John Eiland and CJ Parrish were first at the Last Gasp

Dothan, Alabama's Westgate Park Trail is a joy to run on. A loop nearly three-and-a-half miles long, the trail gives runners a break from pavement and from dodging vehicles. If there is anything wrong with the trail, it's that the red clay portions of the path don't hold up well during wet weather. After a heavy rain, those parts of the trail become an impassable morass.


During the December of 2018, it was unseasonably wet in Dothan. There was enough rain that the twentieth annual Last Gasp 5K Trail Run in Westgate Park had to be rescheduled. Delayed for a week, what was traditionally the last race of the year became the first race of 2019. First or last, the athletes were gasping out the miles in Westgate Park on Saturday morning, 5 January 2019.


Dothan master runner John Eiland, Jr., won the 3.1-mile cross-country race by nearly 200 meters, posting a winning time of 20:32. Finishing runner-up to Eiland was the 2017 Last Gasp 5K champion, John Strycker. A master runner from Greenville, Alabama, Strycker finished the race in 21:14. Taylor, Alabama master runner Dale Thomas took third in 22:01.


Dothan's CJ Parrish took the women's title, placing eighth overall in 26:08. Another Dothan athlete, Jessica Jetton, was the second woman and thirteenth overall in 26:51. Seven-year-old Ally Parrish of Dothan placed third in the women's standings and eighteenth overall in 28:53. Dothan's Mary Willis was the first woman master and fifth female finisher, 22nd overall in 34:53.


39 athletes finished the Dothan Runners' twentieth annual Last Gasp 5K Trail Race.


Top Ten Men, Dothan Runners' 2019 Last Gasp 5K Trail Race

1. 20:32, John Eiland, Jr. (M, 42) Dothan, AL
2. 21:14, John Strycker (M, 52) Greenville, AL
3. 22:01, Dale Thomas (M, 55) Taylor, AL
4. 22:39, Jimmy Russell (M, 55) Chancellor, AL
5. 23:21, Stephen Harris (M, 35) Dothan, AL
6. 23:28, Jay Wrenn (M, 54) Dothan, AL
7. 25:06, Alex Hagan (M, 30) Dothan, AL
8. 26:22, Mark Sheehan (M, 61) Dothan, AL
9. 26:25, Dale Nash (M, 68) Dothan, AL
10. 26:26, David Andrews (M, 64) Dothan, AL

Top Ten Women, Dothan Runners' 2019 Last Gasp 5K Trail Race

1. 26:08, CJ Parrish (F, 38) Dothan, AL
2. 26:51, Jessica Jetton (F, 32) Dothan, AL
3. 28:53, Ally Parrish (F, 7) Dothan, AL
4. 29:46, Stephanie Jetton (F, 30) Skipperville, AL
5. 34:53, Mary Willis (F, 60) Dothan, AL
6. 36:16, Rene Jordan (F, 53) Bascom, FL
7. 38:28, Carla Barnett (F, 56) Dothan, AL
8. 38:30, Jill Wofsey (F, 55) Alford, FL
9. 38:55, Geraldine Jagel (F, 49) Hartford, AL
10. 41:13, Julia Moss (F, 34) Webb, AL

Dothan, Alabama, Last Gasp 5K Trail Race winners, 1999 - 2019
Date	Men	Women	Finishers
18 December 1999	16:23, Matt Tillman	19:57, Jennifer Hanley	75
23 December 2000	18:16, Matt Parker	24:56, Sherry Creel	69
22 December 2001	19:55, Brian Hickey	22:21, Piper Stockman	69
21 December 2002	19:23, Brian Hickey	24:15, Chris Fox	75
20 December 2003	18:32, Brian Hickey	23:53, Piper Stockman	68
18 December 2004	19:40, Brian Hickey	24:13, Nancy Hein	51
17 December 2005	19:21, Gabe Mitchell	23:10, Lou Ellen Jayroe	42
23 December 2006	17:35, Aubrey Darnell	22:23, Sara Jackson	92
22 December 2007	18:08, Nick Vance	23:56, Lou Ellen Jayroe	86
27 December 2008	20:17, Terrion Williams	23:59, Daphne Cook	85
26 December 2009	18:07, Austin Fox	25:29, Cameron Irwin	63
11 December 2010	20:28, Michael Brennan	24:51, Julie Harris	59
31 December 2011	17:40, Stephen Robbins	20:26, Dana Cody	145
29 December 2012	17:59, Sean Kent	22:17, Jeanne Davis	65
28 December 2013	16:56, Kyle Harris	23:01, Missy Sexton	68
27 December 2014	17:33, Austin Fox	21:41, Kayla Fox	62
26 December 2015	17:19, Austin Fox	21:45, Kayla Dauphin (nee Fox)	67
31 December 2016	17:20, William Pearson	24:08, Natalie Warner	90
30 December 2017	20:47, John Strycker	32:11, Stephanie Jetton	42
5 January 2019	20:32, John Eiland, Jr.	26:08, CJ Parrish	39

