Hammond and Miller swat the competition at Camilla's Gnat Days 5K

The fall line divides North from South Georgia, separating the coastal plain from the piedmont plateau. North of the fall line the terrain is hilly trending towards the mountains, the rivers are treacherous with shoals, and the soils is coarse and peppered with rocks and boulders. South of the fall line the terrain is nearly flat, the larger rivers are navigable to the sea, and the soil is fine-grained. Gnats can't breed in the soil north of the fall line; the texture and chemistry is wrong for them. The moist, sandy soil south of the fall line is perfect for the insects to breed, though, and the coastal plain is one big gnat nursery. For this reason, the fall line is often called the gnat line.


Camilla, Georgia is well south of the gnat line. No amount of swatting or spraying could ever rid Camilla of the insects, so the town celebrates them instead with an annual festival, Gnat Days. Since 1988 the festival has included a road race, the Gnat Days 5K.


Coming from Bonaire, Georgia, just south of the gnat line, Jared Hammond won the 30th annual Gnat Days 5K on Friday evening, 12 May 2017, running 18:22. Another south-of-the-gnat-line athlete, Ramsay Miller of Leesburg, Georgia, took the women's title, placing twelth overall in 21:30.


Jake Merritt, a junior on the Colquitt County High cross-country team, was runner-up in the race, going the 3.1-miles in 18:46. Trevor Boeckmann of Albany, Georgia was third in 19:29. Thomasville, Georgia's Chad Johnson was the first master runner and fourth overall in 19:40. Ben Phillips, a frosh on the Lee County High cross-country squad, grabbed fifth with a 19:54.


Women's champ Ramsay Miller also studies at Lee County High, where she is a junior on the cross-country team. Kimberly Dove of Byron, Georgia was second to Miller in the women's standings, placing fourteenth overall in 22:31. Caitlin Santiago, a frosh on the cross-country team at Westwood High in Camilla, was the third woman and seventeenth overall in 23:23. Albany's Karen McNally was the top woman master and fourth female finisher, nineteenth overall in 23:43.


145 athletes finished the 2017 Gnat Days 5K.


Top Ten Men, 2017 Gnat Days 5K

1. 18:21.06, Jared Hammond (M, 36) Bonaire, GA
2. 18:46.00, Jake Merritt (M, 17) Moultrie, GA
3. 19:28.91, Trevor Boeckmann (M, 28) Albany, GA
4. 19:39.50, Chad Johnson (M, 46) Thomasville, GA
5. 19:53.64, Ben Phillips (M, 15) Leesburg, GA
6. 20:01.94, John Kilpatrick (M, 46) Leesburg, GA
7. 20:15.92, Ashton Donahue (M, 16) Baconton, GA
8. 20:28.88, Justin Williams (M, 39) Cairo, GA
9. 20:50.56, Jaques Jones (M, 13) Baconton, GA
10. 21:18.81, Tyler Williams (M, 19) Cairo, GA

Top Ten Women, 2017 Gnat Days 5K

1. 21:29.92, Ramsay Miller (F, 17) Leesburg, GA
2. 22:30.71, Kimberly Dove (F, 29) Byron, GA
3. 23:22.91, Caitlin Santiago (F, 15) Camilla, GA
4. 23:42.52, Karen McNally (F, 53) Albany, GA
5. 23:43.72, Donica Williams (F, 37) Cairo, GA
6. 23:45.83, Arber Elan (F, 28) Columbus, GA
7. 24:07.49, Emily Phillips (F, 12) Leesburg, GA
8. 24:11.29, Jill Hope (F, 36) Camilla, GA
9. 25:03.34, Kelli Kilpatrick (F, 49) Leesburg, GA
10. 25:56.50, Elizabet Mentha (F, 15) Albany, GA

Gnat Days 5K Champions, 2005 - 2017
Date	Men	Women
12 May 2017	18:22, Jared Hammond	21:30, Ramsay Miller
13 May 2016	17:04, Chase Harris	20:32, Melissa Thompson
1 May 2015	16:11, Patrick Whitehead	22:13, Beverly Hamilton
2 May 2014	18:32, Arnoldo DeJesus	18:50, Elena Oslund
3 May 2013	19:06, James Taylor	24:33, Ashtin Banks
4 May 2012	17:51, Stephen Robbins	19:47, Mary Anne Grayson
6 May 2011	17:35, Masked Avenger	23:53, Jenna Willingham
30 April 2010	17:36, Kyle Harris	19:59, Mary Anne Grayson
1 May 2009	17:39, Nathan Norton	19:51, Mary Anne Grayson
2 May 2008	18:12, Todd Smoot	22:35, Diane Johnson
4 May 2007	16:59, Todd Smoot	22:49, Diane Johnson
5 May 2006	17:27, Clint Watkins	22:02, Lori Rawlings
6 May 2005	17:06, Dr. Robert Feldman	21:12, Debbie Wittmer
1 May 2004
3 May 2003
14 May 1994
12 June 1993
13 June 1992
8 June 1991	15:33, Louis Floyd	18:20, Vikki Saga
9 June 1990
10 June 1989*
11 June 1988**	14:14.7, John Tuttle	16:28, Carla Borovicka

