GREEN COVE SPRINGS - A bit of military history has always been a part of the annual Whistling Death 5K and 10K races staged at Green Cove Springs Military Museum of Highway 16 near the Shands Bridge and eight years of racing under director Chris Rodatz always brings a bit of pre-race military nostalgia from Rodatz.
"This museum is a special place for military veterans from all over the country as this area was the training ground for the F4U Corsair fighter planes," said Rodatz before setting off his 250-plus runners in the trek; somewhat cross country, around the still existent flight lines and bunkers along the way. "We invite the runners to walk around and see the equipment on display and take a little walk into history."
For the race, 28-year-old Aaron Lock won the 5K title in 22:46 while Emily Kelleher, 41, was the top female in 25:20.
In second and third were Jason Washington, 41, at 23:35 and Brian Matthews, 27, at 23:49.
For the women's race, second and third place went to Paige Bishop, 34, in 25:59 and Viola Gregoire, 40, in 27:12.
For the 10K, a double loop around the campus, winners were Sam Lumpkin, 33, in 45:35 and, for the women, Maria Mendoza, 42, in 57:08.
In second and third for the men's race were Martin Neal, 34, in 46:19 and David Joslyn, 31, in 49:18.
One of the youngest finishers, 13-year-old Zachary Davis, finished sixth in the 10K in 51:17.
At 75 years young, Marsha Hoffman finished the 10K in 1:43:03 for 73rd place.
In the 5K, 10-year-old Lachlan Philbin was an impressive fourth overall in 24:52 with 77-year-old Don Calkins 42nd overall in 34:19.
Just down the road in Penney Farms, the Florida State College-Jacksonville men's cross country team featuring a handful of Clay County high school grads, dominated the top 10 led by former St. Johns Country Day School and Bishop Snyder track hurdler Benjamin Hale, 18, who won in 17:08 over Gershom Allen, 27, of Georgia who was just two second behind Hale. Camden Budd, a graduate of Sandalwood High in Jacksonville, was third in 17:24.
Rounding out the top 10 from FSCJ, coached by former St. Johns Country Day School cross country and track coach Jody Hale, were Cole Fleming; FIHS, fourth in 17:30; Noah Looney, CHS, fifth in 17:41; Aiden Taggert, FIHS, sixth in 17:59; Kaydan Bowie, Tocoi Creek HS, seventh in 18:17; Ty Obermeyer, OPHS, eighth in 18:53; Jacob Gaskins, OPHS, ninth in 19:18, and Spencer Middleton, FIHS, 10th in 19:23. Nathan Davis, West Nassau High, was 11th in 19:26.
For the girl's race, Lexi Harris, 26, a former Lehigh University track standout from New Jersey, was the first finisher in 20:17 with Maryanne Holtz, 45, a track coach at Bartram Trail High School, second in 21:11.