Everhart Owl Run draws record # of participants
By Bill McGuire
The hills are tough, and the weather always seems to be hot and humid. But there
are t-shirts for all runners, and the Sno-Kone man is on the scene, so this
event is still a favorite of Leon County middle schoolers and Gretchen Everhart
athletes alike. It's the Everhart Owl Run, and a record number of participants
were on hand for the 15th annual edition, which was held Thursday, Sept. 30,
2004.
Among the V.I.P.s on hand for the festivities included State Representative
Loranne Ausley (who is also a Gulf Winds Track Club member), and Ward Spisso,
Executive Director of Leon County Schools Exceptional Student Education. Another
distinguished guest on hand was coaching legend Harry Jacobs, who was invited as
this year's featured speaker. Mr. Jacobs is an Assistant Principal at Jefferson
County High School, as well as the father of an Everhart student, Evan. One of
his other sons, Taylor, currently plays for the Washington Redskins of the
National Football League. Mr. Jacobs is also one of the most successful high
school track coaches in the history of Florida. His eleven consecutive state
championships for boys' track at F.A.M.U. High School is a state record. Coach
Jacobs gave a low-key, but inspiring, talk to the runners. He stressed the
importance of lifetime fitness, and mentioned how he had developed his own
physical conditioning by running as a young man.
After Mr. Jacobs brief pep talk, it was "off to the races"! The
Everhart runners went first, and a large and enthusiastic group it was! This
year, the Everhart seniors joined in the run, adding to the strictly middle
school field of the past several years. After a spirited battle up front, it was
Murice Shuler emerging victorious over the other 41 finishers. Clarence Jones
was second, and Jason Thompson, third. Thompson treated the crowd to a
spontaneous cartwheel as he sprinted down the final straightaway (the first
time). He then continued past the finish line, and proceeded to run another
entire loop of the course! The first Everhart girl to finish, Classie Lewis, was
a repeat winner, having also won last year's race. Marjawana Morris and Erica
Mann finished second and third. Ian ("I WON last place") Haedick,
defended his 2003 "final finisher" title to rousing cheers from the
crowd.
The Middle School Girls' Race was up next, and it was dominated by Mallory
Alonzo of Raa, who gradually opened a large lead over the entire field. By the
time she crossed the finish line in 14:01, she had built a 33 second lead over
Courtney Whitehead of Swift Creek. Whitehead's performance was, in itself, quite
impressive, as she managed to put 32 seconds between herself and third place
finisher, Raa's Summer Shepherd. Raa steamrolled runner-up Deer Lake and the
rest of the field for the team championship, scoring 22 points and putting six
girls in the top nine!
If the Owl Run seemed bigger this year, it's because it WAS! Not only did the
Everhart section approximately double in size, but the middle school boys' race
grew from 120 finishers in 2003, to 159 this year…an increase of 33%! It's
great to see more kids participating in fitness activities like cross country,
and the Owl Run is proud to be a part of this trend. But regardless of the
number of runners,
Cobb's Graham Hawkes was clearly the class of the boys' field, running an
excellent 11:51 to best runner-up Will Stanford of Raa by 32 seconds. Stanford
edged out Swift Creek's Kurt Dietrich by two seconds for second place. In the
boys' team division, Raa again ran away with the title, scoring 33 points to
Swift Creek's 56.
At the awards ceremony following the races, commemorative plaques were awarded
to Shannon Sullivan of Sports Beat and to Gulf Winds Track Club for their loyal
and generous support of the Owl Run. Sullivan and the track club's Chenoweth
Committee, with help from Leon County Schools Student Activities Office, have
underwritten the entire cost of the popular Owl Run t-shirts for the past
several years. Our sincere thanks to these folks for making sure every Owl Run
participant goes home with a top quality race t-shirt!
Thanks are also in order for Pat Erwin of Balloons Unlimited for (once again)
donating and arranging that great array of balloons for the "Big Bend's
Greatest Finish Line"! Kudos as well to several student groups who came to
help from various parts of the city. Track club member and Godby E.S.E. teacher
Chris Sumner brought his Community Based Instruction class for a lesson in
community service. And a group of Leon High School runners traveled to Everhart
to aid their middle school counterparts.
A huge debt of gratitude is owed to the Gulf Winds Track Club, who lend us their
equipment free of charge each year, and to their members who so generously
donate their time to this event. Special mention to Ray Hanlon and Bill Lott,
who assemble the entire finish area in such festive and unique fashion, and who
time all the runners and manage the finish line, year after year. Lamons Warren
and Marilynn Wills once again expertly handled all the scoring and results.
Track club members Julie Clark, Joe Crook, Jimmy Kalfas, Maria Vives-Rodriquez,
Lori Willner and children, Samuel and Mycah Rose, Andrew Wills, Jere and Kay
Moore, and Christopher McGuire all worked the entire morning to make sure the
Owl Run was a safe and successful event. Many had to take leave time from work.
These folks are the BEST!
The Everhart parents came through for the Owl Run once again, by conducting the
annual bake and beverage sale while their children ran. Many of those who
couldn't volunteer sent donations for the sale. Parent and Gretchen Everhart
School webmaster extraordinaire, Clyde Benedix, was on hand to capture all the
action on his digital camera, as was the track club's John Kalin. Both gentlemen
were kind enough to provide all their photos to race director Bill McGuire via
c.d. This enabled Bill to make copies for the middle school coaches to share
with their runners.
In reading over this race report, it is obvious that these words do not do
justice to the event itself. But there is a better way to learn more about the
Owl Run, and that is to come out to next year's edition. Of course, we'd love to
have you volunteer. But we appreciate spectators, as well. To really get a feel
for what the Owl Run is about, you need to be there in person, to see and
experience the effort, energy and joy that all these young people put forth. So,
try to make it in 2005. I promise you, you'll be glad you came.