Links

• Complete results of the 2017 Gnat Days 5K
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mcuyxB1-Fsa6qu09Tnunifj1bd0IR6yxSt77_Rh5F8E/pubhtml
  
  
• 2016 story, “Harris and Thompson have their day at Gnat Days”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/05/gnat-days-2016.html
  
  
• 2015 story, “Whitehead and Hamilton outrun everyone but the gnats in Camilla”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/05/gnat-days-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “De Jesus and Oslund flit through Gnat Days 5K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/05/gnat-days-2014.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “No flies on Taylor or Banks in Camilla”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/05/gnat-days-2013.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “Robbins and Grayson beat the swarm in Camilla”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/05/gnat-days-2012.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “Avenger and Willingham in a cloud of...gnats”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/05/gnat-2011.html
  
  
• Find races not requiring insect repellent on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#1972

Gibson and O'Neill were the rapids at this River Run

In 2016 the Bainbridge, Georgia Kiwanis River Run 10K got a new date. The race had been scheduled for January, but the Flint River, from which the race takes its name, was in flood stage and the course was under water. So the event moved to February. Although the river behaved itself in 2017, the race remained in February. And although there was a new course for the thirteenth annual 10K, the winner was the same as in 2016. Donalsonville, Georgia master runner Myles Gibson won the Kiwanis River Run 10K for the second year in a row on Saturday morning, 25 February 2017, running 39:04. Tallahassee, Florida master runner Paula O'Neill took the women's title, placing third overall in 48:10.


It was the third Kiwanis River Run 10K title for Gibson, who also won the event in 2013. In the 2017 race no one else had gone more than eight kilometers before Gibson finished the ten-kilometer run. Mark Tombrink took the runner-up spot in 47:59. Behind O'Neill, Michael Marchman edged Dale Nash for fourth, 49:29 to 49:35.


Run concurrently, the Kiwanis River Run 5K also got a new course for 2017. Tanner Norman, a junior on the Early County High cross-country team, inaugurated the new 3.1-mile course with a winning 18:42. Trevor Cleveland, a junior on the Lee County High cross-country team, was second in 19:15. Ramsay Miller outkicked Lance Wilson for third place in the 5K, 22:50 to 22:51. Also a junior on the Lee County High cross-country team, Miller was the first woman in the race.


41 athletes finished the 2017 Bainbridge Kiwanis River Run 10K. Another 35 completed the 5K.


2017 Bainbridge Kiwanis River Run 10K Results

1. 39:04, Myles Gibson
2. 47:59, Mark Tombrink
3. 48:10, Paula O'Neill
4. 49:29, Michael Marchman
5. 49:35, Dale Nash
6. 51:19, Joey Harvey
7. 51:38, David Braswell
8. 53:45, David Forrester
9. 55:19, Mary Hunt
10. 55:26, Worth Corn
11. 57:34, Suzanne Angell
12. 57:58, Xavier Clayton
13. 60:39, Anita King
14. 61:58, Andrea Alexander
15. 62:14, Christopher Reece
16. 63:49, Rozeallan Smith
17. 65:05, Anthony Roberts
18. 65:24, Cara Mitchell
19. 65:49, Nathan Glover
20. 66:24, Samantha Tejada
21. 68:54.35, Sherrie Jones
22. 68:54.62, Brittany Moore
23. 69:37, Jennifer Miles
24. 71:27, Josh Brock
25. 71:38, Deanna Cole
26. 71:51, Patricia Dugan
27. 71:53, Carol Kreis
28. 71:55, Thomas Biance
29. 74:30, Julia Moss
30. 75:48, Magen Zorn
31. 76:20, Lisa-Jan Bailey
32. 76:27, Dana Brock
33. 74:46, Jane Krier
34. 78:51, Leslye Upton
35. 79:00, Frank Kreis
36. 79:11, Jean Louise Krier
37. 80:14, Patty Ryan
38. 80:15, Michelle Brooks
39. 82:43, Angie Prince
40. 86:42, Brian Dupree
41. 96:48, Tim Langdon

