Meridian Moonlight Madness 5K

Vicki Copeland, Hollie and left Hattiesburg at 6:15 so that we'd be sure to have time for a stop at the Meridian Hudson's. Vicki was rewarded with her usual treasure reward and I found something that will assist me in maintaining my beautiful hair color.
 
Upon arriving at the race site, I was surprised at the number of people who were present. There was a large group of Pacers who ended up placing quite well. Pacer Corey Rigdon won the event with a time of 17:02 out of a field of 163.
 
The afternoon and evening had some active thunderstorms and I thought this would result in a low number of participants. The kid's mile started later than the scheduled 10:00 pm, so it was almost 10:30 pm before the 5K took off. The course was pretty complicated due to the effort to stay close to the lights of the softball fields and tennis courts. And, there was some confusion involving the 2 mile walkers, some of whom did not do the complete course (which was way short anyway).
 
There was no clock at the finish, which was difficult to see until we were at the line. When I checked my time and read 27:05, I was really disappointed. As soon as I saw Vicki, she asked me if I thought the course was long. Of course, I did! Vicki was almost a minute slower than her usual time. According to this morning's Meridian Star newspaper report, the course was 3.2 mile. This would equate to about a 26:10 for me. I'm not sure I buy that. I'd place my effort at more like 26:30. It really doesn't matter since either would be my fastest 5K in a very long time.
 
Vicki won the 50 plus age-group and I was second. Other Pacers also did quite well. © Becky Ryder 

Corey Rigdon takes victory at Moonlight

 


 

 

Corey Rigdon did not like his time of 17:02 in Friday's Meridian Moonlight Run, but his time in the 5K race was fast enough to land him the overall champion award in a field of 163 runners.

"I want to do better in every race," the 17-year-old West Lauderdale High School student said. "I was trying to break 16 minutes but it didn't happen."

Rigdon along with the entire West Lauderdale cross country team ran the 3.2-mile race at 10:15 p.m.

"This is like a preseason race for us," Rigdon said. "The course is really good. It was kind of hot out there though."

The overall female winner was Logan Waites, 15, of Hattiesburg, who finished the 5K in 19:27.

Eli Allen, 12, of Collinsville was the overall winner in the fun run, for children 12 years old and under. He finished the one-mile run in 6:12.

Angie White of Brandon finished as the overall two-mile walk champion with a time of 18:26.

This year's race drew a slightly larger number of participants, 10 more to be exact from 193 last year to 203 this year.

"I am very, very pleased with the outcome especially considering what the weather was earlier in the day," said Mary Quince, who is one of the race organizers. "We had more kids in the fun run this year than we ever had before."

Quince said runners came from as far away as Hattiesburg, Laurel and Quitman this year to participate in the race.

"Tonight was just great," Quince said. "This was one of the best we've ever had. I always come out here with high hopes that the race will turn out beautifully, and I have not been disappointed since we started this in 2001."