Greater Belhaven Market 5K Race Report

The Run to the Greater Belhaven Market 5K took place on Saturday, June 11 in
Jackson, MS. After watching the weather forecast in TV at 5:30am and
remembering how hilly the Blueberry Jubilee 5K race used to be, I decided to
miss the rain and drive north to the capital to confront the "flat" course
in the Belhaven neighborhood. Well.. I was wrong my friends! The course in
Poplarville looks "very flat" when comparing to the one in the Greater
Belhaven Market. In fact, it is very hilly, with challenging climbs and
descents, plenty of rolling hills and with a brutal hilly 500-yards ending.
It was a nice course through the neighborhood. The weather was perfect,
sunshine but not hot.

After finishing first in the last race that took place in Jackson in May,
the Methodist Church 5K, Rob Oates scorched the Belhaven 5K course in 18:05
to dominate a small but strong field of 75 runners and 32 walkers in the
second edition of this annual race. Oates pulled away early in the race
from second place finisher and Masters winner Mark Lipking who completed the
course in 19:34. Third place went to David Shumate in 19:45. Al Waddell
was the top Grand Masters in 21:14. Laura Mortimer took the women's title
with her dominating 19:56 performance. Emily Sumrall was second in 23:03
and Clare LaGarde was third in 23:10. The top Masters and Grand Masters
females were Luann Ainsworth and Monica Baldwin respectively.

Bennett Randman won the 5K Walk race in 31:26. Second place went to Pine
Belt Pacer Nestor Raul Anzola who finished in 33:18 and got the top Masters
award. The first female was Elizabeth Joyner in 35:10 followed by Gwen
Jordan (35:46) and Caroline Graham in 33:47 (top Masters female).
Mary-Michael Lindsay was the overall winner of the one-mile fun race in
7:32. Josh Hertel was the top male finishing in 7:36.

Thanks to the Mississippi Track Club for a very well organized race and to
the people of the Greater Belhaven Market who donated the money awards for
the ceremony. I highly recommend this race for those who are looking for
challenging hilly courses. Complete Results