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Running Down A Dream

Brian Gjurgevich/Highlands Today

Pastor Darrell George (right) funnels runners to the finish line on Saturday for the Dr. Tom McDonald Caladium Festival 5K.

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By Brian Gjurgevich | Highlands Today

Published: August 25, 2008

LAKE PLACID - With every step they took, runners at Saturday's fifth annual Dr. Tom McDonald Caladium Festival 5K helped a local family realize the dream of owning their own home.

A benefit for the Highlands County Habitat for Humanity, the race drew more than 140 competitors, a number race organizer and Habitat member Larry Porter was pleased to see.

"I think it's super," said Porter, whose organization is in the process of building its second home since the race began in 2004. "With our economy right now, it says a lot about the people who still came out here to help Habitat."

Ray Cameron, pastor at First Presbyterian Church and member of the Lake Placid Ministerial Organization, said this year's race should raise near the $6,500 brought in last year, a fact race namesake Dr. Tom McDonald would've been proud of.

"He was a retired dentist and an active runner, and he came to me and helped me organize it," Crawford said. "He saw the potential for it and made it happen."

McDonald passed away in 2007, and this year was the second year the race name honored the man who Crawford said "worked tirelessly" to help bring the race to LP.

"He did whatever he had to do to make it successful," Crawford said. "He even designed the medals, which we continue to offer. They're tailored for our race and they have caladiums on them."

The first runner to receive a medal was Louis Molina, 56, who tore up the course in 19:38, winning both the overall prize and the first masters (40+) division.

"I thought the course was nice and the inclines were tough," said the Plantation resident who runs 40 miles per week in addition to yoga and pilates. "I turn 57 next week, and this is the first time I've won a race in 30 years."

Heather White won the overall female division in 19:53, while Vivian Johnson won the female masters (25:52) and Kene West won the hand-cycling division (11:07).

Porter said the event was the perfect way to kick off the Caladium Festival, and as runners crossed the finish line early Saturday morning, vendors set up tents along Interlake Boulevard.

"There's a lot going on this weekend, and this helps bring a few more people into town," Porter said. "After they're done running, they can wander down the road and buy some stuff from the merchants."

Brian Gjurgevich can be reached at bgjurgevich@highlandstoday.com or 863-386-5841.

2008 DR. TOM MCDONALD CALADIUM FESTIVAL 5K RESULTS

Lake Placid, Aug. 23

1st Place Overall and 1st Place Masters – Male

Louis Molina, 19:38

1st Place Overall – Female

Heather White, 19:53

1st Place Masters – Female

Vivian Johnson, 25:52

1st Place Hand-cycling Division

Keane West, 11:07

AGE DIVISIONS – MALE

14 & UNDER

Mitchell Edgar, 32:18

William Edgar, 34:44

Kevin Wheaton, 39:15

Jason Williams, 43:09

CJ Wilson, 47:03

Jaxson Hall, 53:22

15-19

Damyan Byrd, 25:48

Dylan Weber-Callahan, 27:45

Alex Wheaton, 32:32

25-29

Trey Christy, 21:38

Eric Zwayer, 29:26

30-34

Josh Zahller, 20:01

Bobby Respress, 20:56

Kristofer Wegner, 24:12

John Free, 30:30

35-39

Daryl Wirick, 19:41

Sean Dolan, 27:30

Ronnie Beaty, 27:49

John Smoak, 27:53

Jason Cloud, 27:54

Todd Bobo, 38:14

Andy Tuck, 42:24

Roger Free, 44:54

40-44

Jose Ibanez, 24:07

Rob Livingston, 26:41

Drew Severance, 27:00

Ed Oxer, 32:08

Robbie Burke, 34:08

Kevin Sapp, 36:24

45-49

Randall Harris, 22:13

Darrell Jensen, 25:45

Michael Noel, 30:40

Walter Kohl, 32:01

Tom Creel, 38:27

Jay Jones, 39:38

50-54

Juan Mendoza, 22:52

Louis Irwin, 23:08

Elmer Hall, 23:20

Craig Hansen, 24:15

Francis Dalto, 25:35

Virgil McInvale, 26:12

Randy Grice, 26:52

Russell Andrews, 27:51

Bob Woth, 29:16

Steven Wheaton, 39:26

John Haile, 47:04

55-59

Louis Molina, 19:38

Thomas Lucas, 22:56

Trips Fuccile, 30:10

Edward Christy, Jr. , 37:20

60-64

Silky Sullivan, 24:21

Richard Rucker, 26:54

Rod Matthews, 31:36

Dan Johnson, 33:48

Wayne Goodlett, 52:17

65-69

Dale Bargar, 41:27

Charles Harrington, 45:57

Tom Dougherty, 49:06

Charles Elam, 56:39

70-74

Harold Smith, 29:07

Charles Willingham, 34:58

Bud Ennis, 43:46

William Meyer, 52:54

AGE DIVISIONS – FEMALE

14 & UNDER

Zan Biedenharn, 31:05

Morgan Beaty, 31:30

Amaia Unanue, 33:20

Annie Weber-Callahan, 35:48

Scout Royce, 37:25

Maddie Wilson, 37:41

Callie Bobo, 38:14

Brice Creel, 38:26

Deta Waller, 40:41

Kaylee Tuck, 42:23

Sarabeth Rogers, 42:25

Katie Dye, 43:31

Eliza Biedenharn, 52:59

15-19

Marbelly Creel, 31:32

Leah Elder, 40:42

20-24

Amanda Smith, 23:15

Nicole Screws, 31:26

Sommer Foster, 32:09

Kasey Silverman, 36:45

25-29

Krista Fredrikson, 26:55

Amy Zwayer, 28:05

Bonny Revell, 31:27

Holly Koornneef, 32:06

Leslie Brooker, 32:35

Jenifer Haile, 47:03

30-34

Heather White, 19:53

Holly Chamberlain, 24:13

Ana Sofia Rodriguez, 27:50

Erin Stivender, 29:34

Karin Tallent, 30:48

Amberlee Rogers, 42:25

Dawn Zahller, 45:10

35-39

Debbie Biedenharn, 25:21

Kym Smoak, 27:27

Lisa Kinchen, 31:01

Vanessa Beaty, 31:42

Monique Oxer, 32:07

Heather Harshman, 32:17

Tanya Cannady, 35:24

Isabel Frazier, 45:07

40-44

Jennifer Glassburn, 26:26

Diane Thompson, 27:09

Deborah Witmer, 34:10

Rene Kohl, 35:57

Susan Jones, 39:38

Nancy Dye, 44:34

Sherry Wheaton, 45:13

45-49

Evelyn Perez, 27:43

Janice Woth, 29:16

Suzy Dumont, 30:23

Laurie Weber, 38:24

Jaye Williams, 45:17

Joanne Stayton-Quigley, 53:12

50-54

Micaela Mendoza, 30:57

Martie Brooker, 36:36

Patti Moos, 37:19

Teresa McInvale, 46:34

Stephanie Delbert, 53:13

55-59

Crystal Vanderpool, 32:48

60-64

Marcia Kissane, 36:50

Tonya Saleeba, 45:08

Jane Goodlett, 49:43

65-69

Vivian Johnson, 25:52

Audrey Smith, 42:11

Patricia Dougherty, 49:08

Barbara Sepulveda, 49:12

70-74

Sandy Brosius, 36:38

Jane McKay, 45:49

80+

Jeri McDonald, 47:04

"I thought the course was nice and the inclines were tough. I turn 57 next week, and this is the first time I've won a race in 30 years."

Louis Molina
Plantation Resident

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