Showing posts with label Megan Noonan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Megan Noonan. Show all posts

Monday, August 26, 2024

Leonardo Canete, Megan Noonan were winners in the Trail Series finale at Maclay Gardens

In baseball, "Wait till next year!" was the unofficial slogan of the Brooklyn Dodgers. It still is for the Chicago Cubs. Really, for any fan at the end of the season, it's a mantra of hope.


In the world of trail running, it could also have been on the lips of afficianados of Gulf Winds Track Club's Summer Trail Series after Saturday morning, 24 August 2024. That was the morning of the fourth and final race of the year on Tallahassee, Florida's Summer Trail circuit, the Maclay Gardens 9K. Leonardo Canete took first in the race on the Lake Overstreet trails, winning by 400 meters in 37:31. Master runner Megan Noonan was the women's champ, placing seventh overall in 42:12.

Leonardo Canete
Leonardo Canete

Leonardo Canete had company on the starting line, but none after that. Taking the lead almost immediately, he was soon out of sight of the rest of the field. He finished his lonely tour of the Overstreet trails in 37:31, almost two minutes before the next runner crossed the line. It was Canete's third win of the 2024 Series, and his eleventh Series win since 2021, his first year on the circuit. Only Zach DeVeau, with six victories, had even half as many first-place showings in the Summer Trail Series.

Kyle Kraeft
Kyle Kraeft

Kyle Kraeft placed runner-up to Canete in 39:12. Master runner Michael Tercyak took third, running 39:38.


2024 was the eleventh year of the trail series, and the sixth time that a Series race had been on the Overstreet trails. Series director Bobby York measured the course each time, coming up with six different figures. It's safe to say that the race is in the neighborhood of nine kilometers, as long as you understand that it's a largish neighborhood.

Megan Noonan
Megan Noonan

Megan Noonan finished those nine kilometers before any other woman in the field had finished the first eight. Her 42:12 earned Noonan a third win in three appearances during the 2024 Series


Michelle Rind took the second spot in the women's standings, placing sixteenth overall in 47:37. Averi Lewis was the third woman and nineteenth overall in 48:43. Lewis had been the top woman in the third Summer Trail Series race of 2024, the Swamp Forest Trail 7K.

Michelle Rind
Michelle Rind

With Gulf Winds Track Club's 2024 Summer Trail Series over, what would Tallahassee's trail runners do while waiting for next year? Race director Bobby York had an answer.


"I hope to see everyone at the Swamp Forest Trail Marathon on January 4," said York.


99 athletes finished the 2024 Maclay Gardens 9K Trail Race. Gulf Winds Track Club chip-timed the event.


Top Ten Men, Gulf Winds Track Club's 2024 Maclay Gardens 9K Trail Race
  1. 37:31, Leonardo Canete (M, 45)
  2. 39:12, Kyle Kraeft (M, 35)
  3. 39:38, Michael Tercyak (M, 41)
  4. 41:22, Daniel Korecky (M, 39)
  5. 41:50, Gregory Noonan (M, 41)
  6. 42:00, Mickey Moore (M, 54)
  7. 43:46, Melvin Jones (M, 44)
  8. 44:29, Camilo Ordonez (M, 45)
  9. 45:07, Kenneth Gloeckner (M, 40)
  10. 45:19, Jeremy Floyd (M, 47)

Top Ten Women, Gulf Winds Track Club's 2024 Maclay Gardens 9K Trail Race
  1. 42:12, Megan Noonan (F, 40)
  2. 47:37, Michelle Rind (F, 29)
  3. 48:43, Averi Lewis (F, 27)
  4. 50:44, Signe Ulsamer (F, 46)
  5. 51:10, Olivia Willoughby (F, 27)
  6. 53:42, Kendall Meikenhous (F, 36)
  7. 54:07, Emma Huggins (F, 33)
  8. 54:12, Nancy Proctor (F, 63)
  9. 57:54, Kelsey Mezzina (F, 29)
  10. 59:31, Nicole Balmer (F, 48)

