5K - 98 finishers
I had a friend who seemed to make a habit of finishing just beyond road race age group results. If there were three prizes in his age group, he’d finish fourth. If there were five, he would no doubt be sixth. After years of trying different workouts, a vegetarian diet, and who knows what else, he hit upon the idea of searching for the “secret race.” Roughly defined, it was a race that was so under publicized that the subsequent light turnout would give him a fighting chance of finally earning a medal.
This was just that kind of race. Unless you are a runner living in DeLand, or had attended the Faith and Health 5K the week before (where a handful of applications found their way to the finish area), chances are you missed it.
Don’t think it was completely lacking in competition. The overall winners, Andrew Epifanio (17:45) and Alexa Gremma (20:25), would have made their presence known in any size race, but interspersed in the field were a number of talented and hard working runners who finally had their opportunity to be up front.
Take 9 year old Chris Sullivan, for example. Already one of the top age group runners in the state (his time of 20:18 at the Universal 5K would be second best on the November-December 2007 list in Florida Running and Triathlon), he certainly hit his stride on the three-loop course around Sperling Sports Complex.
“It helped having no shoes on,” he remarked afterwards, referring to his shoeless performance in easily winning the boys elementary category.
“He always runs better on the beach,” explained his mother Sheila afterwards. “We got here and said ’Grass!’ He can run without shoes.”
Sheila, a top area runner in her own right, chose to run with her 11 year old daughter, Lindsey, who won the girl’s elementary category in 29:58.
The high school category was swept by DeLand track (and cross country) team members. Behind Epifanio, Ryan Laplante and Darrin Gingres ran the course in tandem, before Gingres won the final sprint to the finish (19:16).
“It was fun. There wasn’t a lot of pressure…and there wasn’t an oval involved,” explained Laplante, referring to his workouts as a member of the track team.
The course was different than the one used by coach Jim Lowenstein for the DeLand Invitational and 5 Star Conference meets. It was a simple (nearly) three loop course around the perimeter of the park. This led to some pre-race speculation to its actual distance. Based upon comparison of finish times with those recorded in recent (certified) road races, it was probably dead on.
“I liked it better than our regular course,” said Epifanio. “The laps went a lot faster. This was wide open. For the one we ran last fall you have to stay close to the fence and slow down at the corners, especially just before the finish where we turn (at the maintenance building). I was saving a little, though, because I thought it would be longer.”
Completing the DeLand sweep of the high school division was Joelle Houser, who won the girls category in 23:05.
The overall female champion was Alex Gremma. While a little off her recent 19:44 at the Around the Universe 5K, she nearly matched her time at the Faith and Health 5K last weekend (20:24) with a 20:25.
“I didn’t even know it was cross country,” she explained. “I had the wrong sneakers; I had racing flats on.”
While in high school in Rhode Island, Gremma was a top runner at LaSalle Academy. Her 16:39, which she ran when she was 18, remains her PR.
“I got hit by a Dodge Ram while on my bicycle. My fastest time after that was about 18:40. I kind of laid back today because I’m nursing a knee injury. I didn’t push too hard. I guess I could have run faster, but I was enjoying the course. It is certainly better on your knees and joints.”
Gremma finished fifth overall.
Also in the race was Leslie Grossman, of Ormond. Along with Sandy, who works with her at Ormond Elementary, and her son Matt Archer, they ran their first cross country run.
“It was nice,” said Grossman. “I just had to be more careful of my footing.”
All the finishers received a unique, commemorative medallion fashioned by Mrs. Geist and her art class at Woodward Elementary. Considering the combination of the warm, sunny weather, $5 entry fee and attractive tee shirts, the race will not be a “secret” for long.
RESULTS
Overall: Male-G. Andrew Epifanio (17:45) and Female-Alexa Gremma (20:25)
High School: Male-Darrin Gingres (19:16) and Female-Joelle Houser (23:05)
Middle School: Male-Jesse Bass (no time) and Female-Lindsey Sullivan (29:59)
Elementary: Male-Chris Sullivan (20:11) and Female-Kasey Trickey (31:09)
Overall: Male-G. Andrew Epifanio (17:45) and Female-Alexa Gremma (20:25)
High School: Male-Darrin Gingres (19:16) and Female-Joelle Houser (23:05)
Middle School: Male-Jesse Bass (no time) and Female-Lindsey Sullivan (29:59)
Elementary: Male-Chris Sullivan (20:11) and Female-Kasey Trickey (31:09)