For the past five years, male runners have won the top prize in the 13.1-mile race of the annual Viking Half Marathon & 5K held in Greenwood.
Allison Stokes, 28, of Memphis, the first place winner overall for the Viking Half Marathon, said this was the fastest half marathon she’s ever run. Her chip time was 1 hours, 29 minutes.
That changed with a 2021 half marathon victory by Allison Stokes, 28, of Memphis.
She finished first overall in the half marathon Saturday morning with a chip time of 1 hour, 29 minutes, averaging 6 minutes, 48 seconds per mile.
She was the first female to place first in the half marathon overall since Meggan Franks of Starkville won in 2016 with a time of 1 hour, 21 minutes.
In the 5K race, Georgia Caroline Self, 16, of Greenwood, a junior at Pillow Academy, finished first in the 5K race with a time of 19 minutes, 38 seconds, averaging 6 minutes, 20 seconds per mile for the 3.1-mile race.
Both are avid runners, and each hopes someday to compete in a full marathon, which covers 26.2 miles.
For Stokes, who frequently participates in half marathons, this was her third time running in the Viking Half Marathon, and each time she has set a new personal record.
“This was my fastest half marathon,” she said.
She said she enjoys the half marathon course in Greenwood, explaining that the course offers beautiful scenery and the opportunity to cross the Yazoo River.
Stokes said she works out regularly and goes on 13- or 14-mile runs on the weekend. She said she also listens to her body and does other workouts for fun, such as rollerblading.
Georgia Caroline Self, 16, a junior at Pillow Academy, shows off the medal she received for finishing first place overall in Saturday’s 5K race.
At some point, she’d like to compete in the Boston Marathon, the oldest and arguably the most prestigious marathon in the world.
Self, on her first-place finish in the 5K, said, “It hurt, but it’s pretty cool winning at the end.”
She used to run 5Ks in the past. But for Saturday’s race, she said she didn’t do much training.
Self is beginning to train for a marathon that will take place in Texas in June. She said she’s working to build up her endurance and is using a book published by Hal Higdon, a writer and accomplished runner, as training material.
Luke Ramseth, 31, of Jackson, was the second place winner of the half marathon even though he said this was his very first half marathon he ran.
Overall, 204 people, a large number of whom came from out of town, enjoyed their Saturday run in the 5K or half marathon, despite temperatures in the high 40s and low 50s.
Luke Ramseth, 31, of Jackson finished second overall in the half marathon with a time of 1 hour, 30 minutes and 45 seconds, averaging 6 minutes, 56 seconds per mile.
After crossing the finish line, Ramseth said his experience went “pretty well. I’ve never done a half marathon before.”
As a newcomer to running a 13.1-mile race, Ramseth said he “didn’t have a clue” how to pace himself but ended up doing well.
“Honestly, I’m kind of clueless about running,” he said with a laugh, adding that he’s more of a cyclist. He said he just ran steadily and kept his eyes on the lead runner, Stokes, as well as the police car that led the way.
From left, Curtis Bailey, 57, of Jackson, Antoinette Jeffries, 45, of Oxford, and Thomas Womble, 29, of Oxford, catch up following the end of their 5K runs Saturday.
Members of Mississippi Valley State University’s student alumni association, who volunteered for Saturday’s Viking Half Marathon and 5K races, enjoy their time. In front, from left, are Haley Buard, Zykeil Harper and Alyssa Webb. Back row, from left, are Kylon Windfield, TaJuan Beckworth, Nuriya Bonner, Tyonia Blue, Alexis Totten and Jaylin R. Smith.
For Curtis Bailey, 57, of Jackson and Antoinette Jeffries, 45, of Oxford, running the 5K in Greenwood was an opportunity to raise money for a social cause — in this case, to stop suicides among soldiers, Jeffries said.
Both participate in the Mississippi 100 Mile Challenge, which allows them to raise money for social causes based on the number of miles they run in March. Individuals or companies can make a donation per mile.
This year, Bailey and Jeffries have already competed in four running races, and they hope to compete in more, he said.
Harding Hubbard, 43, of Grenada said his first 5K went well. “It was fun. In between miles two and three, I caught my rhythm and got winded at the same time,” he said.
Hubbard, a physical education teacher at Marshall Elementary, said health is important to him. He already lifts weights and wanted to add another form of exercise to his lifestyle.
Having enjoyed his first 5K, Hubbard said he’s thinking about running in one in Tupelo in April.
• Contact Gerard Edic at 581-7239 or gedic@gwcommonwealth.com.