2017 Bainbridge Kiwanis River Run 5K Results

1. 18:42, Tanner Norman
2. 19:15, Trevor Cleveland
3. 22:50, Ramsay Miller
4. 22:51, Lance Wilson
5. 24:50, Chris Harper
6. 25:34, Charley Bunn
7. 26:05, Timothy McConnell
8. 26:52, Keara Conrad
9. 26:53, Alex Byrd
10. 27:42, Eric Smith
11. 28:10, Julie Harris
12. 28:41, Sara Beth Beals
13. 29:07, Butch Binford
14. 30:27, Amanda Moulton
15. 30:46, Angie Garland
16. 30:47, Dainyell Long
17. 31:03, Sandra Binford
18. 31:28, Bess Day
19. 31:29, Penny Horne
20. 32:03, Jackie Cauble
21. 32:21, Denease Harrison
22. 34:00, Lou Ellen Marchman
23. 34:07, W.R. Whittington
24. 38:53, Sherry Lake
25. 40:09, Sandy Heard
26. 49:10, Ryan Carnes
27. 49:41.05, Laura Singletary
28. 49:41.91, Lisa Singletary
29. 50:19, Stephanie Dupree
30. 51:02, Matthew Smith
31. 53:48, Bailey Allen
32. 53:50, Kim Johnson
33. 56:50, Brenda Howell
34. 58:45, Patrick Smith
35. 58:46, Dan Bowser

Bainbridge Kiwanis River Run winners, 2005 - 2017
Date	Distance	Men	Women	Finishers
8 January 2005	10K	J P Chesser	Shana Martin	33
	5K	Nathan Norton	Debbie Wittmer	30
7 January 2006	10K	35:59, Michael Douma	43:11, Allison Eagen	35
	5K	19:38, Gabe Mitchell	23:42, Shana Martin	39
6 January 2007	10K	35:49, Jay Wallace	45:39, Fran McLean	89
	5K	19:59, Steve Baxter	23:39, Shana Martin	30
5 January 2008	10K	35:13, David Marky	47:50, Lou Ellen Jayroe	36
	5K	18:15, Nathan Norton	19:28, Jana Stolting	32
3 January 2009	10K	35:50, Jessie Close	47:44, Kirsten Baggett	34
	5K	18:40, Nathan Norton	23:45, Erika Pemberton	63
2 January 2010	10K	37:45, Joel Piotrowski	51:20, Jessica Monk	42
	5K	19:27, Devin Ferrell	23:35, Helen Jean Thompson	54
8 January 2011	10K	33:55, Rick Jennings	49:15, Jessica Monk	32
	5K	19:21, Davey Reynolds	26:28, Carolyn Houston	30
21 January 2012	10K	35:11, Cody Mallchok	45:33, Angelina Horne	57
	5K	17:20, Luis Navarro	23:30, Amber Braswell	43
19 January 2013	10K	37:18, Myles Gibson	46:07, Juanita Chalmers	62
	5K	17:14, Chase Harris	19:00, Sheryl Rosen	47
4 January 2014	10K	35:43, Kyle Harris	41:51, Elena Oslund	50
	5K	17:26, Chase Harris	20:11, Paige Braswell	35
3 January 2015	10K	39:28, Kyle Harris	52:00, Kaitlin Jackson	29
	5K	19:29, Arnoldo DeJesus	24:22, Kristi Johnson	34
27 February 2016	10K	37:27, Myles Gibson	48:31, Nancy Stedman	39
	5K	19:00, Rik Pool	23:51, Paula O'Neill	34
25 February 2017	10K	39:04, Myles Gibson	48:10, Paula O'Neill	41
	5K	18:42, Tanner Norman	22:50, Ramsay Miller	35

Links

• Complete results of the 2017 Bainbridge Kiwanis River Run 10K at gulfwinds.org
  http://gulfwinds.org/raceresults/2017/Kiwanis%20River%20Run%202017.asp
  
  
• 2016 story, “Riparian victories in Bainbridge for Gibson and Stedman”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/03/kiwanis-river-run-2016.html
  
