VSU Strides into next century with Centennial 5K Fun Run/Walk

Hundreds showed up August 19 to run, walk or cheer on participants in Valdosta State University's Centennial 5K Fun Run/Walk, the culmination of a weekend of activities celebrating the university's 100th birthday.

Nearly 300 registered to participate in VSU's Centennial 5K Fun Run/Walk, making it one of the biggest 5K races in Valdosta. VSU students, staff, members of the community, and even several out-of-town folks as far away as Wisconsin helped make this event a success.

Awards were presented by VSU President Ronald M. Zaccari to the first, second and third place male and female winners in eight age categories, to the overall first, second and third place male and female walkers, and to the first place male and female participants overall.

Derek Storbeck and Melissa Daugherty received the first place male and female overall awards.

Female age category awards are as follows:

14/under: (1st) Noelani Mathews, (2nd) Mary Alice Smoot, and (3rd) Anna Leigh Powell.
15 to 19: (1st) Ashley Hiott, (2nd) Vicky Cato, and (3rd) Kaynneka Gibbs.
29 to 29: (1st) JoAnn Fuhrer, (2nd) Heather McLure, and (3rd) Melissa Weinkle.
30 to 39: (1st) Susan Fischer, (2nd) April Scruggs, and (3rd) Michelle Bailey.
40 to 49: (1st) Kathy Adams, (2nd) Linda Wood, and (3rd) Ada Steele.
50 to 59: (1st) Janis Lee, (2nd) Linda Calendrillo, and (3rd) Marcia Hummel.
60 to 69: (1st) Sheryl Dasinger, (2nd) Virginia Curry, and (3rd) Jane Whitehead.
70 to 99: (1st) Thelma Force.

Male age category awards are as follows:

14/under: (1st) David Oeth, (2nd) Matthew Turner, and (3rd) Thomas Greneker.
15 to 19: (1st) Brandon Joyner, (2nd) Alan McGough, and (3rd) Joshua Abinal.
29 to 29: (1st) Brandon Young, (2nd) Chris Holland, and (3rd) Masked Avenger.
30 to 39: (1st) John Seppala, (2nd) Douglas Harriman, and (3rd) Britt McLane.
40 to 49: (1st) Mark Kasper, (2nd) Michael Novack, and (3rd) Thomas Phillips.
50 to 59: (1st) Rusty Jones, (2nd) Lars Leader, and (3rd) George Oliver.
60 to 69: (1st) John Rakestraw, (2nd) Joe Christian, and (3rd) Russell Hill.
70 to 99: (1st) Leonard Cato, and (2nd) Billy Lee.

First, second and third place female walkers were Jeanne Severns, Denise Bogart, and Christina Barkley. Top male walkers were Jim Hall, Kevin Boyd and Jim Anderson.

Charlie Mizell

Special awards were also presented to the wheelchair athlete Charlie Mizell; to the oldest participant, Billy Lee, age 75; and to the youngest participant, John David Greneker, age 5.

The university's Centennial Steering Committee was the largest sponsor of the Centennial 5K Fun Run/Walk, with help from several other on-campus organizations such as the Campus Wellness Committee, the Farber Student Heath Center, College of Nursing students, the Alumni Association, the Council on Staff Affairs, Campus Recreation, University Police, exercise physiology students, and University Relations. Finish line results were coordinated and provided by Get Active Running and More, located at 3200-C Ashley Street.

The university plans to host the Second Annual Centennial 5K Fun Run/Walk next year and similar events for the seven centennial celebration years, 2006-2013--marking the time in history when VSU was established in 1906 until the time the first students walked into the classroom in 1913.

For more information on the event or any other centennial activity, contact Sementha Mathews, manager of Public Information and Media Relations, at 333-2163, or visit the VSU website at www.valdosta.edu .