Neither Gary Rowan nor Kelly Lunceford were loafing at the Bun Run

Valdosta, Georgia is built on the South Georgia alluvial plain, a level expanse made of the pulverized remains of ancient mountains far to the north. The flatness is interrupted here and there by river valleys; in Valdosta, that of the Withlacoochee River. The Wood Valley neighborhood is situated on those slopes, and on Saturday morning, 8 June 2024, the thirteenth annual Break Bread Bun Run 5K was run in Wood Valley. The runners rose to the challenge of the hills, particularly Gary Rowan. An Adel, Georgia athlete, Rowan won the 3.1-mile contest, running 18:08. Valdosta's Kelly Lunceford was the first woman in the race, placing seventeenth overall in 23:35.


High school track season had ended a few weeks earlier and high school cross-country season wouldn't begin for more than two months. But running never ends, and the next two runners who followed Gary Rowan over the finish line were both high school athletes. The first of those was Brandon Reyes, a rising senior on the Valdosta High cross-country team. Reyes took theGary Rowan runner-up spot in 18:16. Another senior-to-be from Valdosta High, David Boatright, was third in 18:19. The Valdosta High cross-country coach, Ryan Kelly of Lake Park, Georgia, was the first master runner in the race, coming in seventh overall in 20:09. A past champion of the Bun Run, Kelly had won the race in 2013 and 2014.


Ryan Kelly Kelly Lunceford hadn't won the Bun Run women's title before, but she had been runner-up in 2023 with a 23:45. She improved that mark ten seconds to get the win in 2024. Lydia Chambers, a Hahira Middle School athlete, grabbed second in the women's standings with a 24:21, placing eighteenth overall. Tamara Martin of Valdosta was the first woman master in the race and the third female finisher, twentieth overall in 24:29.


85 athletes finished the 2024 Break Bread Bun Run 5K. A Course/Line, LLC, of Valdosta timed the race and provided finish line services.


Top Ten Men, 2024 Break Bread Bun Run 5K

1. 18:07.3, Gary Rowan (M, 36) Adel, GA
2. 18:15.3, Brandon Reyes (M, 17) Valdosta, GA
3. 18:18.1, David Boatright (M, 17) Valdosta, GA
4. 18:34.1, Jacob Howington (M, 17) Hahira, GA
5. 19:15.0, River Thurston (M, 14) Valdosta, GA
6. 20:00.3, Geavon Tribble (M, 16) Valdosta, GA
7. 20:08.4, Ryan Kelly (M, 45) Lake Park, GA
8. 21:39.7, David Jones (M, 28) Valdosta, GA
9. 21:55.5, Aaron Farris (M, 38) Hahira, GA
10. 22:08.1, Ridge Cole (M, 15) Dahlonega, GA

Top Ten Women, 2024 Break Bread Bun Run 5K

1. 23:35.0, Kelly Lunceford (F, 34) Valdosta, GA
2. 24:20.8, Lydia Chambers (F, 13) Hahira, GA
3. 24:28.8, Tamara Martin (F, 46) Valdosta, GA
4. 25:39.2, Alex Wetherill (F, 25) Valdosta, GA
5. 26:39.6, Allison Tolman (F, 29) Hahira, GA
6. 26:43.7, Kelsey Ricci (F, 27) Hahira, GA
7. 27:43.7, Reagan Barker (F, 29) Adel, GA
8. 27:53.2, Logan Cole (F, 26) Valdosta, GA
9. 31:27.0, Rachel Rouland (F, 24) Moody A F B, GA
10. 31:33.8, Tia Oleary (F, 36) Adel, GA

Break Bread Bun Run 5K champions, 2010 - 2024
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
4 June 2022	17:36, Isaac Chambers	25:33, Bella Weyand	51
10 June 2023	17:13, Adam Mastrobuono	23:36, Stella McClain	70
8 June 2024	18:08, Gary Rowan	23:35, Kelly Lunceford	85

Links

• Complete results of the 2024 Break Bread Bun Run 5K
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQKXjptUOMl5Hdt2v_fOmKJXi2tcsyWn0c4LI387CfqC-_dQ8_FN9up6q-liV9vmFVWhQsWFzpnxgB1/pubhtml
  
  
• 2023 story, “Blazer harrier Adam Mastrobuono sets a new Break Bread Bun Run record”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2023/06/bun-run-2023.html
  
  
• 2022 story, “Isaac Chambers throws down the fastest Break Bread Bun Run ever”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2022/06/bun-run-2022.html
  
  
• 2019 story, “Alec Munger and Sandra Griffin take the cake at the Bun Run”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2019/07/bun-run-2019.html
  
  
• 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
  
  

#3078

Parker Jackson and Kelly Lunceford lead the Parade in Valdosta

It was stormy along the Georgia-Florida boundary on 2 December 2023, stormy enough to have an effect on the athletics events scheduled for that day. Some went ahead, such as the AAU Cross-Country National Championship Meet in Tallahassee, Florida. Some were canceled--better luck next year. Some were rescheduled, such as Valdosta, Georgia's Christmas Parade 5K. That race went ahead on a new date, Saturday, 16 December 2023, when Parker Jackson of Valdosta won by over 200 meters, running 17:01. Another Valdosta athlete, Kelly Lunceford, was the first woman in the 5K, placing nineteenth overall in 24:42.