Gulf Winds Track Club's Summer Trail Series race winners, 2013 - 2024
YearDateRaceTop MaleTop FemaleFinishers
2013June 22Cadillac Trail 5½M37:38, Kevin Sullivan45:07, Stephanie Liles-Weyant121
July 13Swamp Forest Trail 4½M30:19, Kevin Sullivan34:12, Micah Adriani124
July 27Magnolia Trail 3½M21:44, Kevin Sullivan24:45, Stephanie Liles-Weyant114
August 3Red Bug Trail 4½M33:31, Bryce Van Dam43:46, Stephanie Liles-Weyant92
2014June 21Red Bug Trail 4½M38:30, Charn McAllister42:02, Brook Pace114
July 12Swamp Forest Trail 4½M29:06, Charn McAllister33:13, Brook Pace109
July 26Magnolia Trail 3½M26:03, Charn McAllister30:16, Emily Molen108
August 2Cadillac Trail 5½M41:38, Brian Molen48:25, Emily Molen88
2015May 30Cadillac Trail 5½M39:15, Zach Deveau42:51, Alyson Churchill158
June 13Oak Hammock Trail 5M32:59, Zach Deveau35:10, Alyson Churchill129
July 18Coon Bottom Trail 4M28:42, Zach Deveau29:14, Alyson Churchill112
August 1Red Bug Trail 4½M35:14, Greg Bargo35:24, Alyson Churchill112
2016May 21Magnolia Trail 3½M25:18, Dan Baur27:05, Katie Gorman133
June 4Oak Hammock Trail 5½M42:53, Eric Godin45:24, Katie Gorman123
July 9Red Bug Trail 4½M33:14, Dan Baur35:04, Katie Gorman130
July 30Cadillac Trail 5½M43:06, Paul Guyas42:29, Alyson Churchill95
2017June 10Munson Hills 6M36:45, Chris O'Kelley46:34, Emily Molen87
July 1Red Bug Trail 4½M37:34, Chris O'Kelley48:24, Emily Molen90
July 15Oak Hammock/Swamp Forest 5M33:35, Charles Biberg39:36, Kat Sack89
August 5Tom Brown Park 4½M32:40, Chris O'Kelley36:36, Jennifer Bayliss71
2018June 23Munson Hills 6M38:02, Vince Molosky45:10, Emily Molen124
July 7Phipps Park 4M30:49, Jim Schafer33:39, Kat Sack127
July 21Maclay Gardens 5M38:26, Brad Busboom44:39, Kat Sack110
August 4Tom Brown Park 4½M28:39, Brad Busboom32:29, Kat Sack109
2019June 22Red Bug Trail 4½M35:27, Zach DeVeau38:53, Rachel Durbin125
July 6Munson Hills 6M38:24, Zach DeVeau43:56, Rachel Durbin86
July 27Tom Brown Park 5M37:13, Bryan Gensits44:47, Rachel Durbin108
August 24Maclay Gardens 4½M39:00, Zach DeVeau43:00, Rachel Durbin91
2021June 12Cadillac Trail 5½M40:26, Daniel Wurgler46:21, Clifton Lewis107
July 10Swamp Forest Trail 5M29:07, Leonardo Canete34:24, Amelia Bryant104
July 24Maclay Gardens 5M37:48, Jonathan Stern44:06, Clifton Lewis111
August 28Red Bug Trail 4½M34:23, Leonardo Canete38:10, Clifton Lewis72
2022May 28Swamp Forest Trail 4½M28:08, Jonathan Stern38:29, Andi Vilardo141
June 19Red Bug Trail 4½M32:19, Jonathan Stern44:01, Andi Vilardo111
July 16Maclay Gardens 5½M38:28, Leonardo Canete52:14, Andi Vilardo120
August 20Cadillac Trail 5½M37:18, Leonardo Canete48:39, Alyssa Terry98
2023May 20Red Bug Trail 4½M33:26, Leonardo Canete40:05, Averi Lewis124
June 19Maclay Gardens 5½M38:39, Leonardo Canete47:18, Averi Lewis126
July 16Swamp Forest Trail 4½M29:39, Leonardo Canete36:27, Averi Lewis106
August 19Cadillac Trail 5½M38:27, Leonardo Canete48:20, Acadia Hassell108
2024May 25Cadillac Trail 5½M37:39, Leonardo Canete44:18, Megan Noonan117
June 29Red Bug Trail 4½M32:44, Jonathan Stern38:32, Megan Noonan128
July 20Swamp Forest Trail 4½M29:15, Leonardo Canete37:17, Averi Lewis89
August 24Maclay Gardens 5½M37:31, Leonardo Canete42:12, Megan Noonan 99
Multiple wins by men: Leonardo Canete (11), Zach DeVeau (6), Jonathan Stern (4), Kevin Sullivan (3),
      Charn McAllister (3), Chris O'Kelley (3), Dan Baur (2), Brad Busboom (2)
Multiple wins by women: Alyson Churchill (5), Emily Molen (5), Kat Sack (4), Rachel Durbin (4), Averi Lewis (4),
      Stephanie Liles-Weyant (3), Katie Gorman (3), Clifton Lewis (3), Andi Vilardo (3), Megan Noonan (3),
      Brook Pace (2)


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Saturday, June 8, 2024

Leonardo Canete and Megan Noonan go for seconds at Potluck

On Saturday evening, 8 June 2024, in Tallahassee, Florida you could find athletes in Phipps Park running Gulf Winds Track Club's 25th annual Potluck Four Mile. The Potluck is a cross-country race, a trail run. When it comes to trail runs, you bet on the trail runners. Specifically, you should have bet on master runner Leonardo Canete, who two weeks earlier had won Gulf Winds' Summer Trail Race #1 on the Cadillac Trail. Canete also dominated the Potluck, winning by almost half a mile in 23:15. Megan Noonan, the first woman in the Cadillac Trail Race, was also the first woma2021 and Noonan had topped the women's division in 2023.n at Potluck, coming in sixth overall in 27:46.

