Kevin Sweeny and Jenny Early leave Dasher with Hospice Half titles

Before 2018, Kevin Sweeny had raced the Hospice Half Marathon twice, finishing runner-up in 2013 and 2014. On Saturday morning, 17 February 2018, Sweeny made a third trip to Dasher, Georgia to race in the seventh annual Hospice Half. This time the Saint Augustine, Florida master runner won the 13.1-mile race, running 1:25:21. Jenny Early of Tallahassee, Florida was the first woman in the race, placing sixth overall in 1:42:28.


At both of his earlier appearances at the Hospice Half Marathon, Sweeny had finished second to Ryan Kelly of Lake Park, Georgia. Kelly was in the race again in 2018, but in this rematch it was Kelly who came up second-best, taking the runner-up spot in 1:27:55. Colin Prinsloo of Hahira, Georgia was third in 1:30:15, and Valdosta, Georgia triathlete Dan Butzin took fourth in 1:35:18. Jacksonville, Florida master runner Bill Dorrian was fifth in 1:36:17.


Less than two weeks before her win in Dasher, Jenny Early had run 3:47:28 in the Tallahassee Marathon. Early had been seventh in the women's division that day, but no woman finished ahead of her at the Hospice Half. Anne Diaz of Valdosta was second in the women's standings of the Hospice Half, placing fifteenth overall in 2:02:12. Valdosta's Morgan Long (17th, 2:03:10) was the third woman finisher, just seconds ahead of Karisa Zickos (18th, 2:03:17) and Monika Miller (19th, 2:03:26), both Valdosta women. Penny Bell of Hahira, Georgia was the top woman master and eighth female finisher, 25th overall in 2:15:03.


For the first time in the seven-year history of the race, the course for the Hospice Half Marathon was USATF certified (course number GA18003WC), measured by Valdosta State University cross-country coach Todd Smoot. 45 athletes finished the 2018 Hospice Half. A Course/Line, LLC, of Valdosta timed the race and provided finish line services.


Top Ten Men, 2018 Hospice Half Marathon

1. 1:25:20.6, Kevin Sweeny (M, 48) Saint Augustine, FL
2. 1:27:54.1, Ryan Kelly (M, 39) Lake Park, GA
3. 1:30:14.1, Colin Prinsloo (M, 31) Hahira, GA
4. 1:35:17.6, Dan Butzin (M, 32) Valdosta, GA
5. 1:36:16.1, Bill Dorrian (M, 42) Jacksonville, FL
6. 1:44:17.2, Kerry Warren (M, 42) Hahira, GA
7. 1:45:36.4, Grant Herring (M, 28) Valdosta, GA
8. 1:46:43.7, Jerry Giacchino (M, 59) Saint Anne, IL
9. 1:56:54.6, Andrew Medford (M, 38) Valdosta, GA
10. 1:56:55.1, Rich Kingery (M, 36) Valdosta, GA

Top Ten Women, 2018 Hospice Half Marathon

1. 1:42:27.8, Jenny Early (F, 34) Tallahassee, FL
2. 2:02:11.8, Anne Diaz (F, 26) Valdosta, GA
3. 2:03:09.2, Morgan Long (F, 23) Valdosta, GA
4. 2:03:16.5, Karisa Zickos (F, 39) Valdosta, GA
5. 2:03:25.2, Monika Miller (F, 34) Valdosta, GA
6. 2:05:23.2, Emily Singletary (F, 22) Valdosta, GA
7. 2:14:03.8, Audrey Williams (F, 27) Oakfield, GA
8. 2:15:02.5, Penny Bell (F, 44) Hahira, GA
9. 2:15:29.8, Ashley Norton (F, 29) Valdosta, GA
10. 2:15:39.4, Sherri Welch (F, 52) Hahira, GA

Hospice Half Marathon champions, 2011 - 2018
Date	Men	Women	Finishers
19 February 2011	1:25:36, Masked Avenger	1:43:03, Brandi Faircloth	72
17 February 2012	1:23:09, Stan Darsh	1:37:58, Amy Sharon	76
16 February 2013	1:20:45, Ryan Kelly	1:32:23, Beth Sweeny	107
15 February 2014	1:21:44, Ryan Kelly	1:30:28, Beth Sweeny	84
27 February 2016	1:17:14, Roger Schmidt	1:32:31, Anna Busby	56
25 February 2017	1:35:07, Ariel Godwin	1:50:45, Brandy Van Jura	56
17 February 2018	1:25:21, Kevin Sweeny	1:42:28, Jenny Early	45
The race was not held in 2015.