Patrick Wallace, a junior on the Valdosta High cross-country team, was runner-up to Jackson, running 17:48. Canaan Ponce, a harrier for the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Stallions, took third in 18:23. Valdosta High cross-country coach Ryan Kelly was the first master runner in the race, coming in eleventh overall in 19:41.


Sara Hamblin of Valdosta was second in the women's standings, placing 24th overall in 25:50. Laura Solomon of Nashville, Georgia was the first woman master and third female finisher, 26th overall in 26:36.


66 athletes finished Valdosta's 2023 Christmas Parade 5K. A Course/Line, LLC of Valdosta timed and scored the race.


Top Ten Men, 2023 Christmas Parade 5K

1. 17:00.1, Parker Jackson (M, 19) Valdosta, GA
2. 17:47.4, Patrick Wallace (M, 16) Valdosta, GA
3. 18:22.8, Canaan Ponce (M, 18) Adel, GA
4. 18:32.9, Brandon Reyes (M, 16) Valdosta, GA
5. 19:03.8, Chad Northcutt (M, 39) Quitman, GA
6. 19:14.4, Toshiya Bass (M, 17) Valdosta, GA
7. 19:17.6, Maxwell Shelly (M, 14) Valdosta, GA
8. 19:31.5, River Thurston (M, 14) Valdosta, GA
9. 19:36.2, Gabriel Ponce (M, 24) Adel, GA
10. 19:36.5, Oliver Horne (M, 16) Whigham, GA

Top Ten Women, 2023 Christmas Parade 5K

1. 24:41.8, Kelly Lunceford (F, 34) Valdosta, GA
2. 25:49.2, Sara Hamblin (F, 38) Valdosta, GA
3. 26:35.6, Laura Solomon (F, 41) Nashville, GA
4. 26:54.6, Heather Pettus (F, 36) Valdosta, GA
5. 27:14.8, Jane Swayze (F, 15) Valdosta, GA
6. 27:20.1, Kennedy Horne (F, 13) Pelham, GA
7. 27:26.4, Jamie Brown (F, 40) Valdosta, GA
8. 27:32.2, Mallory Moore (F, 14) Tifton, GA
9. 27:32.9, Mollie Moore (F, 16) Tifton, GA
10. 27:35.3, Yuka Bass (F, 15) Valdosta, GA

Valdosta, Georgia Christmas Parade 5K winners, 2020 - 2023
Date	Men	Women	Finishers
5 December 2020	16:37, Nick Flatt	19:00, Angela Cipriani	108
4 December 2021	17:31, Austen Sekowski	18:22, Angela Cipriani	64
3 December 2022	16:24, Adam Mastrobuono	20:46, Kyleigh Rice	52
16 December 2023	17:01, Parker Jackson	24:42, Kelly Lunceford	66

Links

• Complete results of the 2023 Christmas Parade 5K
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQYRHe5fFe7eX7IFvDUmbXJrHBXzsnJLNz4CoJLEDU_KpddpMsOecHbUfhESq207wOLANYGjtAJ8IC-/pubhtml
  
  
• Find your next parade-related race in the Tallahassee region on the Trouble Afoot! calendar https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#3022

At the Barnes HealthCare 5K, winning was the prescription for Chad Northcutt and Kelly Lunceford

Continuing a tradition of summer downtown racing in Valdosta, Georgia, Chad Northcutt won the thirteenth Barnes HealthCare 5K on Saturday morning, 16 July 2022. The Quitman, Georgia athlete covered the 3.1-mile course in 19:59, finishing with a lead of over 300 meters. Valdosta's Kelly Lunceford was the first woman in the race, placing seventh overall in 23:42. It was the second Barnes 5K win for Lunceford, who also took the women's title in the 2018 race.


Aaron Farris of Hahira, Georgia was runner-up to Northcutt at 21:23. Carter McGhin, an incoming frosh at Valdosta High, edged Samuel Jenning of Cairo, Georgia to take third, 22:14 to 22:15. Thomasville, Georgia's Shane Roberts was the first master runner in the 5K, sixth overall in 23:27.


Jamie Brown of Valdosta was second in the women's standings, placing eleventh overall in 27:11. Tamara Martin of Valdosta was the first woman master and third female finisher, twelfth overall in 27:48.


66 athletes finished the 2022 Barnes Healthcare 5K. A Course/Line, LLC, of Valdosta timed the race and provided finish line services. Look for the fourteenth Barnes 5K in July 2023.


