherron
26 October 201371:17, Stanley Linton80:42, Sheryl Rosen
27 October 201273:46, Chris Lake83:27, Sheryl Rosen
29 October 201169:29, Kevin Sullivan82:10, Sheryl Rosen
30 October 201075:13, Vince Molosky86:59, Lisa Johnson
31 October 200979:49, Vince Molosky87:10, Sheryl Rosen
25 October 200881:50, Myles Gibson86:19, Sheryl Rosen
27 October 200776:18, John Seppala87:35, Sheryl Rosen
28 October 200681:18, Michael Martinez82:49, Sheryl Rosen
29 October 200581:11, Myles Gibson96:32, Jennifer Kilinski
30 October 200483:55, David Yon91:57, Jane Johnson
25 October 200376:20, Myles Gibson97:52, Lisa Whitworth
26 October 200284:38, Mike Posey92:41, Carrie Weyant
27 October 200182:36, Steven Walker95:24, Carrie Weyant
28 October 200075:28, Art Remillard83:20, Sarah Docter-Williams
30 October 199978:22, Corey Cherr95:28, Julie Carico
31 October 199880:25, Rusty Jones97:01, Peggy Simpson
25 October 199781:21, Rusty Jones82:55, Michelle LeFleur
26 October 199676:26, Jeff Nielsen86:12, Carrie Weyant
28 October 199578:21, Paul Hough91:01, Katherine Perez
29 October 199472:42, Paul Hough92:34, Diane Turchick
30 October 199375:33, Paul Hough86:09, Carrie Weyant
31 October 199277:45, Steve Carney86:05, Carrie Hunnicutt
26 October 1991

27 October 199079:33, Brian Murphy86:44, Donna Miller
28 October 198971:23, Alex Walmsley93:10, Mary Jean Yon
29 October 198874:22, T. C. Carroll1:41:54, Nancy Widener
1987no race heldno race held
8 November 1986

11 November 198567:30, Herb Wills88:06, Patti Sudduth
27 October 198474:21, Scott HinkleDot Skofronick
29 October 198370:25, Noel Shuman87:01, Patti Sudduth
30 October 198267:48, Noel Shuman91:41, Donna Murdock
31 October 198169:57, Gary Slayton88:56, Lt. Vickie Monroe
25 October 198071:49, Gary Slayton96:03, Judy Taylor
27 October 197970:52, Bruce Carpenter1:47:13, Robin Anderson
Got any information on the missing years? Let me know! Send an
e-mail to hwills@gmail.com, or leave a comment below.


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Monday, October 28, 2019

Troy Dunkley and Ann Centner were fast tourists at the 40th Boston Mini Marathon

One thing about a half-marathon race is that 13.1 miles gives you plenty of time to take in the scenery. Fortunately for the athletes who compete in South Georgia's Boston Mini Marathon, there is an abundance of scenery along the course. Old US 84 takes the runners past cattle pastures, pecan orchards, cotton fields, and pine plantations. You can also check out the road signs along the course. Less than a mile into the race, as the runners leave Boston during their out-and-back journey, a large sign commands, "Come Back Soon!" Troy Dunkley did just that, making it back to Boston before any of the other runner in the 41st annual Boston Mini and winning the race in 1:18:44. Ann Centner came back soon enough to win the women's title, placing third overall in 1:25:24.

Troy Dunkley
Troy Dunkley

Dunkley wasn't the first one to the "Come Back Soon!" sign on Saturday morning, 26 October 2019. Racing past the Boston city limits, he was trailing the leader, Myles Gibson, a Donalsonville, Georgia master runner. By the time they reached the first water table, staffed by volunteers from the scouts, Dunkley had overtaken Gibson.


"I think it was going into the second mile," said Dunkley. "That's where I passed him."


Gibson had a rough race after that, going on to finish fifth in 1:28:03.

Myles Gibson
Myles Gibson

"I could only fake it for six-and-a-half miles," said Gibson. "I wanted to beat my time here from two years ago, but, oh well."