Links

• Complete results of the 2018 Hospice Half Marathon, courtesy of A Course/Line, LLC
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQsWR1dvf-kkigFgFKd7P2zDV-8mY9GKAaL-uAtG7Q_WXINSuVyUhGHjE4yzUBGQvaMKDXLEaY1Wll_/pubhtml
  
  
• 2017 story, “Godwin and Van Jura go the distance in the Hospice Half”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2017/02/hospice-half-2017.html
  
  
• 2016 story, “Schmidt and Busby take the Hospice Half titles home to Tallahassee”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/02/hospice-half-2016.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Ryan and Sweeny repeat at Dasher half marathon”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/02/hospice-half-2014.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “Kelly and Sweeny set records in third annual Hospice Half”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/02/hospice-half-2013.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “Avenger, Faircloth dash through Dasher to Hospice Half victories”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/02/hospice-half-2011.html
  
  
• USATF course certification map GA18003WC for the 2018 Hospice Half Marathon
  http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/maps/showMap.asp?courseID=GA18003WC
  
  
• If there's another new half marathon, you'll find it on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#2198

No one catches Suzanne Hutchins at the Chasing Jefferson Davis Marathon

A month after General Robert E. Lee surrendered to the United States, rebel leader President Jefferson Davis was fleeing through rural South Georgia. On the morning of 10 May 1865 his flight ended when Davis was captured by the United States Army. 30 years later, Fitzgerald, Georgia was founded 15 miles away from where Davis was caught as a colony for veterans of the Rebellion. Later still, the Jefferson Davis Historic Site was established at the spot where the soldiers snared Davis. 150 years later locals noticed that the site was almost exactly the length of a marathon--26.2 miles--from Abbeville, Georgia, inspiring the first Chasing Jefferson Davis Marathon in 2015.


The marathon has become an annual affair, and the third Chasing Jefferson Davis Marathon was run from Abbeville to the Historic Site on Saturday morning, 29 April 2017. Suzanne Hutchins of Gastonia, North Carolina was the overall winner of the race, as well as the fastest master runner and the first woman, running 3:10:25. Close behind Hutchins at 3:10:46, Kevin Sweeny was the overall runner-up, the first man, and the first male master.


Evan Cain of Fort Gordon, Georgia was second in the men's standings and third overall in 3:11:07. Fort Mill, South Carolina master runner Jeremy Sisler was the third man and fourth overall in 3:27:57.


Thomaston, Georgia's Aprille Oxenford was the women's runner-up, placing ninth overall in 4:19:23. Master runner Donna Morris of Brooksville, Florida was the third woman and twelfth overall in 4:24:54.


Top Five Women, 2017 Chasing Jefferson Davis Marathon

1. 3:10:24.1, Suzanne Hutchins (F, 42) Gastonia, NC
2. 4:19:22.3, Aprille Oxenford (F, 34) Thomaston, GA
3. 4:24:53.7, Donna Morris (F, 49) Brooksville, FL
4. 4:26:26.4, Lori Lyons (F, 34) Kathleen, GA
5. 4:26:45.1, Mariette De Meillon (F, 41) Marietta, GA

Top Five Men, 2017 Chasing Jefferson Davis Marathon

1. 3:10:45.5, Kevin Sweeny (M, 47)
2. 3:11:06.8, Evan Cain (M, 27) Fort Gordon, GA
3. 3:27:56.9, Jeremy Sisler (M, 41) Fort Mill, SC
4. 3:29:53.7, William McGill (M, 47) Minerva, OH
5. 3:56:56.5, Benjamin Power (M, 42) Spring Hill, FL

Since the inception of the Chasing Jefferson Davis Marathon in 2015, the event has also included a half marathon race. Edward Ostrander, a seventh-grader on the Lee County Middle School cross-country team, won the 2017 edition of the 13.1-mile race, running 1:53:49. Master runner Brian Trotter of Lake Wylie, South Carolina was runner-up in 1:55:07. Jacksonville, Florida's Igor Tavuzhnyanskiy was third overall in 2:02:35.


Hawkinsville, Georgia master runner Betsy Goslin captured the women's title, finishing fourth overall in 2:02:53. Stephanie Freeman of Rochelle, Georgia was the women's runner-up and fifth overall in 2:06:42. Abbeville, Georgia athlete Rebecca Rhodes took third in the women's standings and sixth overall in 2:14:19.

