Michael Anderson was just lucky I wasn't there, running in that race! 15:38? Is that the best he's got? Heh.
Oliver Barry CRS,GRI Real Estate Broker Bob Parks Realty 1517 Hunt Club Blvd Gallatin TN 37066 Phone: 615-826-4040 Fax: 615-822-2027 Mobile: 615-972-4239 Former P.K. Yonge standout, current Gator wins fourth Melon Run title By Cliff Olsen Correspondent Published: Monday, July 4, 2011 at 6:01 a.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, July 5, 2011 at 12:05 a.m. About 340 runners participated in the 33rd edition of the Melon Run held at Westside Park on Monday morning. As in past years, the main gathering for the Gainesville area running community featured displays of patriotism. It also offered a perfect setting for area runners of various ages and experience levels to gather and celebrate the Fourth of July. For Michael Anderson, the annual three-mile race on Independence Day had a familiar result. The former P.K. Yonge star and current member of the Florida men's cross country and track and field teams claimed his third consecutive Melon Run title. He posted a time of 15:38.10. Former Santa Fe High School standout Chris Trebilcock was second with a time of 15:54.46, while Buchholz's Chris Godwin, The Sun's 2010 boys cross country runner of the year as a junior, finished with a time of 16:03.54 to place third for the second straight year. "This was pretty much what I was expecting. I kind of didn't want it to come down to the wire like last year," said Anderson, who ran a Melon Run record-time of 14:46 last year, to edge Brent Schneider by one second. "I took the first mile pretty easy and just went with the group and then pulled away a little bit. "It was good to see that I still got what it takes." Anderson, who will be a senior for the Gators in the fall, now has four Melon Run titles and is the only runner in the last 13 years to win the race three straight times. Florida Track Club President Jake Logan, who was riding the pace bike, said Anderson made a surge at about the one and a quarter mile-mark of the course which runs through the neighborhood next to and around Westside Park. An FHSAA Class 1A individual state champion in cross country in 2005 and 2006 while at P.K. Yonge, Anderson made his move at the corner of NW 34th St. and NW 8th Ave. Logan, who is in his first year as president, said he had to move faster because Anderson was on his tail pipe. Garrett Westlake, a first-team all-area selection as a sophomore for P.K. Yonge, was fourth with a time of 16:21.46. Dan Monteau, 47, was fifth overall with a time of 16:25.46 and won the men's Masters division. Webber International's Brandon Scott, The Sun's 2009 boys cross country runner of the year while at Columbia, was sixth (16:27.65). Jordan Brown of P.K. Yonge placed seventh (16:28.87), while Ryan Hundersmark of Buchholz finished eighth (17:01.38). Both runners were first-team all-area picks as juniors last year. Betsy Suda finished ninth overall and took home the women's title with a time of 17:38.45. Suda, who moved to Gainesville from Newburyport, Mass., last August, was successful in her first Melon Run appearance. "I think it is a great way to celebrate our independence to come out and run hard and try to win something," said Suda, who is a graduate student at Florida studying chemistry. "It was really nice to see some familiar faces and to celebrate together. It was a fun thing to do before we barbecue." Ashley Espy placed 14th overall and was the second female to cross the finish the line (18:22.65). Elisabeth Diamond won the female Masters division for the second straight year with a time of 21:09.71. She has now won a total of five Masters division titles. Following the main race, about 40 youngsters participated in a one-mile fun run. Regardless of where each runner placed on the day, every participant received at least one watermelon. "It is awesome to be able to come out and actually have some good people to run with," Trebilcock said. "I think it is an awesome event, because I love watermelon too. "To be able to give prizes in watermelon is awesome. It is always good to come out and run." Logan said he was happy with the number of participants for the event. "It was a pretty good turnout," Logan said. "What I like to see is that we have people from all walks of life coming together. We have Olympic hopefuls to people making a lifestyle change to kids finishing their very first race. We have done it just like that for 33 years now. "It is a great way for everyone to come together to honor this community's rich running tradition, honor this country and honor this event." -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us