Top Ten Men, 2022 Barnes 100 Years 5K

1. 19:58.9, Chad Northcutt (M, 38) Quitman, GA
2. 21:22.8, Aaron Farris (M, 36) Hahira, GA
3. 22:13.3, Carter McGhin (M, 14) Valdosta, GA
4. 22:14.1, Samuel Jennings (M, 29) Cairo, GA
5. 23:15.3, Rufus Kimble (M, 31) Valdosta, GA
6. 23:26.4, Shane Roberts (M, 51) Thomasville, GA
7. 24:37.9, Erik Mackie (M, 44) Valdosta, GA
8. 25:53.1, David Monds (M, 59) Quitman, GA
9. 26:25.0, Michael Fano-Schultze (M, 33) Valdosta, GA
10. 27:57.0, Kently Bedford (M, 32) Valdosta, GA

Top Ten Women, 2022 Barnes 100 Years 5K

1. 23:41.1, Kelly Lunceford (F, 32) Valdosta, GA
2. 27:10.9, Jamie Brown (F, 38) Valdosta, GA
3. 27:47.6, Tamara Martin (F, 44) Valdosta, GA
4. 28:49.4, Faye Brooks (F, 14) Jacksonville, FL
5. 29:02.0, Nanci Scheetz (F, 74) Madison, FL
6. 29:04.8, Megghan Brooks (F, 42) Jacksonville, FL
7. 31:02.3, Mae Johnson (F, 37) Valdosta, GA
8. 31:17.8, Tiffany Courington (F, 43) Valdosta, GA
9. 31:46.4, Rosalind Jenkins (F, 32) Valdosta, GA
10. 32:32.7, Gabbi Metts (F, 29) Valdosta, GA

Barnes 100 Years 5K Champions, 2009 - 2022
Date	Men	Women	Finishers
18 July 2009	19:05, Masked Avenger	20:18, Angelina Horne	96
17 July 2010	16:45, Daniel Broadhead	20:31, Angelina Horne	119
16 July 2011	18:02, Masked Avenger	20:54, Alice Smoot	67
14 July 2012	18:29, Nathan Norton	23:23, Lauren Tosky	80
13 July 2013	18:13, Ryan Kelly	20:12, Mary Alice Smoot	72
19 July 2014	18:04, Andrew Elam	20:12, Mackenzie Morse	74
18 July 2015	18:12, Dan Butzin	21:54, Alice Smoot	88
16 July 2016	18:29, Ryan Kelly	23:04, Debbie Green	96
15 July 2017	19:44, Courtland Buntin	21:44, Vanessa Spry	65
14 July 2018	18:21, Ryan Kelly	21:30, Kelly Lunceford	115
13 July 2019	18:50, Ryan Kelly	21:19, Allie Brown	118
10 July 2021	20:53, Grant Herring	21:36, Kyleigh Rice	70
16 July 2022	19:59, Chad Northcutt	23:42, Kelly Lunceford	66
Due to COVID-19, there was no Barnes 5K in 2020.

Links

• Complete results of the 2022 Barnes 100 Years 5K
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRNSpkZqOe2pFFBWV1LC7y1A-zDnNYm8yWTqzAm4GFFKyukIsQ_SZ_xPwDnacX3TXONEMdnu_4Hud9B/pubhtml
  
  
• 2021 story, “Grant Herring and Kyleigh Rice beat 'em all at Barnes”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2021/07/barnes-2021.html
  
  
• 2019 story, “Winning is the prescription for Ryan Kelly and Allie Brown at the Barnes 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2019/07/barnes-2019.html
  
  
• 2018 story, “Ryan Kelly and Kelly Lunceford take first in the tenth Barnes 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2018/07/barnes-2018.html
  
  
• 2017 story, “The battle at Barnes goes to Buntin and Spry”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2017/07/barnes-2017.html
  
  
• 2016 story, “Kelly and Green lead the march through Barnes Healthcare's second century”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/07/barnes-2016.html
  
  
• 2015 story, “Butzin and Smoot headline another year of Barnes 5K history”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/07/barnes-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Elam and Morse warm-up for cross country with Barnes 5K wins”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/07/barnes-2014.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “Kelly leads the way and Smoot sets record at the fifth Barnes 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/07/barnes-2013.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “Norton and Toskey beat 'em all at Barnes”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/07/barnes-2012.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “No settling for second for Avenger and Smoot at 2011 Barnes 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/07/barnes-2011.html
  
  
• 2010 story, “Broadhead breaks record and Horne builds streak at Barnes 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/07/barnes-5k-2010.html
  
  
• Find another centennial race in the Tallahassee region on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2865

Parker Jackson and Kelly Lunceford win at Valdosta's Labor Day 5K

Labor Day distance running has a long heritage in the United States, going back to the days of company picnics, when the new guy would suddenly find out that he was entered in the cross-country race--usually right after his second helping of potato salad. Valdosta, Georgia has kept the tradition of Labor Day racing alive, holding ten events in the eleven years from 2009 to 2019. The most recent of these, on Monday morning, 2 September 2019, was even a cross-country race in Freedom Park--a shade of the old company picnic. Parker Jackson, a sophomore on the Valdosta High cross-country team, won the race by 200 meters, running 20:35. Kelly Lunceford of Valdosta was the first woman in the race, placing fourth overall in 23:29.

Parker Jackson

Jackson wasn't the only prep harrier prominent in the field. Valdosta High junior Colton Baldwin grabbed the runner-up spot with a 21:24. Hayden Coggins, a Valdosta High sophomore, took third in 22:52.