15 athletes finished the 2017 Chasing Jefferson Davis Half Marathon.


Top Five Men, 2017 Chasing Jefferson Davis Half Marathon

1. 1:53:48.1, Edward Ostrander (M, 13) Leesburg, GA
2. 1:55:06.8, Brian Trotter (M, 42) Lake Wylie, SC
3. 2:02:34.7, Igor Tavuzhnyanskiy (M, 29) Jacksonville, FL
4. 2:27:05.8, Dean Hettenbach (M, 55) Alpharetta, GA
5. 2:32:20.3, Greg Waters (M, 52)

Top Five Women, 2017 Chasing Jefferson Davis Half Marathon

1. 2:02:52.2, Betsy Goslin (F, 40) Hawkinsville, GA
2. 2:06:41.7, Stephanie Freeman (F, 38) Rochelle, GA
3. 2:14:18.5, Rebecca Rhodes (F, 29) Abbeville, GA
4. 2:29:52.1, Kelly Holland (F, 38) Kathleen, GA
5. 2:46:30.9, Megan Sharrow (F, 35) Douglasville, GA

Chasing Jefferson Davis Marathon winners, 2015 - 2017
Date	Distance	Men	Women	Finishers
9 May 2015	Marathon	3:14:03, Jack McDermott	4:15:59, Christine Stahl	27
	Half-Marathon	1:34:38, Elder Cobler	1:48:26, Allison Cauthen	15
14 May 2016	Marathon	3:09:22, Kerry Hobbs	3:29:42, Elizabeth Magato	39
	Half-Marathon	1:23:02, Hunter Tucker	1:28:10, Kelli Squires	19
29 April 2017	Marathon	3:10:46, Kevin Sweeny	3:10:25, Suzanne Hutchins	37
	Half-Marathon	1:53:49, Edward Ostrander	2:02:53, Betsy Goslin	15

Links

• Complete results of the 2017 Chasing Jefferson Davis Marathon and Half Marathon
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_RYZJg_ouXPfQImiFQZJ9sT3rpG1R13JZFLexfYBRQQ/pubhtml
  
  
• Chasing Jefferson Davis Marathon
  http://chasingjeffersondavis.com/
  
  
• USATF certification map GA15012WC for the 2017 Chasing Jefferson Davis Marathon
  http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/maps/showMap.asp?courseID=GA15012WC
  
  
• Find more historically-themed runs on the Trouble Afoot! racing calendar
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#1969

Sweeny takes one for Florida and Hudelson one for Georgia at Bainbridge Half

Florida runners seem to appreciate the annual half marathon in Bainbridge, Georgia. So much so that a Floridian has won the race in each of the three years it has been run. The Florida athlete that won the 22 March 2014 edition of the race was St. Augustine master runner Kevin Sweeny. Sweeny covered the winding 13.1-mile course through the Port City in 79:25, finishing more than a mile ahead of the next runner. Second place went to Bainbridge master runner Greg Waddell, who has run all three Bainbridge Half Marathons. His time for the 2014 race was 87:25, his fastest Bainbridge Half Marathon yet. Eric Bernard of Dothan, Alabama, finished third in the race, running 90:51.


Florida men may have dominated the three-year history of the Bainbridge Half Marathon, but the women's title has always belonged to Georgia. 2014 was no exception, with Alicia Hudelson of Marietta, Georgia, finishing on top of the women's standings. Hudelson placed fourth overall in 91:42, a new women's course record. The previous record was 93:34, set by Thomasville, Georgia, master runner Mary Anne Grayson in 2013.


The women's runner up in the 2014 Bainbridge Half Marathon was Jill Haglund of Tallahassee, who placed 11th overall in 99:43. Laura McDermott of Tallahassee was third on the women's side. McDermott has run all three Bainbridge Half Marathons; this year she finished the race 12th overall in 1:41:44. Another Tallahassee runner, April Bentley, was the fourth woman finisher and first woman master. Bentley came in 17th overall in 1:44:17.