Dunkley raced on alone, with little to do but keep running and to enjoy the course.


"I liked it," said Dunkley. "It wasn't too tough. You had a headwind going out, but a tailwind coming back."

Andrew Danford
Andrew Danford

A Jacksonville, Florida runner, Dunkley had learned about the race through his friends in the Okefenokee Track and Cycling Club of Waycross, Georgia. Negotiating both the tailwind and the headwind, he won the race by more than a mile in 1:18:44. Behind Dunkley, Ocala, Florida master runner Andrew Danford overtook Gibson on the way back to Boston to move into second. Back in Boston, though, in the closing stages of the race, Danford was himself overtaken. Tallahassee runners Chris O'Kelley and Ann Centner passed him, with Kelley going on to take second in 1:25:23 and Centner third in 1:25:24, the first woman in the race. Danford was the fastest master runner of the morning, placing fourth overall in 1:25:32.

Chris O'Kelley, Ann Centner
Chris O'Kelley and Ann Centner

For Centner, the women's champ, it was her second half-marathon race in October. Thirteen days earlier, she had run 1:24:25 at the 30A Half Marathon on a hot morning in Destin, Florida.


"After the 30A Half I took four days off," said Centner. "Chris and I decided to come to Boston and run 7:00 miles. We didn't really want to race, but then we got on the course and started feeling good."


Good enough to run 6:32 miles, and for Centner to win her first Boston title after being the women's runner-up in 2018. Boston won't be the last half marathon for Centner, either.


"My next race would be the Turkey Trot 10K," said Centner. "Ultimately, I'm aiming for the Tallahassee Half Marathon."

Alyssa Terry
Alyssa Terry

Another second-time Boston runner, Alyssa Terry of Tallahassee, placed second to Centner in the women's standings and seventh overall in 1:34:28--a new personal best.


"It wasn't as cool as last year, but the clouds helped," said Terry. "My previous best was at Boston last year. I was kind of expecting a PR today because my training has been going well. You actually race better when you train more than fifteen miles a week!"

Jane Johnson
Jane Johnson

Jane Johnson was the first woman master in the race and the third female finisher, coming in 22nd overall in 1:46:57. Johnson was the women's champ at the 2004 Boston Mini.


Many athletes ate in Boston after the Mini, and some stayed for the Boston Mini-Marathon Festival parade. Once the Festival was over, though, it was time for the last of the runners to head home, past the "Come Back Soon!" sign. I don't know about "soon," but many will be back in 2020 for the 41st Boston Mini Marathon.

"Come Back Soon!" sign
Don't be a stranger!

Top Ten Men, 2019 Boston (mini) Marathon
  1. 1:18:44.0, Troy Dunkley (M, 33) Jacksonville, FL
  2. 1:25:23.0, Christopher O'Kelley (M, 26) Tallahassee, FL
  3. 1:25:31.1, Andrew Danford (M, 51) Ocala, FL
  4. 1:28:02.6, Myles Gibson (M, 53) Donalsonville, FL
  5. 1:33:14.5, Chuck Trombley (M, 60) Ocala, FL
  6. 1:34:55.2, Carl Plowden Albany, GA
  7. 1:35:21.0, Tristan LaNasa (M, 26) Tallahassee, FL
  8. 1:35:51.7, Paul Guyas (M, 42) Tallahassee, FL
  9. 1:37:55.8, Eric Houge (M, 39) Tallahassee, FL
  10. 1:38:51.8, Philip Sura (M, 49) Tallahassee, FL