The first master runner in the race was the women's runner-up, Elizabeth Smith. Smith was sixth overall with a 24:04. Twelve-year-old Katya Jackson, a seventh-grader on the Valdosta Middle School cross-country team, placed third in the women's standings and sixteenth overall in 30:39.


Michael Guilmette of Lake Park, Georgia was the first male master in the Labor Day 5K, placing fifth in the men's standings and seventh overall in 25:47.


44 athletes finished Valdosta's 2019 Labor Day 5K. Proceeds of the race benefitted Valdosta city schools cross-country teams. A Course/Line, LLC, of Valdosta timed the race and provided finish line services.


Top Ten Men, 2019 Valdosta Labor Day 5K

1. 20:35, Parker Reid Jackson (M, 15) Valdosta, GA
2. 21:24, Colton Baldwin (M, 16) Valdosta, GA
3. 22:52, Hayden Coggins (M, 15) Valdosta, GA
4. 23:36, Cason Register (M, 14) Lakeland, GA
5. 25:47, Michael Guilmette (M, 56) Lake Park, GA
6. 25:58, Daniel Zenobia (M, 37) Valdosta, GA
7. 26:55, Nathan Smith (M, 41) Valdosta, GA
8. 27:28, Austin Sanderson (M, 12) Valdosta, GA
9. 27:55, Alan Sanderson (M, 44) Valdosta, GA
10. 28:30, Murray Coggins (M, 7) Valdosta, GA

Top Ten Women 2019 Valdosta Labor Day 5K

1. 23:29, Kelly Lunceford (F, 29) Valdosta, GA
2. 24:04, Elizabeth Smith (F, 41) Valdosta, GA
3. 30:39, Katya Jackson (F, 12) Valdosta, GA
4. 34:13, Anna Coggins (F, 43) Valdosta, GA
5. 36:16, Heather Kelly (F, 41) Lake Park, GA
6. 36:32, Elizabeth Cannister (F, 10) Hahira, GA
7. 36:34, Jamie Brown (F, 35) Valdosta, GA
8. 37:50, Rebecca Lancaster (F, 12) Valdosta, GA
9. 39:54, Delleese Collins (F, 42) Valdosta, GA
10. 40:26, Amanda Sanderson (F, 44) Valdosta, GA

Valdosta Labor Day 5K winners, 2009 - 2019
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

Links:

• Complete results of the 2019 Valdosta Labor Day 5K courtesy of A Course/Line, LLC
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQI0NLYnxn-9nLPnQpDkLcRV_PXThKmqROoY84gpE1TE7nhWwl4wWQp5HZ9iQC47l9BjUkbfKWfUOxn/pubhtml
  
  
• 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
  
  

#2584

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 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

Ryan Kelly and Kelly Lunceford take first in the tenth Barnes 5K

When Charles W. Barnes opened his drug store in 1909, I don't know if his vision for the business included the dream that it would one day host an annual road race. If it did, his successors realized that dream in 2009 when they staged the first Barnes Healthcare 5K in Valdosta. Nine years later, on Saturday morning, 14 July 2018, Barnes Healthcare was hosting the race for the tenth time. Ryan Kelly picked up his third Barnes 5K title that morning, running a winning 18:21. Kelly Lunceford, the women's champ ten days earlier at the Valdosta Independence Day 5K, won the Barnes 5K women's title in 21:30, placing fifth overall.


Ryan Kelly, the Valdosta High cross-country coach, had been first in the Barnes 5K twice before. Coach Kelly had won the 2013 race by only eight seconds and the 2016 race by less than four seconds. The 2018 event was similarly close, with Kelly finishing not quite 30 meters ahead of runner-up Nick Rosatti, 18:21 to 18:28. Myles Gibson of Donalsonville, Georgia was the top master runner in the race, third overall in 19:07.


Behind Kelly Lunceford, Brenna Clark was second in the women's standings. Clark, a rising sophomore on the Valwood High cross-country team, placed eighth overall in 23:29. Another Valwood High cross-country runner, rising sophomore Jolie Green, took third in the women's standings and fourteenth overall in 25:33. Debbie Green of Valdosta was the first woman master and fifth female finisher, nineteenth overall in 26:59.


115 athletes finished the 2018 Barnes Healthcare 5K. A Course/Line, LLC, of Valdosta timed the race and provided finish line services.


Top Ten Men, 2018 Barnes 100 Years 5K

1. 18:20.8, Ryan Kelly (M, 39) Lake Park, GA
2. 18:27.1, Nick Rosatti (M, 21) Valdosta, GA
3. 19:06.4, Myles Gibson (M, 52) Donalsonville, GA
4. 20:15.2, Kevius Shaw (M, 19) Valdosta, GA
5. 23:22.7, Deon Prinsloo (M, 54) Loudon County, VA
6. 23:23.5, Colin Prinsloo (M, 32) Hahira, GA
7. 24:07.7, Gareth Pyle (M, 39) Thomasville, GA
8. 24:30.8, Clayton Hattunen (M, 35) Roswell, GA
9. 24:54.3, Joseph Astello (M, 28) Valdosta, GA
10. 25:12.8, Alan Johnson (M, 58) Valdosta, GA