Leonardo Canete
Leonardo Canete

Not everyone comes to the Potluck to run fast. There's also a prediction competition, and the post-race dinner is also an attraction. But those had to be secondary to Canete and Noonan, each of whom logged their second Potluck win--Canete had also taken first in 2021 and Noonan had topped the women's division in 2023.


In the 2024 race, Canete lost no time going to the front. He had a ten-second lead by the end of the first mile, followed by master runner Tony Guillen. Over the remaining three or so miles, Canete added more than two minutes to that lead, going on to win in 23:25. Guillen was overtaken by master runner Gregory Newnan, who took second in 25:53, and Zach DeVeau, who was third in 26:18. Guillen, the winner of the 2007 Potluck, finished fourth in 26:37.

Megan Noonan
Megan Noonan

Like Canete, Megan Noonan had taken charge of her race in the early going, then spent the rest of the race adding minutes to her lead. When Noonan crossed the finish line in 2746, she had also added a second straight Potluck women's title to her resume. Behind Noonan, Kara Guinan took second in the women's division and fifteenth overall in 30:51. A former Keene State Owl cross-country runner, Guinan had taken the fourth women's spot behind Noonan in the 2023 Potluck. Hillary Powell was the third woman and Hillary Powell edged Nancy Proctor for third in the women's standings, 33:36 to 33:39. Powell and Proctor were 21st and 22nd overall.


94 athletes finished the 2024 Potuck Four Mile. The course was carefully measured by...well, no one. The Potluck course changes every year and is only notionally four mile. the fun, however, remains constant.


Top Ten Men, Gulf Winds Track Club's 2024 Potluck Four Mile
  1. 23:15, Leonardo Canete (M, 45)
  2. 25:53, Gregory Noonan (M, 41)
  3. 26:18, Zach Deveau (M, 36)
  4. 26:37, Tony Guillen (M, 55)
  5. 26:57, Jay Wallace (M, 59)
  6. 27:59, Alex Marshall (M, 18)
  7. 28:05, Bill McNulty (M, 65)
  8. 28:12, Emerson Gandy (M, 13)
  9. 28:25, Ryan Truchelut (M, 38)
  10. 28:58, William Mrasek (M, 39)

Top Ten Women, Gulf Winds Track Club's 2024 Potluck Four Mile
  1. 27:46, Megan Noonan (F, 40)
  2. 30:51, Kara Guinan (F, 24)
  3. 33:36, Hillary Powell (F, 39)
  4. 33:39, Nancy Proctor (F, 63)
  5. 33:49, Angela Dempsey (F, 55)
  6. 34:11, Meredith Strange (F, 44)
  7. 34:15, Megan Orcutt (F, 39)
  8. 34:16, Michelle Jerantowski (F, 24)
  9. 34:26, Georgina Hernandez (F, 34)
  10. 35:08, Sarah Lester (F, 48)

Potluck champions, 1998 - 2024
DateMenWomenFinishers
20 June 1998
5 June 199929:29, Zack Heissner32:26, Sarah Docter-Williams58
3 June 200024:42 Paul Hoover25:59, Kim Wynn
2 June 200124:59, Reid Vannoy25:33, Sarah Docter-Williams53
8 June 200222:47, Ryan Deak26:04, Sarah Docter-Williams132
7 June 200325:17, Tim Unger25:36, Sarah Docter-Williams91
5 June 200423:05, Caleb Carmichael25:59, Kara Newell136
4 June 200523:22, Caleb Carmichael27:21, Kara Newell110
3 June 200623:06, Jared Black25:58, Sheryl Rosen155
2 June 200724:26, Tony Guillen27:36, Jane Johnson115
7 June 200823:00, John Robida25:09, Sarah Docter-Williams144
13 June 200922:40, Jay Wallace27:05, Micah Adriani177
5 June 201022:14, Matt Mizereck27:39, Micah Adriani173
4 June 201122:57, Vince Molosky26:33, Summer Calder196
2 June 201222:33, Vince Molosky27:18, Katie Showman232
1 June 201321:17, Kevin Sullivan26:24, Micah Adriani237
31 May 201423:34, Kevin Sullivan32:17, Katie Sherron165
6 June 201525:45, Vince Molosky30:35, Carrie Seiberlich179
11 June 201622:52, Stanley Linton30:02, Ann Centner160
3 June 201732:22, Scott Lloyd35:53, Jillian Heddaeus107
9 June 201823:10, Stan Linton28:47, Sheryl Rosen155
8 June 201925:37, Charlie Johnson27:35, Ann Centner128
5 June 202126:52, Leonardo Canete29:19, Katie Sherron73
11 June 202226:15, Chris O'Kelley36:31, Nancy Stedman48
3 June 202325:43, Cadden Maxwell31:13, Megan Noonan75
8 June 202423:15, Leonardo Canete27:46, Megan Noonan94
Multiple wins by men: Vince Molosky (3), Caleb Carmichael (2), Kevin Sullivan (2),
      Stan Linton (2), Leonardo Canete (2)

Multiple wins by women: Sarah Docter-Williams (5), Micah Adriani (3),
      Katie Sherron (3), Kara Newell (2), Sheryl Rosen (2), Ann Centner (2),
      Megan Noonan (2)

The race was five miles in 1998 and 1999, and four miles thereafter.