Top Ten Women, 2019 Boston (mini) Marathon
  1. 1:25:23.9, Ann Centner (F, 27) Tallahassee, F
  2. 1:34:27.8, Alyssa Terry (F, 26) Tallahassee, F
  3. 1:46:56.6, Jane Johnson (F, 60) Tallahassee, FL
  4. 1:48:14.0, Sherri West (F, 38) Tallahassee, FL
  5. 1:49:36.6, Sarah Dugas (F, 40) Tallahassee, FL
  6. 1:49:57.2, Jillian Heddaeus (F, 36) Tallahassee, FL
  7. 1:50:29.8, Grace Kennedy (F, 30) Tallahassee, FL
  8. 1:52:07.4, Samantha Filmore (F, 43) Tallahassee, FL
  9. 1:52:54.8, Nancy Stedman (F, 57) Tallahassee, FL
  10. 1:53:18.3, Hope Eidson (F, 34) Thomasville, GA

Boston (mini) Marathon Champions, 1979 - 2019
DateMenWomen
26 October 201978:44, Troy Dunkley85:24, Ann Centner
27 October 201875:48, Joshua Grant82:07, Sheryl Rosen
28 October 201774:47, Joshua Grant85:42, Sheryl Rosen
29 October 201667:00, Stanley Linton83:05, Allison Eagen
31 October 201579:50, Drew Rabun96:10, Jillian Heddaeus
25 October 201472:20, Chris Lake85:15, Katie Sherron
26 October 201371:17, Stanley Linton80:42, Sheryl Rosen
27 October 201273:46, Chris Lake83:27, Sheryl Rosen
29 October 201169:29, Kevin Sullivan82:10, Sheryl Rosen
30 October 201075:13, Vince Molosky86:59, Lisa Johnson
31 October 200979:49, Vince Molosky87:10, Sheryl Rosen
25 October 200881:50, Myles Gibson86:19, Sheryl Rosen
27 October 200776:18, John Seppala87:35, Sheryl Rosen
28 October 200681:18, Michael Martinez82:49, Sheryl Rosen
29 October 200581:11, Myles Gibson96:32, Jennifer Kilinski
30 October 200483:55, David Yon91:57, Jane Johnson
25 October 200376:20, Myles Gibson97:52, Lisa Whitworth
26 October 200284:38, Mike Posey92:41, Carrie Weyant
27 October 200182:36, Steven Walker95:24, Carrie Weyant
28 October 200075:28, Art Remillard83:20, Sarah Docter-Williams
30 October 199978:22, Corey Cherr95:28, Julie Carico
31 October 199880:25, Rusty Jones97:01, Peggy Simpson
25 October 199781:21, Rusty Jones82:55, Michelle LeFleur
26 October 199676:26, Jeff Nielsen86:12, Carrie Weyant
28 October 199578:21, Paul Hough91:01, Katherine Perez
29 October 199472:42, Paul Hough92:34, Diane Turchick
30 October 199375:33, Paul Hough86:09, Carrie Weyant
31 October 199277:45, Steve Carney86:05, Carrie Hunnicutt
26 October 1991

27 October 199079:33, Brian Murphy86:44, Donna Miller
28 October 198971:23, Alex Walmsley93:10, Mary Jean Yon
29 October 198874:22, T. C. Carroll1:41:54, Nancy Widener
1987no race heldno race held
8 November 1986

11 November 198567:30, Herb Wills88:06, Patti Sudduth
27 October 198474:21, Scott HinkleDot Skofronick
29 October 198370:25, Noel Shuman87:01, Patti Sudduth
30 October 198267:48, Noel Shuman91:41, Donna Murdock
31 October 198169:57, Gary Slayton88:56, Lt. Vickie Monroe
25 October 198071:49, Gary Slayton96:03, Judy Taylor
27 October 197970:52, Bruce Carpenter1:47:13, Robin Anderson
Got any information on the missing years? Let me know! Send an
e-mail to hwills@gmail.com, or leave a comment below.


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Monday, October 29, 2018

Joshua Grant and Sheryl Rosen repeat at Boston

When it comes to New England athletes, Joshua Grant is as New England as they come. Grant ran cross-country at Nashua North High School in New Hampshire, then went on to run cross-country for Lyndon State College in Vermont. So you wouldn't be surprised to find Grant racing in Boston on Saturday morning, 27 October 2018.

