Wedgeworth captures annual Day in the Park 5K Run

With big road races in Collins and Hattiesburg, Day in the Park race directors were not sure about Saturday morning's participation.

But the local runners turned out, and 52-year-old Phillip Wedgeworth of Laurel won the overall title in a field of 70 runners. Add the fun run to the list, and participation was well over 100 runners.

"All the fast guys stayed home," said Wedgeworth, who ran a time of 20:35. "But I was pleased with my time. It is a tough course."

Jim Cegielski took second place overall and won the Master Male division with a time of 21-minutes even.

Delicia Wood of Ellisville took the top female spot with a time of 24.34.

"This one is always tough because of the hills," she said, "but I like to run it every year."

This was the first overall first place for Wood, who has won in her age group before.

Antha Estridge won the Master Female top spot with a time of 27.57.

Caleb Martin took sixth place overall but won the 12-and-under male division with a time of 22.27. Johnson Marcellino was second and Ike Armour was third.

In the 13-19 male runners, Joshua Marcellino won with a time of 25.06 with Micah Green taking second and J.C. Williamson third.

In the 20-29 male runners, Chuck Gatzman was first at 22.43 and Britt Rowell was second.

Matt Smith won the 30-39 male division with a time of 24.15 with Harold Jones coming in second and Chris Clark in third.

Mike Cockrell took first place in the 40-49 division with a time of 21.52, good enough for fourth overall. Tommy Magee was second and fifth overall and Chuck Pittman was third.

In the 50-59 male runners, Richard Sims took first and third place overall with a time of 21.36. Mickey Robinson was second and Gary Clayton was third.

In the 60-and-up division, Tom Buckley won first place with a time of 23.13 with Ed Walker taking second and Billy Doggette coming in third place.

In the female division, 10-year-old Mary Parker Burson finished first in the 12-and under group and 23rd overall with a time of 27.01. Allison Ellzey was second and Emily Armour came in third.

In the 13-19 division, Mary Armour took first place with a time of 28.07 and Mary Carole Kiewit took second and Cassie Marcellino was third.

Aubry Shaw was first in the 20-29 division with a time of 26.25 with Danyelle Phelps winning second place and Jennifer Rogers was third.

Rebecca Hodge was first in the 30-39 group with Dana Bauer taking second and Carmen Howell third place.

In the 40-49 females, it was Beverly Martin taking first with a time of 29.11. Janet Callen was second and Theresa Ellzey third.

Sylvia Doggette took first in the 50-and over group with Paula Pearson second.

Luke Morgan won the one-mile fun run with a time of 8.11 with David Callen coming in second and Justin Hill third. In the girls' group, Lydia Martin took first place with a time of 9:51 with Tori Ellis second and Sara Beth Stevens third.