Top Ten Women, 2018 Barnes 100 Years 5K

1. 21:30.0, Kelly Lunceford (F, 28) Valdosta, GA
2. 23:28.2, Brenna Clark (F, 15) Valdosta, GA
3. 25:33.0, Jolie Green (F, 15) Valdosta, GA
4. 26:11.9, Sarah Lashley (F, 32) Hahira, GA
5. 26:58.6, Debbie Green (F, 52) Valdosta, GA
6. 27:15.6, Traci Ferris (F, 35) Valdosta, GA
7. 27:28.2, Jordan Green (F, 15) Valdosta, GA
8. 28:02.8, Karina Amundson (F, 48) Valdosta, GA
9. 28:25.3, Cassie O'Neal (F, 29) Valdosta, GA
10. 28:42.4, Lauren Hattunen (F, 32) Roswell, GA

Barnes 100 Years 5K Champions, 2009 - 2018
Date	Men	Women	Finishers
18 July 2009	19:05, Masked Avenger	20:18, Angelina Horne	96
17 July 2010	16:45, Daniel Broadhead	20:31, Angelina Horne	119
16 July 2011	18:02, Masked Avenger	20:54, Alice Smoot	67
14 July 2012	18:29, Nathan Norton	23:23, Lauren Tosky	80
13 July 2013	18:13, Ryan Kelly	20:12, Mary Alice Smoot	72
19 July 2014	18:04, Andrew Elam	20:12, Mackenzie Morse	74
18 July 2015	18:12, Dan Butzin	21:54, Alice Smoot	88
16 July 2016	18:29, Ryan Kelly	23:04, Debbie Green	96
15 July 2017	19:44, Courtland Buntin	21:44, Vanessa Spry	65
14 July 2018	18:21, Ryan Kelly	21:30, Kelly Lunceford	115

Links

• Complete results of the 2018 Barnes 100 Years 5K
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vTJyTastyYG3eokvEvlphjTc5k6ucydFVnohT7H_hVIPvqBQ40AQcO0vBvpHwmiLHY5JCNV4RL0DNPw/pubhtml
  
  
• 2017 story, “The battle at Barnes goes to Buntin and Spry”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2017/07/barnes-2017.html
  
  
• 2016 story, “Kelly and Green lead the march through Barnes Healthcare's second century”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/07/barnes-2016.html
  
  
• 2015 story, “Butzin and Smoot headline another year of Barnes 5K history”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/07/barnes-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Elam and Morse warm-up for cross country with Barnes 5K wins”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/07/barnes-2014.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “Kelly leads the way and Smoot sets record at the fifth Barnes 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/07/barnes-2013.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “Norton and Toskey beat 'em all at Barnes”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/07/barnes-2012.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “No settling for second for Avenger and Smoot at 2011 Barnes 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/07/barnes-2011.html
  
  
• 2010 story, “Broadhead breaks record and Horne builds streak at Barnes 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/07/barnes-5k-2010.html
  
  
• Find another centennial race in the Tallahassee region on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2298

Alec Munger and Kelly Lunceford were first on the Fourth in Valdosta

There was a time when you could show up in Atlanta, Georgia on the morning of Independence Day, pay your entry fee, and run the Peachtree Road Race. You could probably even find a spot on the front of the starting line. Atlanta Track Club would have handed out trophies to the age group and overall winners no more than an hour after you finished, and everyone would be on the way home.


Sometime since then, the race added entry lotteries, starting waves, and record numbers of participants. Oh, and record numbers of portable toilets as well. It takes most runners a long time to cross the starting line at Peachtree, but it takes every runner a long time to get to the front of the toilet line.


In South Georgia, though, you can dispense with all that by staying at your own end of Interstate 75 and racing Valdosta's Independence Day 5K.


The fastest runner at Valdosta's 2018 Independence Day 5K was Alec Munger. A rising sophomore on the Lowndes High cross-country team, Munger ran 18:00 to win the tenth annual race. Nick Rosatti of Hahira, Georgia took second in 18:08. Another Hahira athlete, Colin Prinsloo, was third in 19:39.


The men's race was decided by a margin of less than 40 meters, but the women's race was even closer. Kelly Lunceford of Valdosta took the women's title in 21:25, finishing less than 20 meters ahead of runner-up Brianna Prinsloo of Hahira. Ms. Prinsloo, the 2017 women's champion in the race, ran 21:29. Lunceford and Prinsloo were eighth and ninth overall. Alexandra Sayre, a rising junior on the Lowndes High cross-country team, was third in the women's standings and fourteenth overall in 24:21.


Valdosta's Brian Sayre was the top master runner in the race, finishing eighth in the men's standings and tenth overall in 21:36. Gunawati Gunawan of Tifton, Georgia was the first woman master and fifth female finisher, 23rd overall in 25:47.


91 athletes finished the 2018 Valdosta, Georgia Independence Day 5K.


