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| Once again Pine Belt Pacers Robin Ryder and Sheryl Chatfield were the winners of the Kappa Delta Sorority Annual Shamrock 5K Fun leading other 80 runners and walkers in a very cold morning. The day started off cloudy and overcast and stayed like that during the event with temperatures in the low 30s and windy conditions. The run was held in the traditional 5K out and back course at the Long Leaf Trace beginning in the Southern Miss Gateway. We had a lot of support and cheering by the Kappa Delta girls. There were as many of them as runners. The race director shouted "Ready, Set, Go!" right at 8am. Quickly heading out to the front of the pack were Pine Belt Pacer Robin Ryder and fellow runner Chris Singley, along with a group of young college kids who kept with these two fast runners for the first mile. But as the race progressed, Robin, showed why he has won the Shamrock and some other local races several times in the last decade. He pulled away to win in 17 minutes and ?? (I am not sure about his time!). Chris crossed the line in second place a couple of seconds later. A number of the college guys went out too fast and paid for it by the time they reached the final mile. Pine Belt Pacer Chad Dufrene took third place ahead of David Hester and PBP Jim Coll who finished fourth and fifth respectively. No far behind came Wade Covington and Sheryl Chatfield who claimed the victory in the women's race. Phillip McKibbin, Jayson Newell, and PBP Keith Hilpp completed the list of runners in the top ten spots. By the way, it was great to see Keith running again after a long recovery from a severe plantar fasciatis problem. But not only he started running again, but he did it fast crossing the finish line in 21 minutes. As it happened in previous years, it was a strong show by the Pine Belt Pacers. Many of them were present and placed in their respective age brackets. Brittany Ware was second overall in the women's race. Nestor Raul Anzola won the Masters title in 21:52 (He was just lucky since the big dogs did not show for the race!!). Ginny Dufrene got a PR for the distance and was the winner in the Masters category. Charles Jackson won his age group for the first time ever. As a prize for his hard performance and perseverance he won..... a free cookie!!!! :) -- Eight-year old Bo Henderson won his age group as did Jim Coll, Kelly Spiers, Keith Hilpp, Donna Sumrall (run Donna run!!), Vicky Copeland, and Frank Barrett (29:21, new PR!). Ray Henderson, Tony Mozingo, Mike Boyd, Tisha Zelner, and Scott Martin also placed in their age brackets. I apologize if I am missing the name of any club member in this report. One final note about something cute and hilarious that happened during the race. The organizers had a water station located.....in mile 0.25. I swear I am not lying! The pretty Kappa Delta volunteers were wondering why none of the runners was interested in picking the water bottles the girls were handling to them! :) The event was organized by the Kappa Delta Sorority and raised money for Prevent Child Abuse of America and Stop Child Abuse and Neglect. Of the money raised, a full 80 percent of the proceeds stays in the local community and is donated to local child abuse agencies; the remaining 20 percent is donated to PCA America's national office for its national prevention efforts. Congratulations to the Kappa Delta girls for another very well organized event. © Pijume Diwesi Pic1. Pine Belt Pacers Frank Barrett, Ray Henderson, Bo Henderson and his little sister, Tisha Zelner, and Vicky Copeland
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