Joshua Grant
Joshua Grant

The surprise was that it was Boston, Georgia rather than that other Boston, and Grant was racing the 39th annual Boston Mini-Marathon, not New England's fabled Boston Marathon. Nevertheless, Grant won the 13.1-mile race for the second year in row, running the half-marathon in 1:15:48. Tallahassee, Florida lawyer Sheryl Rosen was also a repeat winner, taking the women's title for a second straight year while placing seventh overall in 1:22:07. 186 athletes finished the race.


The signs said Boston, but there was no mistaking the South Georgia town for the Massachusetts metropolis. For instance, right after the race started, a truck hauling bales of cotton stopped for the runners. After less than a mile the race was outside the city limits and the runners passed the first cotton fields. The course was on Dixie Road. Unpaved side roads were bright orange clay. Later on, the race went by pecan orchards, and cows resting under live oaks draped with Spanish moss. Whether or not it was Georgia, it was certainly not New England.

2018 Boston (mini) Marathon
The Leaders

Going by the first cotton fields, six runners were out in front--Charlie Johnson, Chris O'Kelley, Brad Busboom, Charlie Kline, two-time Boston Mini winner Vince Molosky, and defending champion Joshua Grant. Five of the six were Tallahassee runner, the exception being Grant, who had traded his New England address for one in Albany, Georgia. Grant had started to open a gap on the other five runners by the two-mile mark. Molosky and Johnson broke away from O'Kelley, Busboom, and Kline to chase Grant, but Grant's lead only increased. At six-and-a-half miles, the runners turned around to head back to Boston. There they realized they had been racing with the wind.


"It felt great going out," said Grant. "But then we turned around and there was the headwind. I'm sure a lot of people ran faster going out than coming back."

Charlie Kline, Brad Busboom
Charlie Kline & Brad Busboom

No one ran faster coming back than Grant. Continuing to leave the rest of the field behind, Grant returned to Boston to cross the finish line in a winning 1:15:48. Charlie Kline was almost as fast as Grant on the return trip. Although he didn't make up any ground on the leader, he overtook the rest of the field and finished second in 1:18:45. Johnson was third in 1:19:15, O'Kelley fourth in 1:19:44, and Busboom fifth in 1:19:53. David Graf of Tallahassee was the first master runner in the race, placing sixth overall in 1:21:43. Molosky, who had run with the leaders early in the race, was eighth in 1:23:00.


Sheryl Rosen wasn't just the defending women's champion at the Boston Mini. No other athlete had won more women's titles at Boston than Rosen, collecting eight wins from 2006 to 2017. But as Rosen raced for win number nine, she had company early in the race. Blakely, Georgia's Ann Centner was right alongside Rosen as the two left Boston. Centner remained next to the defending champ for miles. Early in the fourth mile, the course crossed from Thomas County into Brooks County. Even if you missed the county line signs, you had to notice that the Thomas County stretch of Dixie Road had been recently resurfaced, while the Brooks County miles were still a treacherous mosaic of cracks and crevices. Going up the hill toward the county line, Centner moved behind Rosen. She had only given up a few inches to Rosen, but it was the first few inches. By the turnaround, those inches had grown into a hundred-yard lead. Rosen had expanded that to 800 yards by the end of the race, finishing as the first woman and seventh overall in 1:22:07. Centner was the women's runner-up and ninth overall in 1:25:01. Near the turnaround Alyssa Terry of Tallahassee had moved into third in the women's competition; she was still third at the finish line and nineteenth overall in 1:35:58. Katasha Cornwell of Crawfordville, Florida was the first woman master and twelfth female finisher, 35th overall in 1:43:08.

Sheryl Rosen, Ann Centner
Sheryl Rosen & Ann Centner

The race had started just after 8:00 AM. By 11:30 AM the last athlete had left the course. The 2018 Boston Mini Marathon was over, but as the signs at the city limits used to remind everyone, the race comes back every year on the “last Saturday in October.” Next year that would be Saturday, 26 October 2019. Mark your calendar, because you don't want to miss the 40th Boston (mini) Marathon!