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Monday, May 27, 2024

Leonardo Canete and Megan Noonan take the checkered flag at the Cadillac Trail Race

Gulf Winds Track Club's Cadillac Trail Race was contested in Tom Brown Park on Saturday morning, 25 May 2024. The spring weather hadn't been kind to the course. In April, nearly a foot of rain drenched Tallahassee, Florida, leaving some of the Cadillac Trail underwater. In May, tornadoes ripped through the capital city, leaving the trails blocked by fallen trees and branches. But the floodwaters receded, and the saws of the Tallahassee Parks and Recreation Department cleared the way, so that athletes were able to race the Cadillac Trail 9K on the scheduled day. In fact, they ended up starting a few minutes before the scheduled time of 8:00 AM. Tallahassee master runner Leonardo Canete took first by almost 400 meters, running 37:39. Megan Noonan, another Tallahassee master runner, was the first woman in the race, coming in eleventh overall in 44:18.

Leonardo Canete
Leonardo Canete

Three years earlier, at the 2021 Cadillac Trail Race, Leonardo Canete had gone out in the lead, only to be caught late in the race by Daniel Wurgler. Wurgler had gone on to win that day, 40:26 to 40:34. Since then, Canete had won eight of the twelve Gulf Winds Track Club Summer Trail Series races from 2021 to 2023. Both Canete and Wurgler were back for the 2024 Cadillac Trail Race, the first competition of that year's Summer Trail Series.


Daniel Wurgler joined Leonardo Canete on the starting line of the 2024 Cadillac Trail Race. Three years earlier, Canete and Wurgler had debuted together in Gulf Winds Track Club's Summer Trail Series, racing the 2021 Cadillac Trail 9K. Canete had gone out in the lead that day, only to be caught late in the race by Wurgler. Wurgler went on to win, 40:26 to 40:34. Since then, Canete had won eight of the twelve Gulf Winds Track Club Summer Trail Series races from 2021 to 2023. The opener of the 2024 Summer Trail Series, the Cadillac Trail Race, would feature a rematch between Canete and Wurgler.

Daniel Wurgler
Daniel Wurgler
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Canete took the early lead again. This time, though, Wurgler didn't keep it close; Canete kept widening the gap. Canete crossed the line first in 37:39, his third Cadillac Trail win in three years and his ninth trail series win. Wurgler took second in 39:17. Master runner Mike Tercyak nabbed third with a 40:49.


Canete and Wurgler were veterans of the Summer Trail Series, but Megan Noonan had never run a Series race before the 2024 Cadillac Trail 9K. You couldn't have asked for a better debut. Noonan broke contact with her last challenger in the women's field by the halfway point in the race, then spent the second half of the run amassing a lead of over 700 meters. The first woman in the race, Noonan ran 44:18. Averi Lewis, the winner of three Summer Trail Series races in 2023, placed second in the women's standings, finishing seventeenth overall in 48:07. Michelle Rind ran away from Kendall Meikenhous during the second half of the race, finishing as the third woman and 24th overall in 52:15. Meikenhous was the fourth woman and 25th overall in 52:24.

Megan Noonan
Megan Noonan

117 athletes finished the 2024 Cadillac Trail 9K, the first of four races in Gulf Winds Track Club's 2024 Summer Trail Race series. Gulf Winds Track Club chip-timed the event. The Series continues with the Red Bug Trail Race in Phipps Park on 29 June 2024 and the Swamp Forest Trail 7K in Phiips Park on 20 July 2024, then concludes with the Maclay Gardens 9K on 24 August 2024.


Top Ten Men, Gulf Winds Track Club's 2024 Cadillac Trail 9K Trail Race
  1. 37:39, Leonardo Canete (M, 45)
  2. 39:17, Daniel Wurgler (M, 24)
  3. 40:49, Michael Tercyak (M, 41)
  4. 41:43, Gregory Noonan (M, 41)
  5. 42:17, Mickey Moore (M, 54)
  6. 42:43, Darien Angelier (M, 49)
  7. 43:14, Ryan Slyter (M, 34)
  8. 43:27, Gerardo Prats (M, 31)
  9. 43:38, Hawthorne Hay (M, 22)
  10. 44:07, Melvin Jones (M, 44)