Links

• Complete results of Dothan's 2019 Last Gasp 5K Trail Race
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vTa2XB4ILp21-ULW59Q1TQdeIz1-nxfQ-iiexc_lHYwnS_8R1-6krmWsru_Pe5ipo3Zel4AUvw4nrA5/pubhtml
  
  
• 2017 story, “Strycker and Jetton close the curtain on 2017 at Dothan's Last Gasp”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2017/12/last-gasp-2017.html
  
  
• 2016 story, “Pearson and Warner were fast at the Last Gasp”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/12/6.html
  
  
• 2015 story, “Fox and Dauphin take one more Last Gasp”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/12/last-gasp-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Fox & Fox win Dothan's 2014 running finale”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/12/last-gasp-2014.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “Kent and Davis are good to the Last Gasp”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/12/last-gasp-2012.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “Robbins and Cody end 2011 with wins at Dothan's Last Gasp 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/01/last-gasp-2011.html
  
  
• 2010 story, “Brennan and Harris find victory at the end of the trail in Dothan”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/12/last-gasp-2010.html
  
  
• Upcoming races in Dothan and other cities in the Trouble Afoot! region
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2408

Gibson and Parrish keep on winning at the Brian Dowling 5K

Two weeks after a road win in the Dothan, Alabama, Fit To Fight 10K, Myles Gibson was back in town for a test on the South Alabama trails. The occasion was 16 May 2015 running of the Dothan Runners' annual Brian Dowling Memorial 5K Trail Race in Westgate Park. When the Saturday morning race was over, Gibson had another Dothan championship to his credit, having run the 3.1-mile course in 18:26. 2014 women's champ CJ Parrish successfully defended her Brian Dowling 5K title, placing eighth overall in 24:25.


Soon after the start the run became a race between two athletes, Gibson, the Donalsonville master runner, and William Pearson, a Campbellsville University cross-country runner. Racing close, Gibson and Pearson left the rest of the field far behind, finishing the five-kilometer run nearly a kilometer ahead of the next runner. In the end Gibson prevailed over Pearson, 18:26 to 18:36. Master runner Bo Thurman was a distant third in 23:05. Master runner Tony Gilbert was fourth in 23:34, and Austin Long edged John Knopp 23:47 to 23:51 for fifth.


Gibson and Pearson may have been a kilometer ahead of the rest of the men's field, but CJ Parrish didn't have nearly that big a lead in the women's competition. Still, Parrish's 24:25 was good enough for a repeat win while putting her 100 meters ahead of the women's runner-up. Behind Parrish, Kimberly Floyd and master runner Val Lichner were in a fight for the second women's spot. Lichner got the nod at the finish line, placing ninth overall in 24:50 while Floyd came in tenth overall in 24:52. Master runner Tara Whaley was fourth in the women's standings, 19th overall in 28:40. The fifth female finisher was Kristi Holland, 20th overall in 28:47.


50 athletes finished the 2015 Brian Dowling Memorial 5K Trail Run.


Top Ten Men, 2015 Brian Dowling Memorial 5K Trail Run

1. 18:26 ~ Myles Gibson (M, 48)
2. 18:36 ~ William Pearson (M, 21)
3. 23:05 ~ Bo Thurman (M, 42)
4. 23:34 ~ Tony Gilbert (M, 60)
5. 23:47 ~ Austin Long (M, 17)
6. 23:51 ~ John Knopp (M, 49)
7. 24:19 ~ Will Scott (M, 12)
8. 24:55 ~ David Forrester (M, 36)
9. 25:17 ~ James Edmondson (M, 24)
10. 25:52 ~ Chad Tyson (M, 49)

Top Ten Women, 2015 Brian Dowling Memorial 5K Trail Run

1. 24:25 ~ CJ Parish (F, 35)
2. 24:50 ~ Val Lichner (F, 56)
3. 24:52 ~ Kimberly Floyd (F, 36)
4. 28:40 ~ Tara Whaley (F, 40)
5. 28:47 ~ Kristi Holland (F, 38)
6. 29:32 ~ Cassie Logan (F, 52)
7. 29:37 ~ Jessica Bures (F, 34)
8. 30:11 ~ Carole Thompson (F, 68)
9. 31:13 ~ Rachel Austin-Hickey (F, 37)
10. 31:35 ~ Katie Barrentine (F, 30)

Past winners of the Brian Dowling Memorial 5K, 2001 - 2015
Date	Men	Women
7 April 2001	20:05, Jerry Armstrong	24:08, Piper Stockman
13 April 2002	19:12, Jonathan Braun	21:57, Piper Stockman
12 April 2003	18:58, Shane Gingrich	24:04, Chris Fox
1 May 2004	18:59, Douglas Holt	24:19, Amy Padgett
7 May 2005	19:12, Brian Hickey	22:21, Teresa Lafleur
6 May 2006	18:39, Matt Fechan	23:24, Lou Ellen Jayroe
28 April 2007	18:13, Gabe Mitchell	23:08, In-Mi Matsunaga
17 May 2008	18:44, Zalin Smith	23:20, Lou Ellen Jayroe
25 April 2009	19:08, Nick Vance	26:06, Kristina Bennett
22 May 2010	19:10, Theron Carter	24:35, Amber Hodor
23 April 2011	18:50, Sean Kent	20:46, Megan Howell
7 April 2012	20:05, Jeff Dasinger	24:40, Abby Rogers
18 May 2013	21:00, Justin Cagle	24:21, Carolyn Houston
10 May 2014	20:32, Dale Thomas	24:45, CJ Parrish
16 May 2015	18:26, Myles Gibson	24:25, CJ Parish
In 2000 Dothan Runners Club member Brian Dowling was killed during a training run, struck by a hit-and-run driver. The Woofstock 5K was started in his memory in 2001. In 2002 DRC officially renamed the race the Brian Dowling Memorial 5K. Kudos and a big thank you to Larry Dykes for much of the information in this table!

