Hi Elmer,
In the report I sent yesterday, I made reference to a fellow runner who was
hit by a car on Thursday.  I was reading the newspaper this morning and
found that James McKinnie died yesterday. It's a sad day for the running/cycling community.  Our condolences to his family.

Here are a few notes.  The 5K Watermelon Classic took place in Jackson, MS
on Monday July 4th.   This race has been run in the area since 1983.  It
included a 5K run and walk plus a one mile fun run and a Tot Trot for
children ages 3 and under.  The event was held in "ideal" weather conditions
(sunny sky and temperature around 80ºF!) and attracted more than 600 people
of all ages and abilities.  Awards were given out to men and women in 12 age
categories as well as running and walking teams during a post-race
celebration in front of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum at
Lakeland Drive.  Everyone enjoyed the challenging somehow hilly course.

Right before the race Jack Ward gave us some sad news.  James McKinnie, an
active Mississippi Track Club member, was hit by a pickup while riding his
bike last Thursday.  He was in very critical conditions at the University of
Mississippi Critical Center.  After some instructions the gun went off, and
the fastest runners vanished into the distance quickly headed down the
street (Phillip will give you the final results).  The walkers started one
minute behind the runners, and a group of about 10 or so came off really
fast.  I started off fast for me, but tried not to go out too fast to avoid
some familiar face complained about my walking technique.  I passed about 3
people in the first 1/4 mile, and then tried my best to settle into an even
pace, while trying to stick close to the real race walkers at the front. The
first ¾ mile went by easily.  Then we had to deal with a long, long extended
hill.  Since I was wearing an Uncle Sam hat and some other goodies over my
t-shirt, I was getting tired and started burning out; however, I tried to
push it as much as I could.  I managed to pass some runners and kept my pace
in the last mile.  I reached and crossed the finish line in a little more
than 33 minutes.

The Pine Belt Pacers were represented by Phillip Wedgeworth (his first race
in 2005!), Keith and Deborah Barrett, Hollie and Becky Ryder, Larry Sykes,
and Nestor Raul Anzola.  Everybody did fine, felt great, and went away with
a smile on his/her face.  In the 5K run Becky won her age group with a 26
minutes time, and Phillip placed second in his category (twenty-something
minutes).  Keith finished in 22' and Deborah in 32' (Results are probably
not exactly accurate, but nobody cares anyway!).  In the 5K Walk, Larry and
Hollie placed first and second respectively in their age group.  I was lucky
and got the Masters award.  Our walking PBP team was second overall.  Lots
of watermelon and bananas were eaten and about 100 door prizes were given
out to the finishers. Big thanks to Jack Ward and the Mississippi Track Club
volunteers for another very well organized race! © Pijume Diwesi
 

The Watermelon Classic was held in Jackson with 544 runners, 181 race walkers, and 100 one-milers plus the tot crawl. The conditions were the usual hot and humid, but we did get a break with a cloud cover for much of the race, but the heat made up for the clouds. After a few words of instruction, we were given some bad news about the death of James McKinnie, who died after being stuck by a car while riding his bike. James was an active member of the Mississippi Track Club and worked hard every year to help put on the Watermelon Classic. Those of us who knew James were greatly saddened. Finally the starting gun sent us off on our way. With so many runners, things were crowded for a while. Gary Guerrero was able to hold off last year's winner Mark Thorne and take the overall honors with a time of 16:29. Mark was second at 16:36, and he was followed by Jim George at 17:08. Mike Thrailkill was fourth and took the Masters award. Ira Irving was the Grand Masters winner. Kristi Walski kept up her winning ways on the female side. She was followed by Corrine Purr and Mary Catherine Barlow. Marion Geissinger took the Masters and Don Lee Andrews was the Grand Masters winner. Debbie Cheney easily won the race walk by beating the second finisher by over two minutes. Kay Mosley and Tina Branan were the second and third female finishers. Jackie Blue and Donna Gonzales took Masters and Grand Masters honors in the race walk. Kirby Hendrix was the first male race walker, and he was followed by Bennett Randman and Samuel Martin. Nestor Anzola was the Masters male, and David Chaney was the Grand Masters winner. The Pine Belt Pacers were well represented at this event. In addition to Nestor's win, Becky Ryder won her age group as did Larry Sykers. Holly Ryder and Phillip Wedgeworth were both second in their age groups. Also representing the PBPers was Keith and Debbie Barrett and Chuck Gartzman. The after-race activities were almost as hot as the race since everything is outside in the sun. We did have water, soft drinks, bananas, and plenty of ice-cold watermelon. Unfortunately the water stop during the race ran out of the thirty gallons of water well before everyone had a chance to get water. This is one of the bigger MTC races. The before and after race visiting is worth the price of running. Thanks to Jack, Jim and all of the MTC people for a well-run event. Complete results are on the MTC web page. © Phillip Wedgeworth


Phillip Wedgeworth placed in his age group


Top Three finishers Jim George, Mark Thorne, and Gary Guerrero


Top Three Female Finishers


Masters Winners Mike Thrailkill and Marion Geisllinger


Grandmasters Winners Don Lee Andrews and Ira Irving


Al Waddell and Mark Lipking, future in-laws.
Al's daughter is going to marry Mark's son this coming weekend.
The bride and groom met at a Mississippi Track Club race


Becky and Holly Ryder after the race


Top three male racewalkers


Top three female race walkers


Masters winners in race walk Nestor Anzola and Jackie Blue


Grandmaster winner in racewalk David Cheney