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Runners Roll In Mall Fest 5K

BRIAN GJURGEVICH/Highlands Today

Fifty-two runners jump out to a quick start on Saturday morning during the 24th Avon Park Mall Festival 5K along Main Street in AP. Doug Morton (center) won the overall male championship in 17 minutes, 13 seconds in Highlands County's longest-running race.

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By BRIAN GJURGEVICH Highlands Today

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 30, 2009

AVON PARK - Most of us would need to train to run a 5K, but for Doug Morton, running a 5K is only a small part of his training.

The 37-year-old Sebring resident out-paced the field early Saturday morning to win the 24th running of the Avon Park Mall Festival 5K, covering the hilly, 3.2-mile course in 17 minutes, 13 seconds.

"I'm doing a run-bike-run today, so this is just like a training run," Morton said. "I ran hard, but I still have to go out and run another 30 minutes, jump on the bike for an hour and 45 minutes and then run after that.

"It's the same hilly course as usual, so I was just trying to run a good pace."

Fifty-two runners made it out to the race -the longest-running 5K in Highlands County - which coincides with the annual Mall Festival along Main Street. Ranging from 11 to 88 years old, each ran, jogged or walked in support of the Avon Park track and field team, including a number of Red Devil coaches and athletes.

Minerva Arrequin, a 17-year-old junior at Avon Park and Devil distance runner for the track squad won the women's division in 23:46, though she thought she'd finished a bit quicker.

"I was feeling good there near the end (where Verona meets Main) when I thought I was done," Arrequin quipped after her first appearance in the 5K. "I started sprinting and then I said, "Oh shoot! I forgot all about this other part.

"It was exhausting. My side was hurting, but I just kept going."

Another first-time runner who veered slightly off course near the finish was 27-year-old Tim Topa, who led early on and nabbed second place in 19:03 while earning much respect from fellow Central Florida Strider Morton. A bit frustrated following his effort, Topa - who recently qualified for the 2010 Boston Marathon at the Gasparilla Marathon in Tampa - said he ran the race "all wrong."

"I got a little antsy and got ahead of Doug because I'd never raced him before and I wanted to show him I might be a force to run with in the Heartland,"Topa said, noting Morton's strategy on the hilly course. "With a flat course, it's easy to pick your pace and ease along, but with hills you have to measure and gauge your speed to push yourself up and brace yourself for the impact down."

Morton has run in the event since 1993, when he became running partners with race organizer and AP coaching legend Chet Brojek. He said this year, the race was all about getting himself ready for the National Duathlon Championships, which will be held April 25-26 in Richmond, Va.

"This is all part of the training, about getting ready," Morton said. "I'm just trying to run a steady pace."

Tom Meade won the masters championship (40-59) with a 20:32 effort, while the female masters champ was Evelyn Perez, who completed the course in 26:47. The male grand masters division (60-80) was won by Terry Engle in 21:58, while Sandy won the female grand master title in 34:13.

Alice Segar, an 88-year-old participant, won the Super Grand Master trophy with an 42:17.

"Today's 24{+t}{+h} edition of the Avon Park Mall Festival 5K makes it the longest continuous running event in Highlands County, " Brojek said. "We appreciate the support of our race sponsors, Bill Jarrett Ford, Florida Hospital Heartland, and MIDFLORIDA FCU who have been with us for the entire 24 years. Their support has enabled us to raise thousands of dollars for the Avon Park High School boys and girls track program."

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

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