By David Yon
Running and music can mix quite superbly as the 2002 edition of Fall Fest demonstrated. Jim McSoley (30:48) and Carrie Weyant (35:37) brought the crowd to its feet with winning performances in the Five mile run, while Crooked Shooz and Pam Laws closed out eight hours of music with foot stomping performances. The Havana Fest loss is Tallahassee’s gain. With the Havana event losing its momentum, Budlite decided to keep its contribution going and made Fall Fest its benefactor. SouthWood provided a great setting for the event and grounds for two pretty courses, with the 5K being one of the prettiest in the area. Both courses covered some gently rolling hills guarded by giant live oaks before hugging the shore of a lake. The five mile course split in time to find some very muddy terrain on SouthWood Plantation Road.
Mike Johnson finished second overall and captured the masters’ title with time of 30:59. It should come as no surprise that the musical maestro for grandmaster would be Bill McGuire who captured third place overall. Shannon Jones was the women’s masters winner with a time of 42:45 and Sue Kelly took the grandmaster title in 41:49 faster than the masters winner. Lynn Powell was second overall with a time of 40:53. In the 5000 meter event, David Anderson took the men’s title in 20:54 and thirteen year old Julia Bryant won the women’s crown with a 23:38. Over one hundred children participated in the Kids Fun Run.
The event raised money for Keep Tallahassee and Leon County Beautiful and the GWTC Chenoweth Fund. Susie Busch-Transou of Tri-Eagle was the event coordinator and a major sponsor, while Gary Kenney was the race director. Patients First was a major sponsor also and provided on site health screening for participants.