The first annual Gray-Daniels Chevrolet Club 5K was held in Brandon on Saturday, May 27 at 7:30 a.m with a very good group of runners, race walkers, and one-milers--especially for a first-time race. This race started and ended atThe Club in Brandon. After a few instructions by race director, Jack Ward, we were off on a very hot course. The course started off in the warm sun and ended the same way, but after crossing Highway 80 and entering Crossgates Subdivision, we had some shade for a while. The course was fairly flat for a Jackson area run; however, we did have a few hills. This race, like so many others, saw a good number of runners over 40. As a matter of fact ten of the first twenty-five were over 40, and several of those were over 50. The overall winner, Mark Thorne, was 39 and will become a Masters runner very soon. Mark ran a very fast 16:32, and he was followed by the Masters winner forty-eight year old Jim George who was only 20 seconds back at 16:52. The Grand Masters winner, Cal Peters, ran a 20:04 and barely beat Al Waddell by one second. The first female finisher was Melanie Rankin who ran a 19:44. The Masters and Grand Masters winners were Della Hilburn and Monica Baldwin. Larry Sykes won the Race Walk division with a good time of 31:29. One of my former students from a very long time ago, Buddy Brannon, won the Masters in the Race Walk. Casear Hamilton took Grand Masters honors in the race walk. Carolyn Graham was the female Race Walk winner. Donna Monsour and Donna Gonzales won Masters and Grand Masters in the Race Walk. After the race we had plenty of good food with pizza, bananas, oranges, strawberries, pineapples, grapes, and cookies. One of the best things about this race was shower facilities in The Club. Thanks to the MTC for putting on another quality event. © Phillip Wedgeworth
See Results

1. Masters Winners Jim George and Della Hilbur
2. Overall Winners Mark Thorne and Melanie Rankin
3. Winning Race Walkers Larry Sykes and Carolyn Graham
4. Curtis Kynerd and Al Wadell were winners
5. Grand Masters in Race Walk Donna Gonzales and Cesear Hamilton
6. Grand Masters Winners Cal Peters and Monica Baldwin
7. Jim George, Mark Lipking, and Charles Allred
8. John Littich and Phillip Wedgeworth won their respective age groups
9. Masters Winners in Race Walk Buddy Brannon and Donna Monsour