A Great Swamp Run Compliment!

Hi, I just wanted to tell you that my husband and I have run the Swamp Run for the last 4 years. We come up from St. Marys, GA and we can't say enough good things about the run. It is always well organized, cheap, great trophies, great course, and a fabulous breakfast. I have told many many people in the area about this race (as you can see from photo). I just wanted to let you know because I know putting a race together is a lot of hard work. Thanks for the wonderful run. We'll be back next year-with more people!
Hope Lejeune
St. Marys, GA

32nd Annual Okefenokee Swamp Run 10K and 1 Mile Fun Run - March 28, 2009

Another successful year! Thanks to each and every person who volunteered in one way or another for contributing to a good day. With lots of prayer, the rain held off, the temp was comfortable, no one left without a T-shirt, once again the pancake breakfast was a hit (though not without a few "kinks" thrown in), and there were many compliments. Also, thanks to Brad Williams at the Journal-Herald for coming out to take photos and for giving us a 2-page spread! Great job!

The 10K began with 128 runners and ended with 127. Not bad! There were 135 participants in the 1 mile fun run. Ashley Backstrom graced us by singing the The Star Spangled Banner. Park Manager Bob Boyne had the honor of blowing the horn to start the 10K. Track club members Matthew Garmon won his second consequtive year, while Tiffany Cochran was the first lady to cross the finish line.

