Record Field Sizzles at Saturday's 5K

A record field of more than 200 runners took to the race course Saturday evening for the annual running of the 5K Sizzler on St. George Island.
With 175 runners in the 5K race, a featured race on the Gulf Winds Track Club's Grand Prix Circuit, and 29 in the One-Mile Fun Run, the race events drew more competitors than at any of the previous years.
"We advertised in several Southeastern running clubs, from Pensacola to Huntsville to Birmingham to Knoxville and Nashville," said Hobson Fulmer, the Eastpoint veterinarian who organized the race.
Most of the runners came from Tallahassee, although Fulmer said they weren't necessarily all from the Gulf Winds Track Club.
"A lot of Gulf Winds runners didn't come, and a lot of people, non-Gulf Winds runners, came from Tallahassee" he said. "We had people from all over."
Tripp Southerland, 23, won the race in 16:44, four seconds ahead of John Robida, 28.
"These guys are right now the top two runners at Gulf Winds Track Club and in Tallahassee," said Fulmer. "They've been duking it out all year. It's kind of fun to watch them race.
"They were neck and neck at the halfway point," said Fulmer, noting that both ran the Boston Marathon.
Stephanie Liles, 36, was the top female finisher at 19:11. "She's one of the top female runners in Tallahassee," said Fulmer, noting that the entire field posted times that were "one of the fastest ones we've had."
Fulmer said there were no heat-related injuries, although "one of the lead runners pulled up with a leg muscle issue, and dropped out halfway."
He said the event raised a little over $7,000, most from eight sponsors - Harry A's, Apalachicola Bay Animal Clinic, Novartis, Bayer, Lilly, Merial, Pfizer and Hills Pet Nutrition.
Fulmer said that the event has stopped soliciting pet food donations. "What happened is Hills donates food to our animal shelter so we don't have to do that anymore," he said.
Harry A's hosted a bang-up post-race party that was a big success, said Fulmer.
Anne Eason, from Cape San Blas, made ceramic plates and bowls for the overall winners, and Fulmer gave out black embossed dog tags on a chain for the age group awards.
Local folks who won in the r age group included Port St. Joe's John Nevels, 22, who ran a 18:21 to finish fifth and first in the 20-24 age group for males.
Carrabelle's Larry Miller, 63, ran a 24:11 to finish second among 60-64 year old males.
Other local runners include Cliff Jones, 22, of Port St. Joe who ran a 25:30 to finish 65th; Apalachicola's Michael Shuler, 43, who despite hernia surgery earlier in the month, ran a 25:40 to finish 66th; Elaine Flournoy, 55, who ran a 36:11 to finish 147th; Gabe Gordon, 25, who ran a 38:48 to finish 157th; and Tress Anderson, 32, who ran 38:57 to finish 158th.
The race was run on a newly-calibrated US. Track and Field certified course , measured with a calibrated bike. "He (Bill McGuire) will tell all me exactly how many feet from power lines, and what each mile marker is, down to feet and inches so any records that are set are legitimate," said Fulmer. "One that's measured with a car's not accurate."
The course had to be recertified after the park was put in the center of the island.
Fulmer extended thanks to Ed Mitchem for directing traffic; to Nick and Barbara Yonclas and John Culberson for helping with times; to the island's first responders; to the Gulf Winds Track Club volunteers; to the St. George Island Business Association for donating bottled water; and for the sheriff's office for helping with security.