Top Ten Women, Gulf Winds Track Club's 2024 Cadillac Trail 9K Trail Race
  1. 44:18, Megan Noonan (F, 40)
  2. 48:07, Averi Lewis (F, 27)
  3. 51:48, Michelle Rind (F, 29)
  4. 52:15, Kendall Meikenhous (F, 36)
  5. 52:24, Signe Ulsamer (F, 46)
  6. 54:30, Nancy Proctor (F, 63)
  7. 55:15, Emma Huggins (F, 33)
  8. 55:16, Rachel Oliver (F, 36)
  9. 57:16, Hillary Powell (F, 39)
  10. 58:25, Filiz Aktan-Clark (F, 40)

Gulf Winds Track Club's Summer Trail Series race winners, 2013 - 2024
YearDateRaceTop MaleTop FemaleFinishers
2013June 22Cadillac Trail 5½M37:38, Kevin Sullivan45:07, Stephanie Liles-Weyant121
July 13Swamp Forest Trail 4½M30:19, Kevin Sullivan34:12, Micah Adriani124
July 27Magnolia Trail 3½M21:44, Kevin Sullivan24:45, Stephanie Liles-Weyant114
August 3Red Bug Trail 4½M33:31, Bryce Van Dam43:46, Stephanie Liles-Weyant92
2014June 21Red Bug Trail 4½M38:30, Charn McAllister42:02, Brook Pace114
July 12Swamp Forest Trail 4½M29:06, Charn McAllister33:13, Brook Pace109
July 26Magnolia Trail 3½M26:03, Charn McAllister30:16, Emily Molen108
August 2Cadillac Trail 5½M41:38, Brian Molen48:25, Emily Molen88
2015May 30Cadillac Trail 5½M39:15, Zach Deveau42:51, Alyson Churchill158
June 13Oak Hammock Trail 5M32:59, Zach Deveau35:10, Alyson Churchill129
July 18Coon Bottom Trail 4M28:42, Zach Deveau29:14, Alyson Churchill112
August 1Red Bug Trail 4½M35:14, Greg Bargo35:24, Alyson Churchill112
2016May 21Magnolia Trail 3½M25:18, Dan Baur27:05, Katie Gorman133
June 4Oak Hammock Trail 5½M42:53, Eric Godin45:24, Katie Gorman123
July 9Red Bug Trail 4½M33:14, Dan Baur35:04, Katie Gorman130
July 30Cadillac Trail 5½M43:06, Paul Guyas42:29, Alyson Churchill95
2017June 10Munson Hills 6M36:45, Chris O'Kelley46:34, Emily Molen87
July 1Red Bug Trail 4½M37:34, Chris O'Kelley48:24, Emily Molen90
July 15Oak Hammock/Swamp Forest 5M33:35, Charles Biberg39:36, Kat Sack89
August 5Tom Brown Park 4½M32:40, Chris O'Kelley36:36, Jennifer Bayliss71
2018June 23Munson Hills 6M38:02, Vince Molosky45:10, Emily Molen124
July 7Phipps Park 4M30:49, Jim Schafer33:39, Kat Sack127
July 21Maclay Gardens 5M38:26, Brad Busboom44:39, Kat Sack110
August 4Tom Brown Park 4½M28:39, Brad Busboom32:29, Kat Sack109
2019June 22Red Bug Trail 4½M35:27, Zach DeVeau38:53, Rachel Durbin125
July 6Munson Hills 6M38:24, Zach DeVeau43:56, Rachel Durbin86
July 27Tom Brown Park 5M37:13, Bryan Gensits44:47, Rachel Durbin108
August 24Maclay Gardens 4½M39:00, Zach DeVeau43:00, Rachel Durbin91
2021June 12Cadillac Trail 5½M40:26, Daniel Wurgler46:21, Clifton Lewis107
July 10Swamp Forest Trail 5M29:07, Leonardo Canete34:24, Amelia Bryant104
July 24Maclay Gardens 5M37:48, Jonathan Stern44:06, Clifton Lewis111
August 28Red Bug Trail 4½M34:23, Leonardo Canete38:10, Clifton Lewis72
2022May 28Swamp Forest Trail 4½M28:08, Jonathan Stern38:29, Andi Vilardo141
June 19Red Bug Trail 4½M32:19, Jonathan Stern44:01, Andi Vilardo111
July 16Maclay Gardens 5½M38:28, Leonardo Canete52:14, Andi Vilardo120
August 20Cadillac Trail 5½M37:18, Leonardo Canete48:39, Alyssa Terry98
2023May 20Red Bug Trail 4½M33:26, Leonardo Canete40:05, Averi Lewis124
June 19Maclay Gardens 5½M38:39, Leonardo Canete47:18, Averi Lewis126
July 16Swamp Forest Trail 4½M29:39, Leonardo Canete36:27, Averi Lewis106
August 19Cadillac Trail 5½M38:27, Leonardo Canete48:20, Acadia Hassell108
2024May 25Cadillac Trail 5½M37:39, Leonardo Canete44:18, Megan Noonan117
June 29Red Bug Trail 4½M
July 20Swamp Forest Trail 4½M
August 24Maclay Gardens 5½M
Multiple wins by men: Leonardo Canete (9), Zach DeVeau (6), Kevin Sullivan (3), Charn McAllister (3), Chris O'Kelley (3),
       Jonathan Stern (3), Dan Baur (2), Brad Busboom (2)
Multiple wins by women: Alyson Churchill (5), Emily Molen (5), Kat Sack (4), Rachel Durbin (4),
      Stephanie Liles-Weyant (3), Katie Gorman (3), Clifton Lewis (3), Andi Vilardo (3), Averi Lewis (3),
      Brook Pace (2)


