32nd Annual Vidalia Onion Run

On April 25, a couple of track club folks participated in the Vidalia Onion Run. Though Vidalia boasts of a challenging, hilly course, our runners continue to conquer it each and every year. Mary Woodruff won 2nd overall in the 10K with a finishing time of 50:02. Larry Godair won 3rd in his age group in the 5K.

PHOTO: Mary with grandson, Tyler, holding her trophy almost as big as he is! And Mary's 25-pound bag of onions surely weighs more than he does!

The 2009 Boston Marathon

“The Boston Marathon” ----- That says it all. For runners, it is the Super Bowl and World Series of our sport. In order to compete, a racer must meet an age group standard in a qualifying marathon. Tiffany Cochran and Cheryl Monroe trained, qualified, and completed the 2009 Boston Marathon, the 113th running of this prestigious event on April 20. Tiffany finished in 3 hours, 34 minutes, 57 seconds. Cheryl came in at 4:01:42. These fast times automatically qualified them for next year’s race. Congratulations ladies!

Other info: The 113th Boston Marathon is in the record books with 22,898 participants finishing the race – the second-highest total ever, after the 100th anniversary edition in 1996. The number of female finishers, 9,311, was the most in Boston history.

Cooper River Bridge Run 10K-Charleston

On Saturday, April 4th, Tiffany Cochran participated in the 32nd Cooper Bridge Run 10k in Charleston, South Carolina with 38,700 other runners. She stated that "the weather was perfect and the bridge was quite the battle, but the views and scenery kept pushing me through." Tiffany finished with a time of 45:30, 1062 to cross the finish line (top 3%). This was her last road race before she tackles the Boston Marathon in 2 weeks!

She also gave us a little history about the run: The Cooper River Bridge Run is the best organized and the best conducted 10-K race in the world. It includes world-class competition in a unique setting with unparalleled participant satisfaction. It broadens community cooperation and participation in healthy events throughout the year. The Cooper River Bridge Run serves as a model of health motivation for other communities throughout the world.

Yellow Jacket 5K & 1 Mile Buzz Run-Jesup

Several Okefenokee Track Club members and other local runners participated in Jesup’s Yellow Jacket 5K and 1 Mile Buzz Run on April 4th. Fast times were posted including Matthew Garmon’s winning 5K time of 17 minutes and 21 seconds. Also impressive was Sydney Alitarawneh’s 1 Mile time of 6 minutes and 53 seconds, earning her the fastest female award.

5K Results
17:21 – Matthew Garmon (Overall Winner)
18:57 – Wayne Broadhead
19:33 – Tyler Flanders
20:58 – Daniel Broadhead
24:28 – Sydney Aliarawneh
24:31 – Don Varnadore
24:57 – Mamoun Alitarawneh
25:31 – Jordan Garmon
25:58 – Reuben Flanders
31:44 – Debbie Yawn

1 Mile Run
6:53 Sydney Alitarawneh (One Mile Female Winner)
6:55 Mamoun Alitarawneh

PHOTO: (L-R) Matthew Garmon, Jordan Garmon, Tyler Flanders, Rueben Flanders, Debbie Yawn, Don Varnadore, Mamoun Alitarawneh, Sydney Alitarawneh

(Race Directors Wayne & Kathy Broadhead are also track club members.)

For full race results, go to: http://www.runningintheusa.com/HostedResults/2009/66445_CompleteResults4-4-09.xls