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South Central Classic 5K
Run/Walk |
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The first ever
South Central Classic was held in Laurel on September 16
with a very good crowd of people participating in the 5K.
Ninety-six people completed the race and a few others
started. After a few instructions, we were off. Jim Coll
took the early lead and had no trouble winning, but Jim was
the only one of the top finishers who actually knew the
course and did not take any detours. A couple of us took a
wrong turn within the first half mile, and then Keith, John,
and Richie decided to take the long way back and tour the
Sawmill Mall during the last part of the race. Audrey
Jackson flipped a coin with her husband to see who would get
to come to the race and who would stay home and do child
duty. Luckily Audrey won the coin toss, and she was also
the female winner of the race. Of course, as I always say,
everyone who ran and finished was a winner. After the race
we had good food with the usual sports drink, bananas,
granola bars, and water. A few lucky people won door prizes.
Thanks to all of the people at the Wellness Center who
worked hard to put this race on. Also thanks to the Laurel
Police and Fire Departments for making sure that the course
was safe for the runners. This was a good first race with
great potential. The next area race is the South Jones Band
of Braves race in Ellisville on September 30. See you all
there.
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South Central Classic
Results
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OVERALL - MALE - Jim Coll |
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Coll, Jackson capture South
Central Classic Over 90 runners compete in first annual South Central 5K Run By Shawn Wansley, sports@laurelleadercall.com Fellow runners said Jim Coll would be someone to watch during the first annual South Central Classic 5K Run. Those folks proved to be correct. Coll, a Hattiesburg resident, cruised the downtown Laurel course in a time of 18:46 to capture the overall male title Saturday morning. “It was a real nice course and the organizers did a great job,” said Coll. “We came out here Monday and ran around the course and I liked it. There were some nice hills out there. “I thought I would have a good day. I had been running fairly well, so I am pleased. It was a solid run.” Sumrall’s Audrey Jackson was the overall female winner in a time of 22:34, while Laurel’s Phillip Wedgeworth was the masters winner. Jackson, who captured last fall’s Toys for Tots 5K Run, said the run was a good one. “It was a well-run race,” she said. “There were a few hills there that slowed me down a little bit, but it was nice and cool this morning. Overall, it was a good race.” Both Coll and Jackson had most recently competed in the Labor Your Legs 5K Run on Labor Day in Hattiesburg. “I ran the Labor Day in Hattiesburg and I ran it in about the same time,” said Coll, who won the 30-39 male division that day with a 18:39. “I was sixth there, but it was a little bigger field.” Jackson won the 40-49 female division in the Labor Day Run with a time of 22:27. “My last race was a personal best for me,” said Jackson. “I was about 10 seconds off of my personal best today. I’ve been training a lot, but I expected to be a little slower today. I was, but not as bad as a I thought I would be. So, I am happy with how I did.” Saturday’s course began at the South Central Regional Medical Center’s Wellness Center on Beacon St. The course went down Fifth Ave. all the way to the old Jitney Jungle, crossed 15th St. back to Seventh Ave. and then to Sixth Ave. Runners then headed back down Sixth Ave. to West Fifth St. They took a right there and then went to Carroll Gartin Blvd. before returning to Beacon St. and to the finish line. Coll, who is the Manager of Communications for the University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Association, enjoyed the course. “Conditions were not bad at all,” said Coll, who also works on the statistics crew for Southern Miss home football games. “Those long straightaways really help. You’ve got all of the trees and there was no wind, so it made for a nice run.” |
