A total of 330 runners competed along with 309 of their walker peers in an action-packed race on the challenging 27th Annual Run Thru History during a cool morning on Saturday March 3, 2006.  The race took place along the beautiful Vicksburg National Military Park in Vicksburg, MS.  The runners had fun along 10K of hills and more hills while the walkers did it in the 5K race.  Fifty-seven kids competed in the Blue/gray Mile Run.

Rob Oates easily dominated the 10K race finishing in 35:55 followed by Lee Walker (38:02) and Reed Rodgers (38:20).  In the women competition Keri White (41:32) managed a 12 seconds win over Kristi Hall (41:44), who was followed two minutes and half back by Yolanda Brown (44:13).  In the 5K Walk race Kirby Hendrix in 30:31 led a strong field across the line.  Tina Branan, second overall, won the female competition in 31:22.

The Pine Belt Pacers were well represented by Amy Keywood, Nestor Raul Anzola, and Martha Sartor.  Amy placed second in her age group in the 10K finishing in 50:38.  Nestor Raul won the Master competition in the 5K Walk (33:27).  Martha enjoyed a good 10K race coming from 4 months of inactivity after moving from the Pine Belt at the end of last year.  Finally, local Hattiesburg runner Consuella Hooks placed third in her group (47:27).  The race was directed by the Mississippi Track Club.

In an additional note, you know that I always joke about being the “Fastest Colombian Runner Living in Hattiesburg” (maybe the only one!).  Well, I met a fellow countrywoman in Vicksburg, who is currently living in Madison and runs a lot faster I would ever do.  Fabiana finished the hilly 10K course in 47:00 and placed second in her age group.  If I had run the 10K race, I would probably have finished in about 52-54 minutes.  By the way, she also qualified for the Boston Marathon a couple of months ago.  So, if she comes to run any race in the Pine Belt area, I will immediately become the “Former Fastest Colombian in Hattiesburg”

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