JACKSONVILLE - With a return to international runners competing in the GATE River Run 15k road running race in and around downtown Jacksonville, Kenyan Wesley Kiptoo answered the call of race director Doug Alred and delivered a record setting performance with Calli Hauger-Thackery from the United Kingdom making her best effort to elude Kiptoo to the finish line in her winning effort.
Kiptoo, a 25 year old Iowa State University cross country standout and NCAA Indoor 5,000 meter champion in 2021, passed Hauger-Thackery on the down side of the infamous Hart Bridge then cruised into the finish line in a record setting 42 minutes, 10 seconds to break Todd Williams 42:20 previous record.
Hauger-Thackery, 32, followed Kiptoo with her win in the womens elite race with a 47:24 split which was just off the 2014 course record of 47:00 set by Shalana Flanagan.
Despite the invite to international runners, five American runners; led by by second place finisher Brian Barraza, 29, of Houston, an Olympic Trials 3,000 Steeplechase athlete, in 42:51.
Area runners with outstanding runs included; in mens 20-24, collegians Alex Guy of Keystone Heights High and a record setting cross country runner for Florida Southern College, finished ninth in 52:37; Matthew Stratton, a St. Johns Country Day School state cross country and track champion and now a runner at the University of Florida, was 12th in 53:37; Joel Nesi, 23, a Ridgeview High state cross country and track athlete, who recently finished a record setting career at Flagler College, was 13th in 53:41. James Snipes, 22, also from Ridgeview High state cross country, finished 33rd in 1:03:31 with Christian Mayfield, 20, of Orange Park High and now at Florida State College Jacksonville's national team, finsihed 36th in 1:03:43.
In the womens 14-19, St. Johns Country Day School senior Rebecca Stratton finished fifth in 1:05:48 to earn kitchen table supremacy off big brother Matthew Stratton (12th in 20-24) with Fleming Island High sophomore Eve Schlotthauer, 14, 11th in 1:08:36.
In 13 and under girls, St. Johns had their pair of standouts in Kate Staten, 13, in third in 1:16:29 and Ella Rose Hanna, 13, in sixth, in 1:17:21.
Boys 13 Under got a third from Judson Myers, 13, in 1:02:09.
In womens 20-24, Fleming Island High graduate Mei Chiang, 20, finished 18th in 1:10:09. Gary Myers, Judson's 52 year old dad, was sixth in 50-54 in 57:52.
In 40-44, Fleming Island's Alma Nick, 42, was eighth in 1:08:30 with Mae Barker, 47, and a top ultra distance runner, getting eighth in 1:08:44. Barker is also a St. Johns Country Day School cross country mom to Ella Rose Hanna.
In 50-54, Fleming Island stalwart Britta Fortson, 52, was sixth in 1:11:28.
In 55-59, Dena Gaucher, 57, and Annette Shannon, 55, both of Fleming Island, duked it out with Gaucher 17th in 1:19:35 outgunning Shannon at the finish, in a 1:19:48.
In 65-69, athlete psychologist Joni Neidigh, 65, willed her way to a 16th place finish in 1:35:21.
In 75-79, Annette Stevenson, 78, took eighth in 2:16:66 with husband taking pics at finish line.
In 80 and over, Barco Newton YMCA early morning swimmer Judy Lind, 80, strolled in at 2:35:20 in seventh place to outduel Orange Park's Marie Bendy, 82, in eighth at 2:39:34.
In male 14-19, Benjamin Hale, 19, from FSCJ and son to FSCJ cross country coach Jody Hale, was third in 55:16.
In male 35-39, Orange Park's Chris Howard, 38, was eighth at 57:26.
In 40-44, Fleming Island's Jakob Irwin, 40, finished fifth in 59:16.
In 45-49, former Magnolia Point Golf instructor Tim Cooper, 47, was age group champion in 52:44.
In 65-69, Fleming Island's John Martin, 66, was 10th in 1:15:32.
In 80 and over, Orange Park High retired teacher and track coach Doug Barrows, 81, was 12th in 2:31:22.