The 2008 DeLeon Springs 5K & Half Marathon

Jan 07, 2008

5K- 163 finishers

13.1 - 170 finishers

The “road” to this year’s DeLeon Springs Race(s) was actually many roads.

For both the male and female winners of the half, for example, Chuck Lennon Park-- where the races were staged from--was a terminus that they hope will lead to upcoming triathlons.

“I’m doing Ironman Arizona, in Tempe, in April, and this was a hard training day,” explained Craig Dobson, of Orlando. The 1987 Deland High School graduate, who ironically trained under then coach and current race director John Boyle, came into the race with a 1:17 PR at the (former) Orlando Citrus Bowl Half Marathon. He describes his 1:22:02 finish, as “a good time on a beautiful course…and a perfect day.”

His road to victory, however, wasn’t completely clear of obstacles.

“They (the leaders) took off. It was kind of disheartening at the 5K turnaround (which followed the same route) when they all kept going. There were about six or seven guys. I passed them, and finally at 11 ½ I passed the guy in the lead (Michael Stone, who finished second).”

Stone, who recently moved to the Sunshine State from Morris Township, New Jersey, was runner-up in his first trip down half marathon lane.

“I was shooting for a 1:26, but ended up with a 1:22:37, going a lot faster than I thought,” said Stone. “(In most races) I like to go out in the lead and finish that way. I had the lead for 11 ½, but I didn’t drink anything the whole way and just ‘fell asleep.’ It happens.”

The 28 year old computer technician is coming off the December 16^th Jacksonville Marathon, where he ran a 3:15:30 (4^th in his age group and 59^th overall).

“I do a lot of miles. I peaked at about 100, and am doing about 90 (a week) now.”

Unlike Dobson and a number of the entrants, this was no training run.

“I don’t really believe in training runs. If you are going to train, train. If you are going to race, race.”

Hopefully, 24 year old Mallory Dunn of Daytona Beach didn’t overhear him. She is looking down the road to a November Ironman.

“It has a full marathon in it. I’ve run a few (longer runs), but not so much lately. This was a good race, but it was definitely harder coming back (after the turnaround) into the sun.”

Dunn, a lifeguard since she was 16, has the advantage of training on the beach, where she can literally do all three: swim, run, and bike. Recently she set a PR of 17:44 at the (Daytona Beach) Stonewood 5K.

For Sheila Sullivan, winner of the women’s 5K, it was, as usual, a family trip. From out of the car and onto the race course came her children Ryan (7), Chris (9), and Lindsey (11), all three of whom joined her in the awards ceremony as an age group winner (third, first, and second, respectively, if you’re keeping score). In case you are at a local road race and don’t know who the Sullivans are, just look for a fast-moving redhead and it’s a safe bet that you’ve spotted one of them.

Sheila, who attended Emory College (Atlanta) where she ran track and cross country, is a transplant from Chappaqua (Westchester, NY). Her PR for the 5K is 19:22. She probably runs at least that fast on school mornings.

Leading the field from start to finish, and the overall male 5K winner, was 15 year old Andrew Epifanio of Deland. All during Christmas break he and his older brother Chris (an FGCU student) could be seen training on area highways and byways (some not all that far from the race course), bridging the gap between fall (cross country) and spring (track). Andrew’s three consecutive sub-six minute miles--en route to an 18:33 finish--will undoubtedly be a good starting point come track season.

Faces in the Crowd: Jerry Lardinois

Although he didn’t compete in either race--Jerry is recovering from a recent back surgery--he has, nonetheless, been a fixture at Daytona area road races since he moved to Port Orange after retiring as postmaster in Green Bay, Wisconsin. There he was known as the founder and former race director of the Bar Belly 2, a two mile run with four beer stops. Hereabouts, however, he is the organizer of Daytona’s Running Grand Prix.

“When I moved down here I had to go to Orlando and Jacksonville to run in a Grand Prix,” Jerry explains. “I didn’t want the local races to fold up (because of a drop off in attendance). Also, I wanted to give something back to the sport that has given me so much good health, joy and camaraderie.

“I went to the area race directors and told them what I had in mind. We took ten races and made a Daytona area Grand Prix. There is no extra charge to the runners. Points are awarded based on the order of finish in each of the (five year) age groups. First place gets 10 points, second gets seven, third five, fourth three and fifth one. At the end of the year we will give 64 awards.

“So far all of the races have had an increase in the number of runners.”

If you wish to locate Grand Prix events, they are listed on line at Altavistasports.com, and in “Florida Running & Triathlon” magazine.

Top 10 Half Marathon Finishers

Males

Time Females Time

1) Craig Dobson 1:22:02 10)Mallory Dunn 1:26:44

2)Michael Stone 1:22:37 18)Alex Gemma 1:32:33

3)Sean Hendryx 1:22:56 21)Sue O’Malley 1:33:13
4)William Burgos 1:24:30 26)Elisabeth Diamond 1:35:02

5)Julius Chirieleison 1:24:50 28)Kathleen Hoover 1:36:32

6)Alejandro Pinedo 1:25:11 41)Cija Werblo 1:41:06

7)Bill Wenner 1:25:38 43)April Darrow 1:41:24

8)Mike Maser 1:26:04 45)Amy Badger 1:42:40