Links

• Complete results of the 2015 Brian Dowling Memorial 5K Trail Run at dothanrunners.com
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fn2JHUw7YVNAQ5FnBRjtL07phFudEiNNYEtSphwbueU/pubhtml
  
  
• 2014 story, “Thomas and Parrish triumph on the trail at Brian Dowling 5K”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/05/dowling-2014.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “Cagle and Houston add Brian Dowling 5K wins to their running resumés”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/05/dowling-2013.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “Kent and Howell hit the trail at Brian Dowling 5K”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/04/dowling-2011.html
  
  
• Find upcoming trail runs in Dothan and other cities in the region on the Trouble Afoot! calendar:
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#1392

Thomas and Parrish triumph on the trail at Brian Dowling 5K

Finishing nearly 700 meters ahead of the next runner, Dale Thomas won the annual Brian Dowling Memorial 5K Trail Run on Saturday morning, 10 May 2014. The Taylor, Alabama, master runner covered the 3.1-mile cross-country course through Dothan's Westgate Park in 20:32. Dothan High incoming frosh Bradley Taylor edged out David Forrester for second, 23:52 to 23:56.


Dothan's CJ Parrish finished a few strides ahead of master runner Kristina Bennett to take the women's title 24:45 to 24:50. The two runners were seventh and eighth overall. Kimberly Riddle was third in the women's standings, coming in 19th overall in 17:05.


69 athletes finished the 2014 Brian Dowling Memorial 5K.


Top Ten Men, 2014 Brian Dowling Memorial 5K Trail Run

1. 20:32 ~ Dale Thomas (M, 50) Taylor, AL
2. 23:52 ~ Bradley Taylor (M, 14)
3. 23:56 ~ David Forrester (M, 35)
4. 24:04 ~ Bill Odum (M, 58)
5. 24:28 ~ John McClung (M, 45)
6. 24:37 ~ Daniel Barrentine (M, 30)
7. 25:02 ~ Bobby Jesswein (M, 43)
8. 25:24 ~ Donny Bowling (M, 60)
9. 25:25 ~ Stanley Owens (M, 59)
10. 26:07 ~ David Butler (M, 48)

Top Ten Women, 2014 Brian Dowling Memorial 5K Trail Run

1. 24:45 ~ CJ Parrish (F, 34) Dothan, AL
2. 24:50 ~ Kristina Bennett (F, 41)
3. 27:05 ~ Kimberly Riddle (F, 35)
4. 27:16 ~ Rayna Dyck (F, 33)
5. 27:20 ~ Katie Barrentine (F, 29)
6. 28:33 ~ Tara Whaley (F, 39)
7. 28:43 ~ Kristi Holland (F, 37)
8. 29:01 ~ Wendy Powell (F, 48)
9. 31:24 ~ Nichole Hand (F, 43)
10. 31:37 ~ Carol Goguen (F, 52)

Some past winners of the Brian Dowling Memorial 5K
Date	Men	Women
10 MAY 2014	20:32, Dale Thomas	24:45, CJ Parrish
18 MAY 2013	21:00, Justin Cagle	24:21, Carolyn Houston
7 APR 2012	20:05, Jeff Dasinger	24:40, Abby Rogers
23 APR 2011	18:50, Sean Kent	20:46, Megan Howell
22 MAY 2010	19:10, Theron Carter	24:35, Amber Hodor
25 APR 2009
17 MAY 2008
28 APR 2007
6 MAY 2006
1 MAY 2004	18:59, Douglas Holt	24:19, Amy Padgett
12 APR 2003	18:58, Shane Gingrich	24:04, Chris Fox
I would deeply appreciate any leads as to the winners and their times  from past Brian Dowling Memorial 5K races (as well as  its predecessor, the Woofstock 5K).

Links

• Complete results of the 2014 Brian Dowling Memorial 5K Trail Run at dothanrunners.com
  http://www.dothanrunners.com/2014BrianDowling5Kresults.htm
  
  
• 2013 story, "Cagle and Houston add Brian Dowling 5K wins to their running resumés"
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/05/dowling-2013.html
  
  
• 2011 story, "Kent and Howell hit the trail at Brian Dowling 5K"
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/04/dowling-2011.html
  
  
• Find upcoming trail runs in Dothan and other cities in the region on the Trouble Afoot! calendar:
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#1228