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Monday, January 15, 2024

Ann Centner and Patrick Koon break records on Old Centerville Road

Cool air is good for long-distance running. We aren't talking liquid nitrogen temperatures or frostbite-risk conditions. Just a brisk day so that the athlete's body, a natural heat engine, can work most efficiently. But if you start a long run in the morning when the temperature is optimal, it will probably get warmer while you run. By the time you finish, it may be too hot. This is especially true in Tallahassee, Florida, which is notorious for huge temperature swings during spring and fall days.

Ann Centner
Ann Centner

But on Saturday, 13 January 2024, the morning of the 47th annual Gulf Winds Track Club 30K (and it's 15K sister race), temperatures were not only in the 40s (Fahrenheit) at the start, but were still in 40s four hours later when the last runner crossed the line. The persistent coolth may not have helped, but it certainly didn't hurt Ann Centner, who turned a winning time of 1:59:49 for thirty kilometers--the only time a woman has ever covered the Old Centerville Road course in under two hours. Master runner Michael Tercyak was the first man in the race, placing third overall in 2:03:50. In the 15K, Leon High senior Patrick Koon posted a new course record of 47:55, winning the race for the second time in three years. Megan Noonan took the women's title in the shorter race, coming in thirteenth overall in 64:19.


Both races started at 8:00 AM from the Retreat at Bradley's Pond, north of Tallahassee in Felkel.Crawfordville, Florida's Michael Tercyak set the early pace for the 30K, leading the field to the end of the pavement and on to the clay portion of Old Centerville Road. Running together, Ann Centner and master runner Katie Sherron were never far behind. The duo caught up with Tercyak before the turn onto Sunny Hill Road, and the three athletes ran as a group to the halfway point, the turnaround on the out-and-back course.

Ann Centner, Katie Sherron
Ann Centner and Katie Sherron

"With the colder weather and fresh legs I was able to keep it easy on the way out running 6:30-40 pace," said Centner. "Then at the turnaround I knew I had a lot left so dropped it down to 6:10."


She also dropped the competition, first Tercyak and then Sherron. With ten kilometers to go, Sherron turned onto Old Centerville Road just fifteen seconds after Centner, but Centner was moving away. After training for three marathons in 2023, it wasn't surprising that Centner felt strong all the way to the end of the 30K.


"My last couple miles were my fastest," said Centner.


Fast enough to put her across the finish line first in 1:59:49. Sherron was the first master runner in the the race, finishing runner-up in 2:02:13. Master runner Jenny Early was the third woman in the 30K, placing thirteenth overall in 2:29:28.

Michael Tercyak
Michael Tercyak

Tercyak was the first man across the finish line, coming in third overall in 2:03.50. Bryan Gensits was runner-up to Tercyak in the men's standings, taking fourth overall in 2:07.22. A week earlier, Gensits had finished behind Tercyak in the Swamp Forest Trail 20-Miler. Tallahassee master runner Hong-Guo Yu was the third male finisher and fifth overall in 2:10:48.


Top Eight Women, 2024 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K
  1. 1:59:49, Ann Centner (F, 32) Tallahassee, FL
  2. 2:02:13, Katie Sherron (F, 42) Tallahassee, FL
  3. 2:29:28, Jenny Early (F, 40) Tallahassee, FL
  4. 2:34:52, Filiz Aktan-Clark (F, 39) Tallahassee, FL
  5. 2:44:52, Nikky Manausa (F, 42) Tallahassee, FL
  6. 3:01:35, Signe Ulsamer (F, 46) Tallahassee, FL
  7. 3:14:46, Susan Burkley (F, 46) Monticello, FL
  8. 4:19:14, Shanetta Keel (F, 36) Tallahassee, FL

Top Ten Men, 2024 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K
  1. 2:03:50, Michael Tercyak (M, 40) Crawfordville, FL
  2. 2:07:22, Bryan Gensits (M, 29) Albuquerque, NM
  3. 2:10:48, Hong-Guo Yu (M, 55) Tallahassee, FL
  4. 2:12:13, Daniel Korecky (M, 39) Tallahassee, FL
  5. 2:14:32, Edward Nabong (M, 33) Tallahassee, FL
  6. 2:16:33, Don Autore (M, 48) Tallahassee, FL
  7. 2:19:09, Thomas Howell (M, 27) Hosford, FL
  8. 2:21:26, Will Hanley (M, 49) Tallahassee, FL
  9. 2:21:58, Andrew Bascom (M, 35) Tallahassee, FL
  10. 2:24:33, Jake Gelnovatch (M, 26) Tallahassee, FL

When the Gulf Winds Track Club 30K moved to Old Centerville Road in 2006, the 15K was added to the program. The following year, Leon High frosh Matt Mizereck won the 15K. Mizereck went on to win three high school cross-country state titles, and running the 15K became a January tradition for Leon cross-country runners. Patrick Koon continued that tradition, placing second in the race in 2021 and winning with a 48:42 in 2022, breaking a course record set by Leon's Sukhi Khosla in 2015. Koon missed the race in 2023 and Chris Haynes broke his record, running 47:59.