Top Ten Men, 2018 Boston (mini) Marathon
  1. 1:15:48, Joshua Grant (M, 27) Albany, GA
  2. 1:18:45, Charlie Kline (M, 26) Tallahassee, FL
  3. 1:19:15, Charlie Johnson (M, 38) Tallahassee, FL
  4. 1:19:44, Chris O'Kelley (M, 25) Tallahassee, FL
  5. 1:19:53, Brad Busboom (M, 30) Tallahassee, FL
  6. 1:21:43, David Graf (M, 42) Tallahassee, FL
  7. 1:23:00, Vince Molosky (M, 37) Tallahassee, FL
  8. 1:25:35, Jack McDermott (M, 49) Tallahassee, FL
  9. 1:25:41, Tom Parker (M, 36) Tallahassee, FL
  10. 1:27:05, Ryan Truchelut (M, 32) Tallahassee, FL

Top Ten Women, 2018 Boston (mini) Marathon
  1. 1:22:07, Sheryl Rosen (F, 34) Tallahassee, FL
  2. 1:25:01, Ann Centner (F, 26) Blakely, GA
  3. 1:35:58, Alyssa Terry (F, 25) Tallahassee, FL
  4. 1:37:56, Deanna McVay (F, 35) Tallahassee, FL
  5. 1:38:59, Laura McDermott (F, 39) Tallahassee, FL
  6. 1:39:49, Jillian Heddaeus (F, 35) Tallahassee, FL
  7. 1:40:04, Melissa Thompson (F, 34) Thomasville, GA
  8. 1:41:53, Carsen Pastirik (F, 23) Atlanta, GA
  9. 1:42:06, Nikky Manausa (F, 37) Tallahassee, FL
  10. 1:42:18, Jenny Early (F, 35) Tallahassee, FL

Boston (mini) Marathon Champions, 1979 - 2018
DateMenWomen
27 October 201875:48, Joshua Grant82:07, Sheryl Rosen
28 October 201774:47, Joshua Grant85:42, Sheryl Rosen
29 October 201667:00, Stanley Linton83:05, Allison Eagen
31 October 201579:50, Drew Rabun96:10, Jillian Heddaeus
25 October 201472:20, Chris Lake85:15, Katie Sherron
26 October 201371:17, Stanley Linton80:42, Sheryl Rosen
27 October 201273:46, Chris Lake83:27, Sheryl Rosen
29 October 201169:29, Kevin Sullivan82:10, Sheryl Rosen
30 October 201075:13, Vince Molosky86:59, Lisa Johnson
31 October 200979:49, Vince Molosky87:10, Sheryl Rosen
25 October 200881:50, Myles Gibson86:19, Sheryl Rosen
27 October 200776:18, John Seppala87:35, Sheryl Rosen
28 October 200681:18, Michael Martinez82:49, Sheryl Rosen
29 October 200581:11, Myles Gibson96:32, Jennifer Kilinski
30 October 200483:55, David Yon91:57, Jane Johnson
25 October 200376:20, Myles Gibson97:52, Lisa Whitworth
26 October 200284:38, Mike Posey92:41, Carrie Weyant
27 October 200182:36, Steven Walker95:24, Carrie Weyant
28 October 200075:28, Art Remillard83:20, Sarah Docter-Williams
30 October 199978:22, Corey Cherr95:28, Julie Carico
31 October 199880:25, Rusty Jones97:01, Peggy Simpson
25 October 199781:21, Rusty Jones82:55, Michelle LeFleur
26 October 199676:26, Jeff Nielsen86:12, Carrie Weyant
28 October 199578:21, Paul Hough91:01, Katherine Perez
29 October 199472:42, Paul Hough92:34, Diane Turchick
30 October 199375:33, Paul Hough86:09, Carrie Weyant
31 October 199277:45, Steve Carney86:05, Carrie Hunnicutt
26 October 1991