  
• 2015 story, “Harris and Jackson sail to victory in the River Run 10K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/01/kiwanis-river-run-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Harris and Oslund were rollin' on the river”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/01/kiwanis-river-run-2014.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “Gibson, Chalmers rout rivals in River Run 10K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/01/kiwanis-river-run-2013.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “Fast on the Flint, Mallchok and Horne win River Run 10K”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/01/kiwanis-river-run-2012.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “Jennings and Monk are the rapidest River Runners in Bainbridge”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/01/kiwanis-river-run-2011.html
  
  
• USATF course certification map (GA17005WC) for the 2017 Bainbridge Kiwanis River Run 10K
  http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/maps/showMap.asp?courseID=GA17005WC
  
  
• Find your next race in the Tallahassee region using the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#1891

Roche and Miller were rolling in clover at the Shamrock Jog and Jam

On Saturday evening, 12 March 2016, Just seven days after Lt. Connor Roche had been in Albany, Georgia for the half marathon, he was in Americus for a shorter race--the sixth annual Shamrock Jog and Jam 5K. Roche scampered across the finish line of the night run nearly half a kilometer ahead of the next runner finishing first in 18:13. Ramsay Miller, a sophomore on the Lee County High cross country team, won the women's title, placing twelfth overall in 23:18.


Matthew Ledger was the overall runner-up in 20:02, and Lee County middle school student Ben Phillips was third in 20:13. Ed Shattles was the fastest master runner in the race, coming in fourth overall in 20:22.


It was a close finish for the top two woman masters, with Charlene Pennymon edging Trina Shattles 24:06 to 24:09. Pennymon, the 2015 Shamrock Jog and Jam 5K women's champion, was the second female finisher and seventeenth overall in the 2016 race. Trina Shattles was third in the women's standings and eighteenth overall.


154 athletes finished the sixth annual Shamrock Jog and Jam. The race benefits the Scott Law Foundation, which provides direct financial assistance to Sumter and surrounding county residents suffering from cancer or other medical ailments.


Top Ten Men, 2016 Shamrock Jog and Jam 5K

1. 18:12.7 ~ Connor Roche (M, 23)
2. 20:01.2 ~ Matthew Ledger (M, 20)
3. 20:12.3 ~ Ben Phillips (M, 14)
4. 20:21.2 ~ Ed Shattles (M, 52)
5. 20:59.0 ~ Austin Anthony (M, 15)
6. 22:25.4 ~ Chris Phillips (M, 36)
7. 22:53.4 ~ John Lightner (M, 13)
8. 22:58.8 ~ John Fennessy (M, 37)
9. 23:03.9 ~ Kevin Richmond (M, 13)
10. 23:04.3 ~ Bucky Thompson (M, 33)

Top Ten Women, 2016 Shamrock Jog and Jam 5K

1. 23:17.2 ~ Ramsay Miller (F, 16)
2. 24:05.1 ~ Charlene Pennymon (F, 51)
3. 24:08.2 ~ Trina Shattles (F, 46)
4. 25:13.4 ~ Deann Reid (F, 49)
5. 26:14.5 ~ Carmen Boehme (F, 38)
6. 26:21.3 ~ Marybeth Forwood (F, 52)
7. 26:45.5 ~ Deanna Beamon (F, 35)
8. 27:32.9 ~ Mollie McGowan (F, 24)
9. 27:37.1 ~ Emmy Reid (F, 31)
10. 27:39.1 ~ Jessica Childers (F, 30)

Shamrock Jog and Jam 5K winners, 2011 - 2016
Date	Men	Women	Finishers
19 March 2011	17:56, Nathan Norton	19:34, Angie Slappey	165
10 March 2012	18:06, Cyrus Weigand	19:15, Angie Slappey	169
9 March 2013	17:26, Wright Calhoun	21:35, Chris Shattles	153
15 March 2014	17:05, Wright Calhoun	22:31, Jessica Childers	122
21 March 2015	17:06, Wright Calhoun	22:54, Charlene Pennymon	162
12 March 2016	18:13, Connor Roche	23:18, Ramsay Miller	154

Links

• Complete results of Americus, Georgia's 2016 Shamrock Jog & Jam 5K
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vkTziYBA4pw4wOOwuc0pJCtfvZVEyd_Ig1RxApw_ze8/pubhtml
  
  
• 2015 story, “Calhoun and Pennymon take Americus' Shamrock Jog & Jam 5K”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/03/shamrock-jog-jam-2015.html
  
  
• Shamrock Jog & Jam 5K on Facebook
  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shamrock-Jog-Jam-to-Benefit-The-Scott-Law-Foundation/156708504381707
  
  
• Find other races named after small leafy plants on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

#1651