Top Ten Men, 2018 Valdosta Independence Day 5K

1. 17:59.18, Alec Munger (M, 15) Valdosta, GA
2. 18:07.59, Nick Rosatti (M, 21) Hahira, GA
3. 19:38.41, Colin Prinsloo (M, 32) Hahira, GA
4. 19:47.06, Kevius Shaw (M, 19) Valdosta, GA
5. 19:52.22, Quinn McGlamery (M, 18) Valdosta, GA
6. 20:12.15, Gerardo Olivera (M, 17) Valdosta, GA
7. 20:29.18, Daniel Carver (M, 33) Hahira, GA
8. 21:35.59, Brian Sayre (M, 48) Valdosta, GA
9. 22:10.03, Chad Northcutt (M, 34) Quitman, GA
10. 22:43.03, Daniel Zenobia (M, 35) Valdosta, GA

Top Ten Females, 2018 Valdosta Independence Day 5K

1. 21:24.53, Kelly Lunceford (F, 28) Valdosta, GA
2. 21:29.00, Brianna Prinsloo (F, 31) Hahira, GA
3. 24:20.59, Alexandra Sayre (F, 16) Valdosta, GA
4. 25:40.57, Katie Jensrud (F, 33) Valdosta, GA
5. 25:46.38, Gunawati Gunawan (F, 46) Tifton, GA
6. 28:04.53, Amy Bradshaw (F, 28) Valdosta, GA
7. 28:19.09, Constance Thomas (F, 49) Nashville, GA
8. 29:07.15, Karina Amundson (F, 48) Valdosta, GA
9. 29:27.56, Rachel King (F, 24) Valdosta, GA
10. 29:29.15, Nanci Scheetz (F, 69) Valdosta, GA

Champions of the Valdosta Independence Day 5K, 2009 - 2018
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	21:24.53, 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 2018 Independence Day 5K
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vS46j3KxyxTQyEExNQjZ58ofxU9zYVSoYO5AfGVd1ZjJOsvxf3F1Oip29J2xcVApAwXHqtQv9a8vpWt/pubhtml
  
  
• Independence Day 2018 racing coverage on Trouble Afoot!
  • Valdosta GA: 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
  
  

#2297

You gotta love Jaison Morning's blazin' 15:47 at the Blazin' Love 5K

The Blazin' Love 5K benefits the Valdosta State University Blazers cross-country program, but that's not the only thing blazin' about it. Take for instance the 2017 race, where Jaison Morning blazed a winning time of 15:53. Well, at the third annual Blazin' Love 5K on Saturday morning, 10 February 2018, Morning ran even faster, putting up a winning time of 15:47 on the Valdosta, Georgia course.


An alumnus of Cass High in Cartersville, Georgia, Morning runs for the Valdosta State cross-country team. He wasn't the only Blazer cross-country runner in the race that morning. First-year VSU student Nick Flatt, a Spalding High graduate from Griffin, Georgia, was second in the 5K at 16:04. Hoschton, Georgia's Gavin Childers, a Mill Creek High graduate and VSU sophomore, took third in 16:52. Morgan Bolmer was the first non-Blazer in the field, fourth in 18:41. Bolmer is a sophomore on the Berrien County High cross-country team.


Rick Mazurkiewicz of Valdosta was the fastest master runner in the race, placing seventh overall in 19:53.


Valdosta athlete Kelly Lunceford was the first woman in the Blazin' Love 5K, finishing thirteenth overall in 23:23. Char Davidson of Nashville, Georgia was the top woman master and second female finisher, sixteenth overall in 24:50. Valdosta's Katie Presler was third in the women's standings and seventeenth overall in 24:58.


48 athletes finished the 2018 Blazin' Love 5K. A Course/Line, LLC, of Valdosta, Georgia timed the race.


Top Ten Men, 2018 Blazin' Love 5K

1. 15:46.6, Jaison Morning (M, 20) Cartersville, GA
2. 16:03.7, Nick Flatt (M, 19) Griffin, GA
3. 16:52.0, Gavin Childers (M, 20) Hoschton, GA
4. 18:40.9, Morgan Bolmer (M, 15) Nashville, GA
5. 18:53.5, Parker Childree (M, 28) Valdosta, GA
6. 19:36.6, Gerardo Olivera (M, 17) Valdosta, GA
7. 19:52.5, Rick Mazurkiewicz (M, 50) Valdosta, GA
8. 20:28.4, Dan Butzin (M, 32) Valdosta, GA
9. 20:51.8, Kevius Shaw (M, 18) Valdosta, GA
10. 22:09.6, Tim Melone (M, 28) Hahira, GA

Top Ten Women, 2018 Blazin' Love 5K

1. 23:22.1, Kelly Lunceford (F, 28) Valdosta, GA
2. 24:49.2, Char Davidson (F, 64) Nashville, GA
3. 24:57.4, Katie Presler (F, 26) Valdosta, GA
4. 27:22.5, Pollyanna Bass (F, 45) Pavo, GA
5. 28:11.3, Victoria Garcia (F, 13) Valdosta, GA
6. 29:17.6, Bianca Yanez (F, 35) Valdosta, GA
7. 29:18.0, Ariele D'Emidio (F, 27) Valdosta, GA
8. 29:22.7, Katina Petroff (F, 45) Lake Park, GA
9. 30:55.9, Kim Souther (F, 57) Hahira, GA
10. 31:53.1, Galen Mirate (F, 62) Valdosta, GA

