Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

Local faces finish strong at YWCA race

By DAVE THEALL, Times Correspondent
Published October 7, 2007

LARGO - Local runners captured three of the top four places in the men's division at the inaugural YWCA Race Against Racism 5K on Sept. 29 at Taylor Park.

Josh Lakhotia, 14, finished second behind St. Petersburg's Andy Canning, who won comfortably in 18 minutes, 42 seconds. Tim Kiggins, 48, took third in 20:19, followed by Chris Coleman, 44, in 22:27.

Lakhotia, a freshman on the cross-country team at Seminole High, said he used the race as a sharpener to prepare for intense high school practice sessions and future meets.

"I purposely went out hard this morning because I wanted to get in a quality workout and be prepared for the next school time trial," said Lakhotia, who said he has been running in the eighth position on the strong Warhawks team (to compete in matches he needs to be seventh or better). "I'm pleased with my race today. I passed one guy who passed me early on. I never quit."

He was timed in 20:01 - 6 minutes, 27 seconds per mile.

Lakhotia was reeled in on the two-loop course around the lake by a newcomer to the area, Sarah Neilson, 24, of Belleair, who recently moved from New Hampshire, where she ran cross country for New England College. She finished second overall in 19:48.

"I'm having trouble getting used to running on flat surfaces. In New Hampshire, it's all hills, which I'm used to," said Neilson, a certified personal trainer and wellness consultant working out of Belleair Country Club. "Also, the humidity and air quality are different. But I'm adjusting as I prepare for my first half-marathon race."

Overall winner Canning said he ran a tactical race, staying back early to see who would grab the lead. Just after the half-mile mark, he eased past Lakhotia then Neilson, clocking 6:05 for the first mile.

"I knew I could run faster than that," Canning said, averaging 6:02 per mile. "That was my first win this year. I'm lucky Christa Benton wasn't here because she would have beaten me easily."

Kaley Matthews, 20, of St. Petersburg finished second among women (21:34), and Linday Blankenship, 26, of St. Petersburg was third in 21:41.

Kailiece Harris, 7, of Tampa ran away from everyone, winning the mile event in 7:05. She competes nationally in her 8-and-under age division at 400 meters in Junior Olympic championships.

The first annual event was put on by the YWCA of Tampa Bay, in St. Petersburg.Julie Valdez, a board member, served as the event director.

Expanded results are listed at www.coolrunning.com. Click on Florida.

- Abrom Douglas of St. Petersburg had a particularly winning attitude after the race, despite the fact he didn't win his 20-24 age division and had gotten only fours hours of sleep the night before the race. The USF grad didn't get home until 1:30 a.m.after watching his alma mater defeat Big East rival West Virginia at Raymond James Stadium.

"I had to make the race to support my boss at Raymond James Financial, Julie Valdez," Douglas said. "I'm basically a short-distance runner, but I'd like to try a marathon some time just to say I've done it."

NAPLES 20K: John Biffar, an Admiral Farragut graduate, won the lucrative prize money event in a swift 1:12:19, with Sonja Uhl from Palm Beach capturing the women's title in 1:15:20.

Among a group of 18 runners from the area, Albert Wieringa of St. Petersburg finished first and in his 60-64 age group in 1:22:07. He was followed by Jimmy Duncan of Largo in 1:23:29, first, 35-39.

Coach Joe Burgasser of the Forerunners took first, 65-69 in 1:38:33 as he finished in tandem with teammate Kris Cox, first woman, 40-44.

[Last modified October 6, 2007, 21:01:12]