90-plus runners participate in Seventh Annual Shamrock Jog & Jam

Published 3:13 pm Wednesday, March 29, 2017

By MICHAEL MURRAY

AMERICUS – The Seventh Annual Shamrock Jog and Jam, held on March 18 in Americus, was a smashing success.
90 athletes and charity-minded participants came to Americus from all corners of the state to test their speed in the 5K, while many more took part in the one-mile fun run to help raise funds to benefit the Scott Law Foundation.
A young, 19-year-old racer named Jaren Hill took top honors in the 5K competition with an impressive time of 21:08. Mitchell Sinyard followed closely, earning the top spot in the men’s masters division with a time of 21:30.
Local running enthusiast, Charlene Pennymon, won the overall women’s division with a time of 23:43. Laura Dudley took the top honors in the female master’s division with a time of 24:12.

SUBMITTED PHOTO:
Jalen Hill, seen above accepting his award at the completion of he race, was the overall winner of the Shamrock Jog and Jam 5K event on March 18 in Americus.

Kevin Richmond earned the overall third spot in the race, winning the 11-14-year-old division with a time of 22:36. Emily Phillips followed, taking the same honors in the 11-14-year-old female division with a time of 25:04.
Jantz Womack followed closely behind Hill in the 14-19 male division, completing the 5K in 26:53.
Logan Collins took top honors in the male 25-29-year-old division, finishing in 24:30, as Courtney Grebbel was making her way towards the finish line to earn first place in the women’s division of the same age group.
Bucky Thompson took the fifth overall spot in the 5K competition, winning the men’s 30-34-year-old division with a time of 23:15.
Rebecca Sizemore won first place in the women’s 30-34-year-old division with a time of 27:01.
In addition to his overall fourth-place finish, Chris Phillips finished first in the 35-39-year-old division with a time of 22:37.
Julie Bonner won the same title among her fellow 35-39-year-old female racers with a finishing time of 29:33.
Braden Miller earned a seventh-place overall title and finished first in the 40-44-year-old men’s age group, completing the course in 23:48. Spring Minick took the same honors in the female division with a completion time of 28:56.
Anton Flores finished first among male 45-49-year-old competitors with a completion time of 25:24.
Gordy Bonner was the top male racer on the 50-54-year-old division, finishing one second over 24 minutes.
Sandra Secrest wrapped up the race in 32:49 to lead the 55-59-year-old women.
Sue Hite led the 60-64-year-old runners with a time of 26:04, followed by Lanier Harrison, who led the men in the same age group.
Dan McGowan led the way for the 65-69-year-old racers, finishing in 29:19, followed by Barbara Nasworthy, who led the women’s division in the same age group.
Chris Scammon was the race’s only participant in the 70-plus category to complete the course.
All proceeds garnered from the event go to benefit the Scott Law Foundation, which provides direct financial assistance to Sumter and surrounding county residents suffering from cancer and other physical ailments. The Scott Law Foundation is committed to fulfilling the special needs of these patients and their families in order to make the fight for survival an easier one.