Blazin' Love 5K winners, 2016 - 2018
Date	Men	Women	Finishers
13 February 2016	15:39, Connor Dalrymple	19:36, Tyra Holloway	123
11 February 2017	15:53, Jaison Morning	18:47, Tyra Holloway	134
10 February 2018	15:47, Jaison Morning	23:23, Kelly Lunceford	48

Links

• Complete results of the 2018 Blazin' Love 5K courtesy of A Course/Line, LLC
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRYeMATrCE2kQCSxcBXel2yui8KnZq-UcCtXsHxNteXVO2WQz0mvSH225B9Zyv1ajKqDlWinlr1Yeb5/pubhtml
  
  
• 2017 story, “Morning's 15:53 and Holloway's 18:47 heat up the roads at the Blazin' Love 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2017/02/vsu-xc-5k-2017.html
  
  
• 2016 story, “Dalrymple goes 15:39 in Valdosta”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/02/vsu-xc-5k-2016.html
  
  
• Find an upcoming race that supports running on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2186

Watson and Davis win at the James Eunice Legacy 5K

It's close to sixty miles from Douglas, Georgia to Valdosta, Georgia, but Cameron Watson made that trip in order to race the sixth annual James Eunice Legacy 5K on Saturday morning, 8 April 2017. It was a productive trip, because the Coffee Middle School eighth-grader won the race in 18:46, finishing just over 40 meters ahead of the next runner. Valdosta's Kelly Davis, racing closer to home, took the women's title in 22:30, placing fourth overall.


Three weeks before the James Eunice 5K, Watson had wrapped up his middle school track season, running a 5:05.29 1600 and a 2:22.84 800 in Tifton, Georgia. Before track season he had appeared on the Valdosta roads in December at the Ugly Sweater 5K, where he finished runner-up in 20:10.


2016 James Eunice 5K champion Dan Butzin of Valdosta was second in the 2017 race, running 18:56. Valdosta's Rick Mazurkiewicz was the top master in the 5K, placing third overall in 21:37.


Vanessa Spry of Valdosta finished second in the women's standings behind Davis, coming in sixth overall in 22:50. Pavo, Georgia athlete Pollyanna Bass was the top woman master and third female finisher, seventh overall in 22:56.


60 athletes finished the sixth annual James Eunice Legacy 5K. A Course/Line, LLC, of Valdosta timed the race and provided finish line services.


Top Ten Men, 2017 James Eunice Legacy 5K

1. 18:45.8, Cameron Watson (M, 14) Douglas, GA
2. 18:56.0, Dan Butzin (M, 31) Valdosta, GA
3. 21:36.4, Rick Mazurkiewicz (M, 50) Valdosta, GA
4. 22:30.3, Kevin Lunceford (M, 25) Valdosta, GA
5. 23:11.3, Karl Brown (M, 41) Alapaha, GA
6. 23:29.4, Billy Taylor (M, 68) Valdosta, GA
7. 23:48.3, Alan Harris (M, 36) Valdosta, GA
8. 24:04.3, Rodney Elam (M, 53) Valdosta, GA
9. 24:10.2, Lee McArthur (M, 47) Valdosta, GA
10. 24:50.3, Wes Anderson (M, 32) Valdosta, GA

Top Ten Women, 2017 James Eunice Legacy 5K

1. 22:30.0, Kelly Davis (F, 27) Valdosta, GA
2. 22:49.1, Vanessa Spry (F, 32) Valdosta, GA
3. 22:55.8, Pollyanna Bass (F, 45) Pavo, GA
4. 23:23.0, Martha Mazurkiewicz (F, 49) Valdosta, GA
5. 24:55.2, Kristin Cleveland (F, 38) Hahira, GA
6. 26:41.9, Cynthia Kearley (F, 41) Hahira, GA
7. 28:12.4, Lisa Graves (F, 49) Valdosta, GA
8. 29:26.3, Teresa Williams (F, 13) Valdosta, GA
9. 29:30.8, Karina Amundson (F, 47) Valdosta, GA
10. 29:48.8, Jacinta Howell (F, 32) Valdosta, GA

James Eunice Legacy 5K winners, 2012 - 2017
Date	Men	Women	Finishers
14 April 2012	16:04, Parker Childree	20:30, Gretchen Bielmyer	92
13 April 2013	21:25, Josh Perry	23:33, Angie Bruhl	93
12 April 2014	17:40, Andrew Elam	21:41, Makenzee Page	51
11 April 2015	17:54, Nathan Crews	21:23, Kelsey Morse	64
9 April 2016	18:43, Dan Butzin	21:23, Alison Thornhill	77
8 April 2017	18:46, Cameron Watson	22:30, Kelly Davis	60
There was also a Jogging For James 5K race on 25 June 2011. Stephen Robbins (17:55) and Mary Alice Smoot (21:55) were the winners of that earlier event, which had 145 finishers.