1. Matthew Garmon 37:51 (M) Overall Male
2. Garth Peterson 38:26 (M) Master 40-49
3. Masked Avenger 38:47 (M) 1st Age Group 30-34
4. Kerry Underwood 40:14 (M) 1st Age Group 40-44
5. Kurt Heninger 40:22 (M) 1st Age Group 20-24
6. Wayne Broadhead 40:47 (M) Grand Master 50-59
7. Allan Brownie 41:24 (M) 1st Age Group 55-59
8. Cohen Sloan 41:31 (M) 1st Age Group 15-19
9. Payton Joyner 41:42 (M) 2nd Age Group 15-19
10. Randy Arend 42:09 (M) 1st Age Group 45-49
11. Tyler Flanders 42:56 (M) 3rd Age Group 15-19
12. Scott Trost 43:21 (M) 2nd Age Group 45-49
13. Dave Hoock 43:58 (M) 2nd Age Group 50-54
14. Ben Bennett 44:55 (M) 1st Age Group 35-39
15. Tiffany Cochran 45:04 (F) Overall Female
16. Steve O’Brien 45:15 (M) 3rd Age Group 50-54
17. LeighAnne Hersey 45:31 (F) 1st Age Group 30-34
18. Sammie Peacock 45:58 (M) 2nd Age Group 35-39
19. Kevin Wellington 46:42 (M) 3rd Age Group 35-39
20. Barry Barnes 47:00 (M) 2nd Age Group 30-34
21. Chuck Valentino 47:15 (M) 3rd Age Group 45-49
22. Wayne Spearman 47:25 (M) 4th Age Group 50-54
23. Mark Lejeune 48:16 (M) 2nd Age Group 40-44
24. Ron Crosby 48:24 (M) Great-Grandmaster 60-69
25. Shawn Howell 48:45 (M) 4th Age Group 35-39
26. Kevin Rigdon 49:08 (M) 3rd Age Group 30-34
27. Kevin Barnes 49:41 (M) 5th Age Group 35-39
28. Bret Campbell 49:41 (M) 4th Age Group 30-34
29. Vince Marchionna 49:42 (M) 1st Age Group 65-69
30. Logan Oberlin 49:58 (M) 1st Age Group 11-14
31. Mamoun Alitarawneh 50:08 (M) 4th Age Group 45-49
32. Megan Wheeler 50:14 (F) 1st Age Group 20-24
33. Dereck DeLoach 50:43 (M) 2nd Age Group 20-24
34. Franklin Burkett 51:23 (M) 5th Age Group 50-54
35. Matt Gourley 51:42 (M)
36. Kevin Moore 51:46 (M) 3rd Age Group 40-44
37. Mary Woodruff 51:48 (F) Grand Master 50-59
38. Gary Beall 51:55 (M)
39. Torsten Kaminski 52:09 (M) 4th Age Group 40-44
40. Cheryl Monroe 52:39 (F) 1st Age Group 50-54
41. Mike Porter 52:44 (M) 1st Age Group 55-59
42. Jeffrey S. Andrews 53:00 (M)
43. Tyler Scales 53:08 (M) 2nd Age Group 11-14
44. Brian Blue 53:14 (M) 2nd Age Group 65-69
45. Judah Hodges 53:20 (M) 1st Age Group 00-10
46. Cary Bennett 53:22 (M)
47. Kelli Gourley 53:51 (F) 2nd Age Group 30-34
48. Don Varnadore 54:22 (M)
49. Thomas Dowling 54:34 (M) 3rd Age Group 20-24
50. Carol Riley 54:40 (F) 1st Age Group 60-64
51. Hope Lejeune 55:11 (F) 1st Age Group 35-39
52. Wesley Sweat 55:13 (M) 1st Age Group 25-29
53. Stephen James 55:19 (M)
54. Doug Vinson 55:22 (M) 2nd Age Group 55-59
55. James Jackson 55:24 (M)
56. Debra Perkins 55:54 (F) 2nd Age Group 50-54
57. Sonny Emmert 55:58 (M) 5th Age Group 30-34
58. Correy Harpel 55:58 (F) 1st Age Group 25-29
59. Don Hubbard 56:25 (M) 3rd Age Group 55-59
60. Ray Carter 56:31 (M) 5th Age Group 40-44
61. Christy Howell 56:53 (F) 2nd Age Group 35-39
62. Diane Croy 57:06 (F) 1st Age Group 40-44
63. Gina Howell 57:07 (F) 3rd Age Group 30-34
64. Tommy Cox 57:13 (M)
65. Joe Christian 57:18 (M) Super Master 70+
66. Erica Thomas 57:19 (F) 2nd Age Group 25-29
67. Carthell Dubberly 57:42 (M) 1st Age Group 70+
68. Tim Goodman 57:49 (M) 1st Age Group 60-64
69. Clay Parker 58:03 (M) 3rd Age Group 11-14
70. Lealane Sanders 58:26 (F) 4th Age Group 30-34
71. Ray Griffin 58:48 (M) 3rd Age Group 65-69
72. Trish Snyder 59:06 (F) 3rd Age Group 50-54
73. Jennifer Hutchinson 59:21 (F) 3rd Age Group 25-29
74. Sydney Alitarawneh 59:22 (F) 1st Age Group 11-14
75. Kim Spivey 59:39 (F) 5th Age Group 30-34
76. Bill White 59:54 (M) 4th Age Group 55-59
77. Cathy Campbell 1:00:24 (F) 4th Age Group 50-54
78. Kristen Thomas 1:00:45 (F) 2nd Age Group 20-24
79. William R. Hall 1:00:50 (M)
80. Bernie Powers 1:00:53 (M) 5th Age Group 55-59
81. Cory Wheeler 1:01:14 (F) 1st Age Group 45-49
82. Jennifer H. Smith 1:01:28 (F) 3rd Age Group 35-39
83. Carmen Smith 1:01:53 (F) 3rd Age Group 20-24
84. Layne Ambrose 1:01:55 (M) 2nd Age Group 00-10
85. Evelyn Taylor 1:01:57 (F) 2nd Age Group 45-49
86. Abby Parker 1:01:21 (F) 2nd Age Group 11-14
87. Nicole McCarthy 1:01:24 (F)
88. Billy Gillis 1:02:32 (M) 4th Age Group 65-69
89. Casey Caswell 1:02:53 (M) 2nd Age Group 25-29
90. Trent Gibbs 1:02:53 (M) 4th Age Group 20-24
91. Unknown 1:03:46
92. Chad Zauner 1:03:47 (M) 3rd Age Group 25-59
93. Bruce Wheeler 1:04:02 (M)
94. Mary Trimm 1:04:22 (F) 1st Age Group 15-19
95. Ronald Knox 1:04:26 (M)
96. Perlita Knox 1:04:29 (F) 4th Age Group 35-59
97. Melissa Raulerson 1:04:38 (F) 4th Age Group 25-29
98. Cody Carter 1:05:32 (M) 5th Age Group 20-24
99. Jeff Nolan 1:05:33 (M) 4th Age Group 25-29
100. Terrie Leakway 1:05:48 (F) 5th Age Group 35-39
101. Gary McCarthy 1:05:57 (M)
102. Unknown 1:06:05
103. Joe Bullard 1:06:15 (M) 5th Age Group 45-49
104. Larry Godair 1:07:16 (M) 2nd Age Group 60-64
105. Stanford Tillman 1:07:19 (M) 2nd Age Group 70+
106. Freddy Fillingham 1:07:47 (M) 5th Age Group 65-69
107. Roger Williams 1:08:00 (M) 3rd Age Group 60-64
108. Heather Hall 1:08:01 (F)
109. Kathy Williams 1:09:50 (F) 1st Age Group 55-59
110. Ellen Hardee 1:09:54 (F)
111. Joshua Bullard 1:10:09 (M) 3rd Age Group 00-10
112. Anna M. Scott 1:10:28 (F) 2nd Age Group 40-44
113. Ginger Brow 1:13:18 (F) 5th Age Group 25-29
114. John Lee 1:13:53 (M)
115. Janna Summerall-Smith 1:14:03 (F) 3rd Age Group 40-44
116. Allen Smith 1:14:04 (M)
117. Cynthia Waldron 1:15:14 (F)
118. Allie Smith 1:16:02 (F) 1st Age Group 00-10
119. Stephany Smith 1:16:03 (F) 4th Age Group 40-44
120. Steve Croy 1:17:10 (M)
121. Megan Rhodes 1:17:50 (F) 3rd Age Group 11-14
122. Will Kicklighter 1:20:33 (M) 5th Age Group 25-29
123. Myles Cooper 1:20:33 (M) 3rd Age Group 20-24
124. Leondus Dixon 1:21:31 (M) 4th Age Group 20-24
125. Brooks Stewart 1:21:45 (M)
126. Jennifer Stewart 1:21:48 (F)
127. Faith Harrold 1:26:08 (F) 2nd Age Group 00-10

