Cross-country runner Brandon Fineout, a Pine Grove Middle School eighth-grader, won the fourth annual Viking Glow Run 5K on Friday evening, 17 March 2017. Fineout covered the course through the Kinderlou Forest community of Valdosta, Georgia in 23:19. A few steps behind Fineout, Mitch Lesho, an eight-year-old from Warner Robins, Georgia, outkicked Mark Henderson for the runner-up spot, 23:25 to 23:26. Henderson, a Valdosta athlete, was the first master runner in the race.Meara Lesho of Tuscon, Arizona was the first woman in the 5K, placing eleventh overall in 25:51. Valdosta's Samantha DeMersseman was the second woman and thirteenth overall in 26:01. Ten-year-old Fiora Shen of Valdosta was third in the women's standings and fifteenth overall in 27:09. Another Valdosta resident, Ginger Taylor, was the first woman master and tenth female finisher, placing 26th overall in 29:25.
138 athletes finished the 5K, with another 274 completing a one-mile run. The event was held by the Westside Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization as a fundraiser. A Course/Line, LLC, of Valdosta timed the races and provided finish line services.
Top Ten Men, 2017 Viking Glow Run
- 23:18.9, Brandon Fineout (M, 14) Valdosta, GA
- 23:24.9, Mitch Lesho (M, 8) Warner Robins, GA
- 23:25.2, Mark Henderson (M, 42) Valdosta, GA
- 24:03.0, Adrian Sefa (M, 10) Valdosta, GA
- 24:05.2, Parks McCranie (M, 12) Nashville, GA
- 24:12.1, Jesse Reed (M, 38) Hahira, GA
- 24:20.2, Gavin Kovsky (M, 16) Hahira, GA
- 24:20.5, Avorin Kovsky (M, 17) Hahira, GA
- 24:47.2, Jeremy Martin (M, 39) Valdosta, GA
- 25:56.8, Jay Prince (M, 45) Valdosta, GA
Top Ten Women, 2017 Viking Glow Run
- 25:50.5, Meara Lesho (F, 35) Tucson, AZ
- 26:00.8, Samantha DeMersseman (F, 38) Valdosta, GA
- 27:08.7, Fiora Shen (F, 10) Valdosta, GA
- 27:35.3, Catherine Moody (F, 12) Valdosta, GA
- 27:36.5, Maggie Kovsky (F, 15) Hahira, GA
- 27:45.2, Alyssa Pate (F, 36) Valdosta, GA
- 28:45.5, Ella Safe (F, 12) Valdosta, GA
- 28:49.7, Jensen Best (F, 11) Valdosta, GA
- 29:22.4, Analee Reames (F, 13) Valdosta, GA
- 29:24.3, Ginger Taylor (F, 42) Valdosta, GA
| Viking Glow Run 5K winners, 2014 - 2017 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Men | Women | Finishers |
| 7 March 2014 | 21:31, Jackson Green | 25:21, Ashlee Thompson | 345 |
| 6 March 2015 | 19:38, Jackson Green | 26:19, Leah Walker | 163 |
| 18 March 2016 | 21:54, Noah Hart | 26:20, Samantha DeMersseman | 189 |
| 17 March 2017 | 23:19, Brandon Fineout | 25:51, Meara Lesho | 138 |
Links
- Complete results of the 2017 Viking Glow Run 5K, courtesy of A Course/Line, LLC
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mlQOXlRvDV9Z9Ux56B-L_5C7iD5FcI-Q8eB9MjWK_H4/pubhtml
- Upcoming races in Valdosta and other cities in the Tallahassee region
https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
