125 runners and 98 walkers participated in the 25th edition of the Annual Run for the Roses in Prentiss on Saturday April 12.  In addition, 98 kids and their parents completed the 1 mile fun run and 50 little kids the 1/4 mile preschool race.  David Mealy from Ohio was the overall winner of the 5K run in 16:11 followed by Miles Martin in 16:54 and Pine Belt Pacer Jeff Hathorn who finished in 17:28.  Jeff won the Grand Masters title.  In the women's race 13 years old Kayla Stricker was the winner in 21:14.  Several Pacers ran and placed in their age groups.  Thus, Ray Henderson, Phillip Wedgeworth, and Becky Ryder placed first in their age brackets.  Scott Martin was second in the 30-34 group while Eric Weill and Frank Barrett placed third in their age brackets.  Pacers Jamie Walker and Susan Davidson also had a good race.  Nestor Raul Anzola and Hollie Ryder participated in the 5K Walk.  Raul finished fourth overall and won his age group and Hollie placed third in the 60-69 group.  A young Pacer, Bo Henderson, won the 8-9 years group in the 1-mile fun race with an impressive 7:15 finish time.  In a few years he will beat his dad, Ray, in the 5K distance. 

Since I was planning to run in the Run From the Sun in the afternoon in Jackson, I planned to walk in Prentiss in the morning and try to defend the Masters title I got the previous years.  I had not competed in a 5K walk since October 2007.  I knew there were a couple of new fast competitive walkers (faster than I)  participating in the MTC events.  When the gun went off and just tried to go fast and stick with them.  100 yards into the race, my key ring and keys fell from my packet.  I realized about it just after a couple of seconds, so I had to stop, walk back 20 yards, pick the keys, and then try to catch up with the leading pack.  I did it.  I managed to stay with them for 2.5 miles but not more.  Well.... even I got a PR for the distance (31:41), it was not enough to hold the Masters title.  A new walker from the Jackson area, Lance Cooper, easily beat me by 23 seconds in the last half mile.  However, it was a good race! It is great to have some competition in my age group.  By the way, I was also part of a walking team called 'Init 2 Winit'.  We placed first overall with a combined time of 89:54 (new record for the race!).   My walking partners David Smalley, Elizabeth Howard, Carolyn Graham, and Monica Thompson had a great performance. © Pijume Diwesi

Complete results can be found in the following URL -->  http://www.mstrackclub.com./Results/2008/Roses/2008Roses.htm