Photo: 2009 Sam Gornto Sportsmanship Award was presented to Debbie Yawn. It is given yearly to the OTC member who most exemplifies sportmanship in its highest form. Debbie is a long time member who traded her running shoes for working shoes the past 3-4 years. She has been there to help set up the pancake breakfast and she is one of the last to leave after clean up. I'm sure she'd rather be socializing than flipping pancakes though she has become quite the expert!

SE Georgia Health System Bridge 5K

Eleven track club members ran the 2009 version of the Southeast Georgia Health System Bridge Run in Brunswick. The 5K race runs over and back across the challenging Sidney Lanier Bridge. Windy conditions provided an additional obstacle, but it served as a proper tune up for this Saturday's Okefenokee Swamp Run 10K and 1 Mile Fun Run.

20:07 - Matthew Garmon-1st AG 15-19/2nd Overall
23:41 - Shawn Howell
26:23 - Mary Woodruff-Won 1st AG 55-59
27:58 - Don Varnadore
28:19 - Anna Champion
28:29 - Christy Howell
32:17 - Allen Smith
33:52 - Kimberly Spivey
35:05 - Janna Summerall-Smith
37:15 - Debbie Yawn
TNA - Mike Porter

32nd Annual Gate River Run 15K-Jax

More than 50 local runners (40 are track club members) participated in the 32 Annual Gate River Run on March 14. It is the USA 15K (9.3 Miles) championship, and features some of the world’s top runners. The Overall winners are former Olympians, with world class speed. This is evidenced by Anthony Famiglietti’s winning time of 43 minutes and 36 seconds. The top female was Amy Yoder-Begley, coming in at 49:51.

But with over 12,000 finishers, this is definitely the people’s race, and a top event for runners of all ages and abilities. Spectators, volunteers, and musical groups line the course from start to finish. The Hart Bridge continues to be the featured landmark and obstacle, especially since it comes at the latter part of the course. However, upon reaching the top, it is downhill to the finish.

The festivities also included a 5K (3.1 Miles) race and 5 local ladies are all smiles after the Run for Charity.

15K Results:

Ben Bennett 1:07:23
LeighAnne Hersey 1:09:24
Tiffany Cochran 1:09:57
Cristi Blount 1:10:20
Charles Strickland 1:10:40
Charlie Moore 1:12:27
Barry Barnes 1:12:50
Ron Crosby 1:14:59
Cheryl Monroe 1:15:28
Russell Keaton 1:15:29
Matt Gourley 1:18:41
Kevin Barnes 1:18:48
Mary Woodruff 1:19:14
Shawn Howell 1:20:16
Anna Champion 1:22:02
Robin Smith 1:22:04
Kelli Gourley 1:23:32
Carey Bennett 1:23:50
Daniel Warren 1:24:24
Mike Porter 1:24:50
Moi Monroe 1:26:57
Doug Vinson 1:26:58
Don Varnadore 1:28:07
Christy Howell 1:28:16
Nelle Bennett 1:28:50
Clay Culp 1:30:05
Jennifer Smith 1:36:10
Alison Long 1:36:30
Billy Gillis 1:37:13
Kathy Williams 1:49:00
Roger Williams 1:49:15
Allen Smith 1:49:22
Janna Summerall-Smith 1:49:22
Angela Keaton 1:52:39
Elizabeth Monroe 2:07:10

Florida Times-Union 5K Run/Walk for Charity
(No official results.)
PHOTO:

Rochelle Varnadore

Rachel Gilbert
Phyllis Cochran
Debbie Yawn

Mary Beth Strickland

Douglas Trail Trot 5K-March 7th

The Okefenokee Track Club was well-represented March 7 in the 4th Annual Jr. Service League Douglas Trail Trot 5K. Thirty-three runners enjoyed the warm weather, scenic course and friendly volunteers. Sydney Alitarawneh, a swift up-and-coming runner was the First Overall Female. Her dad, Mamoun Alitarawneh, captured first place in the 40-49 age group and was third overall. Ron Crosby won first place in the 60+ age category, and was fourth to the finish line.