Oates cruises to second RTH title|[3/6/06]
Published 12:00 am Monday, March 6, 2006
Former champ Rob Oates of Flowood returned to the winner’s circle on a cool and windy Saturday morning in the 27th annual Run Thru History at the Vicksburg National Military Park.
Oates, the RTH winner in 2004, finished third in last year’s 10K race that winds through the hills and valleys of the Civil War battlefield. His time of 35 minutes, 55 seconds bested a field of 323 runners.
Keri White of Vicksburg won the overall women’s title for the second straight year and third time overall. White bested Vicksburg resident Kristi Hall in a time of 41:32.
Oates credited his coach Doug Parcell for getting him ready for one of the state’s most demanding runs.
“I got to do a lot of hill training and that helps for this run because there is no other course like it,” Oates, 27, said. “This is arguably one of the top three races in Mississippi. And yeah, it feels good to win it again.
“My coach, Doug Parcell, prepared me well. Bleacher work, hill work, it all helped,” Oates said. “The temperature was perfect but the wind was definitely a factor.”
Pushing Oates was 16-year-old Vicksburg High runner Reed Rodgers, who finished third in 38:20.
“I’ve been running this race since I was 7, but this is pretty much the best I’ve done,” said Rodgers who was 17th last year. “My time and effort were better. There is usually a lot of competition, but by the third mile, people started giving out.”
Finishing second overall was 22-year-old Lee Walker of Hazlehurst who ran a 38:02 time. The remainder of the top five were Robert Van Uden, 34, in 38:25 and Miles Martin, 27, in 38:45.
White, who just finished her degree work at Southern Miss in December, said the course worked to her advantage despite the windy conditions that affected her time.
“I ran better last year,” White said. “The wind was bad. It was always in your face. But this is my favorite race.
“The hills are a killer. But I was able to run them right at the end and I use that to my advantage,” White added.
Hall, 27 of Vicksburg, who finished just 12 seconds behind White, said the last incline caught up to her.
“I was in it until that last hill,” Hall said. “I just couldn’t catch her (White) after that. So I get second again, but at least this time I was closer.”
Hall said she ran a marathon back in September that helped get her ready for this spring’s running season.
The masters winners were Van Edwards of Monroe for the men and Susie Seeber of West Monroe in the women.
The grand master winners were Carl Jakob, 52, of New Plattsburgh, N.Y. and Donna Lee Andrews, 51, of Madison.
In the 5K walk, Kirby Hendrix, 58, of Rayville, La., won the men’s overall title in 30:31.
Tina Branan took the women’s overall crown for the first time, winning it in 31:22. Defending champ Debbie Cheney did not run Saturday.
“I still didn’t think I’d win it,” said Branan, who finished second to Cheney last year. “But David Chaney kept pushing me the whole way. I ran a better time last year (30:30) but now I finally get to put one of these things on my desk.”
David Chaney was the Grand Master winner in the men’s 5K while Emily Lee of Vicksburg was the female grand masters winner.
Master winners were Elizabeth Howard of Pearl and Anzola Nester of Hattiesburg.
The 1K fun run was taken by Jacob McCollum in 4:53 while Julie Mabry, 10, was the top girls finisher in 5:57.