Patrick Koon
Patrick Koon

Was Koon looking to regain the record in 2023? He certainly ran like it. Two steps off the starting line, Koon was already leading. He had left the field well behind at two kilometers, but he didn't look back to check on the competition--he looked down to check his watch. Koon hit the turnaround in close to 24 minutes, almost a kilometer ahead of the field. But he didn't coast on the return trip to Bradley's Pond. If anything, he ran a bit faster, lengthening his lead while completing the course in 47:55, the new course record.


Will Winsor, a senior on the Leon High cross-country team, took second in 53:57. Another Leon senior, Quinn Carrasquilla, was third in 54:51. Leonardo Canete was the first master runner in the 15K, placing fourth overall in 55:29.

Megan Noonan
Megan Noonan

Megan Noonan reached the turnaround more than two minutes before anyone else in the women's field of the 15K, and she doubled that lead on the return trip, taking the women's title in 64:19. Also during the second half of the 15K, master runner and triathlete Stephanie Liles-Weyant overtook Alexis Mayfield and Madi Sims, grabbing the second women's spot and placing 23rd overall in 69:03. Mayfield, an eighth-grader on the Swift Creek Middle School cross-country team, edged Sims for third in the women's standings, 69:41 to 69:43. Mayfield and Sims were 26th and 27th overall. Sims is a junior on the Leon High cross-country team.


25 athletes finished the 2024 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K, and another 141 completed the 15K event. Gulf Winds Track Club chip-timed the races.


Top Ten Men, 2024 Gulf Winds Track Club 15K
  1. 47:55, Patrick Koon (M, 19) Tallahassee, FL
  2. 53:57, Will Winsor (M, 17) Tallahassee, FL
  3. 54:51, Quinn Carrasquilla (M, 18) Tallahassee, FL
  4. 55:29, Leonardo Canete (M, 45) Tallahassee, FL
  5. 57:36, Walt Haber (M, 18) Tallahassee, FL
  6. 59:50, Ethan Cole (M, 21) Tallahassee, FL
  7. 60:10, Trent Parsons (M, 14) Tallahassee, FL
  8. 60:11, Mark Moore (M, 15) Tallahassee, FL
  9. 61:45, Gregory Noonan (M, 41) Tallahassee, FL
  10. 62:52, Charlie Wilson (M, 16) Monticello, FL

Top Ten Women, 2024 Gulf Winds Track Club 15K
  1. 64:19, Megan Noonan (F, 39) Tallahassee, FL
  2. 69:03, Stephanie Liles-Weyant (F, 51) Tallahassee, FL
  3. 69:41, Alexis Mayfield (F, 12) Tallahassee, FL
  4. 69:43, Madi Sims (F, 16) Tallahassee, FL
  5. 70:32, Shayna Arrigo (F, 23) Tallahassee, FL
  6. 73:31, Laura Reina (F, 59) Tallahassee, FL
  7. 73:32, Anna Grace Lewis (F, 25) Tallahassee, FL
  8. 74:57, Ruffian Tyner (F, 48) Tallahassee, FL
  9. 75:58, Sarah Lester (F, 48) Tallahassee, FL
  10. 76:11, Kory Skrob (F, 53) Tallahassee, FL