Links

• Complete results of the 2017 James Eunice Legacy 5K, courtesy of A Course/Line, LLC
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1rb_hJV-srIptI8XwtikzfGNz612B5oFEtmsDqPculdI/pubhtml
  
  
• 2016 story, “Butzin wins by a ton, Thornhill by ounces at the James Eunice 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/04/james-eunice-2016.html
  
  
• 2015 story, “Crews and Morse lead a youth movement at the Eunice Legacy 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/04/james-eunice-2015.html
  
  
• The James Eunice Fund
  http://jameseunice23.com/
  
  
• Check the Trouble Afoot! calendar for the next running of the James Eunice Legacy 5K
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#1940

In Hahira, Butzin and Davis lead the race to Get-A-Mammy

Dan Butzin bested a field of 101 athletes on Saturday morning, 24 September 2016, running 19:03 to win the sixth annual Get-A-Mammy 5K. The 3.1-mile road race was run from Bethany Baptist Church in Hahira, Georgia.


Butzin is a Valdosta, Georgia, athlete, as were the next three finishers. Rob McGhin was second in 20:54, and Jim Simoneau was third in 22:30. Heath Martin, an alumnus of the Valwood School cross country team, ran 22:49 for fourth.


Kelly Davis of Valdosta took the women's title, placing fourth overall in 22:53. Another Valdosta runner, Lauren Bewley, was runner-up on the women's side and seventh overall in 24:18.


Valdosta's Jim Dawkins was the fastest master runner in the race and fifth overall in 24:00. Gina Purvis of Tifton, Georgia was the first woman master and third female finisher, eighth overall in 24:35.


Proceeds of the annual event benefit Get-A-Mammy, Inc., a non-profit that provides funds for mammograms, reconstructive surgery, and cancer research. The organization also works to increase awareness of the importance of regular mammorgrams in the early detection of breast cancer, urging all women to "get a mammy." A Course/Line, LLC, of Valdosta, Georgia provided timing and finish line services for the sixth annual Get-A-Mammy 5K.


Top Ten Men, 2016 Get-A-Mammy 5K

1. 19:02.9 ~ Dan Butzin (M, 31) Valdosta, GA
2. 20:54.0 ~ Rob McGhin (M, 36) Valdosta, GA
3. 22:30.0 ~ Jim Simoneau (M, 35) Valdosta, GA
4. 22:49.0 ~ Heath Martin (M, 17) Valdosta, GA
5. 23:59.3 ~ Jim Dawkins (M, 51) Valdosta, GA
6. 24:39.2 ~ Billy Taylor (M, 67) Valdosta, GA
7. 25:06.9 ~ Dusty Dorminey (M, 42) Lake Park, GA
8. 25:40.4 ~ Wayne Kountis (M, 57) Tifton, GA
9. 26:28.4 ~ Rusty Jones (M, 63) Valdosta, GA
10. 27:03.3 ~ Greg Prine (M, 51) Valdosta, GA

Top Ten Women, 2016 Get-A-Mammy 5K

1. 22:52.1 ~ Kelly Davis (F, 26) Valdosta, GA
2. 24:18.0 ~ Lauren Bewley (F, 35) Valdosta, GA
3. 24:34.6 ~ Gina Purvis (F, 57) Tifton, GA
4. 24:44.1 ~ Pollyanna Bass (F, 44) Pavo, GA
5. 26:10.8 ~ Jennifer Woodall (F, 29) Lenox, GA
6. 26:14.5 ~ Julie Prine (F, 37) Valdosta, GA
7. 26:30.4 ~ Aubrey Sweeney (F, 21) Ray City, GA
8. 27:59.6 ~ Lisa Graves (F, 49) Valdosta, GA
9. 28:23.6 ~ Amy Reese (F, 42) Valdosta, GA
10. 29:31.4 ~ Terry Cooper (F, 58) Hahira, GA

Get-A-Mammy 5K winners, 2011 - 2016
Date	Men	Women	Finishers
1 October 2011	18:14, David Burnett	20:59, Alice Smoot	142
29 September 2012	21:43, Jackson Williams	23:38, Audrey Williams	165
28 September 2013	25:05, Nate Simmons	22:28, Makenzee Page	78
27 September 2014	19:47, Kyle Leisey	22:04, Elizabeth Smith	87
26 September 2015	24:39, Kaden Leisey	26:29, Julie Prine	75
24 September 2016	19:03, Dan Butzin	22:53, Kelly Davis	101
The Get-A-Mammy 5K was run in Valdosta from 2011 to 2014 and in Hahira from 2015 to 2016.

Links

• Complete results of the 2016 Get-A-Mammy 5K via A Course/Line, LLC, of Valdosta
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-om43faEkn9_asSUcu3w-4nRndi0DDGOjguzGlDJwlA/pubhtml
  
  
• 2014 story, “Leisey and Smith get wins at Get-A-Mammy 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/10/getamammy-2014.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “Makenzee Page wins it all at the Get-A-Mammy 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/09/getamammy-2013.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “Williams and Williams winners at a growing Get-A-Mammy 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/10/getamammy-2012.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “Burnett and Smoot tops at Valdosta's Get-A-Mammy 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/10/getamammy-2011.html
  
  
• Find an upcoming breast-cancer awareness race or any race at all at Trouble Afoot!
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#1781