Top Ten Males, 2014 Bainbridge (Georgia) Half Marathon

1. 1:19:24.6 ~ Kevin Sweeny (M, 44) St. Augustine, FL
2. 1:27:24.9 ~ Greg Waddell (M, 48) Bainbridge, GA
3. 1:30:50.3 ~ Eric Bernard (M, 34) Dothan, AL
4. 1:32:32.5 ~ Ridge Harper (M, 36) Bainbridge, GA
5. 1:33:59.6 ~ Philip Sura (M, 43) Tallahassee, FL
6. 1:37:52.2 ~ Mark Tombrink (M, 26) Tallahassee, FL
7. 1:38:06.8 ~ Adam Sniffen (M, 32) Enterprise, AL
8. 1:39:14.6 ~ Colby Nix (M, 14) Bainbridge, GA
9. 1:39:19.4 ~ Scott Lindeman (M, 38) Tallahassee, FL
10. 1:41:46.7 ~ Jack McDermott (M, 45) Tallahassee, FL

Top Ten Females, 2014 Bainbridge (Georgia) Half Marathon

1. 1:31:41.4 ~ Alicia Hudelson (F, 29) Marietta, GA
2. 1:39:42.2 ~ Jill Haglund (F, 28) Tallahassee, FL
3. 1:41:43.7 ~ Laura McDermott (F, 34) Tallahassee, FL
4. 1:44:16.6 ~ April Bentley (F, 40) Tallahassee, FL
5. 1:45:37.9 ~ Jennifer Shafer (F, 46) Tallahassee, FL
6. 1:50:48.4 ~ Michelle St Onge (F, 33) Monticello, FL
7. 1:51:30.6 ~ Birgit Maier-Katkin (F, 51) Tallahassee, FL
8. 1:53:58.4 ~ Sandra Canada (F, 51) Woodville, FL
9. 1:54:34.5 ~ Carly Bass (F, 22) Valdosta, GA
10. 1:55:17.4 ~ Julia Sura (F, 42) Tallahassee, FL

Bainbridge Half Marathon champions, 2012-2014
Date	Men	Women	Finishers
14 April 2012	72:43, Chris Lake	1:41:01, Melissa Thompson	193
23 March 2013	77:28, Stanley Linton	93:34, Mary Anne Grayson	147
22 March 2014	79:25, Kevin Sweeny	91:42, Alicia Hudelson	95

Ten Fastest Men's Performances in the Bainbridge Half Marathon, 2012-2014

1. 1:12:43 ~ [2012] Chris Lake (M, 24)
2. 1:17:28 ~ [2013] Stanley Linton (M, 19)
3. 1:19:25 ~ [2014] Kevin Sweeny (M, 44)
4. 1:21:51 ~ [2012] Pauncho Hufstetler (M, 37)
5. 1:22:45 ~ [2013] Jack McDermott (M, 44)
6. 1:23:44 ~ [2013] Pauncho Hufstetler (M, 38)
7. 1:25:44 ~ [2012] Kyle Harris (M, 17)
8. 1:26:37 ~ [2013] Erick Juarez (M, 20)
9. 1:27:25 ~ [2014] Greg Waddell (M, 48)
10. 1:27:53 ~ [2013] Greg Waddell (M, 47)

Ten Fastest Women's Performances in the Bainbridge Half Marathon, 2012-2014

1. 1:31:42 ~ [2014] Alicia Hudelson (F, 29)
2. 1:33:34 ~ [2013] Mary Anne Grayson (F, 47)
3. 1:39:43 ~ [2014] Jill Haglund (F, 28)
4. 1:40:20 ~ [2013] Laura McDermott (F, 33)
5. 1:40:38 ~ [2013] Debbie Wittmer (F, 49)
6. 1:40:57 ~ [2013] Teresa Haltom (F, 26)
7. 1:41:01 ~ [2012] Melissa Thompson (F, 27)
8. 1:41:24 ~ [2012] Deborah Wittmer (F, 48)
9. 1:41:44 ~ [2014] Laura McDermott (F, 34)
10. 1:41:45 ~ [2012] Laura McDermott (F, 32)

Links

• Complete results of the 2014 Bainbridge Half Marathon at gulfwinds.org
  http://www.gulfwinds.org/raceresults/2014/Bainbridge%20Half%202014.asp
  
  
• Andy Payne's photos of the 2014 Bainbridge Half Marathon
  https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B3YqZeYR7X9RazVWempQNGpObHM
  
  
• 2013 story, "Linton and Grayson take half marathon honors in Bainbridge"
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/03/bainbridge-half-2013.html
  
  
• 2012 story, "Lake and Thompson take firsts at the first Bainbridge Half"
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/04/bainbridge-half-2012.html
  
  
• Bainbridge Half Marathon website
  http://www.bainbridgehalfmarathon.com/
  
  
• USATF course certification map, Bainbridge (Georgia) Half-Marathon (GA12032WC) http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/maps/showMap.asp?courseID=GA12032WC
  
  
• Find your next half marathon in the area by consulting the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#1109