Gulf Winds Track Club 30K champions, 1978 - 2024
DatesRaceMenWomenFinishers
13 January 202430K2:03:50, Michael Tercyak 1:59:49, Ann Centner25
15K47:55, Patrick Koon64:19, Megan Noonan141
14 January 202330K2:00:29, Leonardo Canete2:32:52, Melanie Leitman38
15K47:59, Christopher Haynes65:02, Elyse Gallegos114
15 January 202230K1:53:03, Chris O'Kelley2:05:54, Katie Sherron35
15K48:42, Patrick Koon63:14, Lillee Tang117
16 January 202130K2:03:29, Michael Nesius2:13:40, Katie Sherron40
15K51:15, Jake Rogers61:53, Laura Dibella86
18 January 202030K1:56:45, Chris O'Kelley2:28:05, Jamila Allen66
15K51:21, Caleb Carmichael63:08, Laura Dibella140
19 January 201930K1:46:53, Austin Whitelaw2:33:55, Lourena Maxwell59
15K56:27, Jackson Yarbrough60:09, Ann Centner191
20 January 201830K1:43:01, Christopher Haynes2:10:13, Katie Sherron81
15K57:39, Tate Wallenfelsz66:08, Megan Churchill185
14 January 201730K1:46:13, Stan Linton2:15:31, Katie Sherron56
15K54:46, Matthew Cashin65:27, Sheryl Rosen219
16 January 201630K1:54:12, Charlie Johnson2:16:21, Katie Sherron73
15K52:17, Matt Mizereck60:54, Adriana Piekarewicz192
17 January 201530K1:53:19, Nate Kaiser2:22:32, Katie Sherron107
15K50:11, Sukhi Khosla58:37, Sheryl Rosen165
11 January 201430K1:57:29, Vince Molosky2:34:23, Laura McDermott55
15K51:06, Sukhi Khosla61:27, Seeley Gutierrez169
12 January 201330K1:48:22, Stanley Linton2:16:41, Katie Showman150
15K52:57, Sukhi Khosla64:19, Kristin Sweeney200
14 January 201230K1:51:30, Charlie Johnson2:17:38, Katie Showman150
15K53:29, Stanley Linton60:42, Pasca Cheruiyot176
15 January 201130K1:51:48, Vince Molosky2:17:15, Heather Griffis103
15K53:03, Stephen Cox59:55, Lisa Johnson169
16 January 201030K1:56:14, Vince Molosky2:14:22, Sheryl Rosen90
15K51:50, Matt Mizereck63:45, Lisa Johnson101
17 January 200930K1:54:06, Vince Molosky2:11:41, Sheryl Rosen87
15K51:05, Will Stanford61:49, Lisa Johnson96
12 January 200830K2:00:29, Vince Molosky2:17:24, Sheryl Rosen77
15K54:23, Matt Mizereck63:13, Lisa Johnson126
13 January 200730K2:01:23, Justin Dickieson2:04:21, Sheryl Rosen70
15K58:18, Matthew Mizereck73:40, Anna Busby50
21 January 200630K2:03:36, Michael Douma2:09:27, Stephanie Liles65
15K58:51, Chris Holland60:30, Sarah Docter-Williams59
22 January 200530K1:56:18, Art Remillard2:13:50, Jane Johnson38
16 January 200430K1:56:00, Timothy Bolton2:09:27, Jane Johnson69
18 January 200330K2:02:28, Larry Mengelkoch2:07:46, Jane Johnson59
15 December 200130K2:09:43, Tom Ratliffe2:22:56, Carrie Weyant31
3 February 200130K2:00:29, Kevin Porter2:02:27, Jane Johnson43
5 February 200030K1:57:47, Garth Grumme1:53:04, Anne Van Schuppen77
6 February 199930K1:58:17, Doug Gorton2:11:20, Jane Johnson87
10 January 199830K1:57:45, Clarence Calloway2:04:34, Jane Johnson79
7 January 199730K1:54:26, Tracy Burch2:00:28, Jane Johnson
13 January 199630K1:46:14, John Viitanen2:12:30, Eileen Telford50
14 January 199530K1:49:45, Herb Wills2:22:18, Nancy Stuparich50
22 January 199430K1:43:50, Herb Wills2:07:27, Lisa Herman51
16 January 199330K1:43:54, Herb Wills2:12:42, Carrie Hunnicutt60
4 January 199230K1:46:36, Jessie Close2:13:46, Lynda Nilges79
12 January 199130K1:37:31, David Keen2:06:03, Paula Johnson92
13 January 199030K1:43:57, Herb Wills2:12:00, Paula Johnson87
14 January 198930K1:45:31, Jessie Close2:22:07, Mary Jean Yon98
16 January 198830K1:45:24, Tom Burr2:10:04, Mae Cleveland102
10 January 198730K1:44:45, Larry Greene2:11:59, Karen Macharg82
18 January 198630K1:38:54, Herb Wills2:10:48, Missy James92
14 January 198530K1:45:10, Herb Wills2:17:56, Mae Cleveland94
14 January 198430K1:43:32, Noel Shumann2:04:20, Barbara Balzer99
15 January 198330K1:48:18, Andrew Wills2:18:18, Christy Orthman100
16 January 198230K1:44:41, Rick Miller1:56:57, Laura Ledbetter74
198130K

12 January 198030K1:51:19, Steve Ray2:48:31, Robyn Anderson70
3 February 197930K1:42:13, Ken Misner2:12:44, Lynda Heimann124
11 March 197830K1:46:19, Tim Simpkins2:22:31, Donna Glotzbach25
  • In 1978 the race was run on Apalachicola National Forest roads, starting and finishing near
    Hilliardville.
  • From 1979 to 1981 the race was run on Natural Bridge Road.
  • From 1982 to February 2001 the race was run in the Saint Marks National Wildlife Refuge.
  • From December 2001 to 2005 the race was run at Natural Bridge.
  • From 2006 to 2024 the GWTC 30K was run on Old Centerville Road and Sunny Hill Road,
    starting and finishing at     Bradley's Retreat in Felkel.


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Posted by Herb Wills at 12:18 AM 0 comments
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