The first annual Wing Dang Dash 5K run/walk and one mile fun run was held on Saturday, September 27 with over 300 people participating in all three events. The course is the same as the old Poultry Festival course. It starts and finishes in Gaddis Park. The course has some rolling hills and five turns, but it is not too difficult. After a few instructions from race director, Ronnie Fortenberry, and a prayer, the mayor of Forest shot the starting pistol and we were off and running. Twenty year old Ben Kenna from Forest took and the lead and lost it briefly, but he was able to barely hold off fifty-four year old Glen Crotwell. Kenna finished with a 20.20 and Crotwell was one second behind. If the name Crotwell sounds familiar to Pine Belt Pacers, he is the brother of Mark Crotwell. Mark has been around for a while and was the winner of the last two 20K races at Camp Shelby. The first female winner was an impressive eleven year old, Julie Johnson, from Saltillo. Julie ran a 20.35. Phillip Wedgeworth represented the Pine Belt Pacers by winning his age group and finishing eleventh overall. After the race everyone enjoyed plenty of fruit, food and soft drinks. Every participate also got a certificate for free chicken wings at the Wing Dang cooking contest. Additional everyone got a long-sleeved quick dry shirt. After the race several people won nice door prices ranging from free meals to $25.00 gift certificates at local gas stations. One impressive thing about this race was the use of computer chips which made for very fast results. The race was timed by Best ChanpionChip from Memphis. Complete results. © Phillip Wedgeworth