27 October 199079:33, Brian Murphy86:44, Donna Miller
28 October 198971:23, Alex Walmsley93:10, Mary Jean Yon
29 October 198874:22, T. C. Carroll1:41:54, Nancy Widener
1987no race heldno race held
8 November 1986

11 November 198567:30, Herb Wills88:06, Patti Sudduth
27 October 198474:21, Scott HinkleDot Skofronick
29 October 198370:25, Noel Shuman87:01, Patti Sudduth
30 October 198267:48, Noel Shuman91:41, Donna Murdock
31 October 198169:57, Gary Slayton88:56, Lt. Vickie Monroe
25 October 198071:49, Gary Slayton96:03, Judy Taylor
27 October 197970:52, Bruce Carpenter1:47:13, Robin Anderson
Got any information on the missing years? Let me know! Send an
e-mail to hwills@gmail.com, or leave a comment below.


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Saturday, October 31, 2015

Rabun and Heddaeus win Boston, Southern-style

Drew Rabun"Where are all the fast Tallahassee people?" asked Ryan Kelly.


Any present were behind him, because Kelly was leading the 36th annual Boston Mini Marathon--13.1 miles on the old highway between the Georgia villages of Boston and Dixie on Saturday morning, 31 October 2015. Instead of athletes from Tallahassee, Florida, though, Kelly should have been concerned about a Savannah, Georgia, runner, Drew Rabun.


On the way from Boston to the halfway turnaround near Dixie, Rabun had trailed Kelly, the Valdosta High cross country coach, sometimes by up to 50 meters. It was a different story on the return trip. Shortly after the turnaround Rabun overtook Kelly then marched away from him. Rabun made it to the finish line back in Boston in 1:19:52, winning the half marathon by well over 800 meters. Kelly was second in 1:23:16. Tallahassee master runner Tony Guillen placed third in 1:23:45.


Ryan KellyRabun has run a faster half marathon back home in Savannah, a 1:15. His current training plans didn't call for him to go after a personal record at Boston, though.


"I've got a marathon about four weeks out," said Rabun. "Today I planned to go out with whatever pace the field set, then pick it up the second half."


It was a winning plan for Rabun, who has parents in nearby Thomasville. In spite of his connections to the area, it was his first Boston Mini.


For Tallahassee's Jillian Heddaeus, the 2015 race was her second run at Boston. In 2014 she had finished third in the women's standings, running 1:34:37. A year later she won the women's competition, coming in 18th overall in 1:36:11.


"It was hard," said Heddaeus. "It was hard. It started getting hot out there on the way back after the sun came out."


Jillian Heddaeus"I got a little anxious at the turnaround and ran a little harder than I should on the way back," continued Heddaeus. "I think I ran the second half faster. That's what you're supposed to do, right?"


Maybe or maybe not, but it's hard to argue with winning tactics.


Melissa Luke was the second female finisher, placing 35th overall in 1:43:51. Tallahassee master runner Nancy Stedman took third in the women's standings, 42nd overall in 1:44:47.


The race started at 8:00 AM, so that most of the runners still had plenty of the morning left to visit the crafts stalls, sample the wares of the food vendors, watch the parade, just admire the town of Boston, or other plans.


"I want to get home in time to take a nap before the Bulldogs game comes on," said one athlete.


It may be Boston, but it's still Georgia.


Top Ten Men, 2015 Boston (mini) Marathon
  1. 1:19:50 ~ Drew Rabun (M, 35) Savannah, GA(3Tony Guillen
  2. 1:23:15 ~ Ryan Kelly (M, 36) Lake Park, GA
  3. 1:23:44 ~ Tony Guillen (M, 46) Tallahassee, FL
  4. 1:25:53 ~ Jaxon Hohensee (M, 29) Tallahassee, FL
  5. 1:26:22 ~ David Burnett (M, 39) Valdosta, GA
  6. 1:26:49 ~ Patrick Whitehead (M, 29) Albany, GA
  7. 1:28:37 ~ Derek Bovard (M, 29) Atlanta, GA
  8. 1:29:30 ~ Sean McConnell (M, 44) Adel, GA
  9. 1:30:15 ~ Greg Waddell (M, 49) Bainbridge, GA
  10. 1:32:29 ~ Arnoldo De Jesus (M, 29) Albany, GA

Top Ten Women, 2015 Boston (mini) Marathon
  1. 1:36:10 ~ Jillian Heddaeus (F, 32) Tallahassee, FLNancy Stedman
  2. 1:43:50 ~ Melissa Luke (F, 34) Tifton, GA
  3. 1:44:46 ~ Nancy Stedman (F, 53) Tallahassee, FL
  4. 1:45:00 ~ Beverly Johnson (F, 37) Thomasville, GA
  5. 1:45:07 ~ Shannon Perla (F, 41) Tifton, GA
  6. 1:46:58 ~ Sarah Dugas (F, 36) Tallahassee, FL
  7. 1:47:34 ~ Sarah Craig (F, 21) Tallahassee, FL
  8. 1:50:49 ~ April Bentley (F, 41) Tallahassee, FL
  9. 1:53:23 ~ Crystal Duglas (F, 39) Tallahassee, FL
  10. 1:53:38 ~ Sarah Monbarren (F, 30) Tallahassee, FL

Boston (mini) Marathon Champions, 1979 - 2015
DateMenWomen
31 October 201579:50, Drew Rabun96:10, Jillian Heddaeus
25 October 201472:20, Chris Lake85:15, Katie Sherron
26 October 201371:17, Stanley Linton80:42, Sheryl Rosen
27 October 201273:46, Chris Lake83:27, Sheryl Rosen
29 October 201169:29, Kevin Sullivan82:10, Sheryl Rosen
30 October 201075:13, Vince Molosky86:59, Lisa Johnson
31 October 200979:49, Vince Molosky87:10, Sheryl Rosen
25 October 200881:50, Myles Gibson86:19, Sheryl Rosen
27 October 200776:18, John Seppala87:35, Sheryl Rosen
28 October 200681:18, Michael Martinez82:49, Sheryl Rosen
29 October 200581:11, Myles Gibson96:32, Jennifer Kilinski
30 October 200483:55, David Yon91:57, Jane Johnson
25 October 200376:20, Myles Gibson97:52, Lisa Whitworth
26 October 200284:38, Mike Posey92:41, Carrie Weyant
27 October 200182:36, Steven Walker95:24, Carrie Weyant
28 October 200075:28, Art Remillard83:20, Sarah Docter-Williams
30 October 199978:22, Corey Cherr95:28, Julie Carico
31 October 199880:25, Rusty Jones97:01, Peggy Simpson
25 October 199781:21, Rusty Jones82:55, Michelle LeFleur
26 October 199676:26, Jeff Nielsen86:12, Carrie Weyant
28 October 199578:21, Paul Hough91:01, Katherine Perez
29 October 199472:42, Paul Hough92:34, Diane Turchick
30 October 199375:33, Paul Hough86:09, Carrie Weyant
31 October 199277:45, Steve Carney86:05, Carrie Hunnicutt
26 October 1991

27 October 199079:33, Brian Murphy86:44, Donna Miller
28 October 198971:23, Alex Walmsley93:10, Mary Jean Yon
29 October 198874:22, T. C. Carroll1:41:54, Nancy Widener
1987no race heldno race held
8 November 1986

11 November 198567:30, Herb Wills88:06, Patti Sudduth
27 October 198474:21, Scott HinkleDot Skofronick
29 October 198370:25, Noel Shuman87:01, Patti Sudduth
30 October 198267:48, Noel Shuman91:41, Donna Murdock
31 October 198169:57, Gary Slayton88:56, Lt. Vickie Monroe
25 October 198071:49, Gary Slayton96:03, Judy Taylor
27 October 197970:52, Bruce Carpenter1:47:13, Robin Anderson
Got any information on the missing years? Let me know! Send an
e-mail to hwills@gmail.com, or leave a comment below.


Links:
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