Key City Classic run kicks off a day of spring fun in Vicksburg

Published 4:24 pm Saturday, April 26, 2025

By Ernest Bowker

A fun and busy day in Vicksburg began with a running and walking tour of the city.

Nearly 100 people competed in the Key City Classic, a 10-kilometer run and 5-kilometer run and race walk through the downtown streets Saturday morning. It was the first of more than a dozen events scheduled throughout the day, including concerts, art exhibits, the Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen competition and a fashion show at the Levee Street Warehouse.

The Key City Classic was held in conjunction with the Old Court House Museum Spring Flea Market. As runners and walkers left and then returned to the start-finish line they passed dozens of vendors spread around the iconic Vicksburg landmark.

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After the race, most hung around to browse the booths for crafts, antiques and baked treats surrounding the Old Court House grounds at the corner of Cherry and Grove streets, or enjoyed a brunch of fair food from vendors on Monroe Street. The Flea Market started at 8 a.m. and was scheduled to continue until 5 p.m.

“I think it’s so cool to have something to do and walk around after you finish. It’s really fun,” said Katie Reese, a Clinton resident who won the overall championship in the Key City Classic’s 10K run. “And then it gets the whole town out so it’s like a big thing instead of just a little race. They can feed off each other and give each other recognition.”

KEY CITY CLASSIC RACE RESULTS

As the smell of smoked meat from a barbecue truck wafted over Grove Street, Reese smoked her competition in the 10K run. She clocked a winning time of 43 minutes, 52 seconds that was nearly four minutes ahead of runner-up and men’s winner Harper Moore.

Moore had a time of 47:37. Becky Sloan was third in 47:54, and then Lee Kirk (49:40) and Larry East (50:36) rounded out the top five.

“It was really cool. I feel like you don’t always win every race so when you do it’s fun, and my niece and nephew are here. It’s cool to show them that girls can win just like guys can,” Reese said.

Elisabeth Younce showed that as well. The 29-year-old Vicksburg resident won the 5K run with a time of 25:40, 20 seconds ahead of men’s winner Ronnie Hood.

Mark Lipking was third in 26:41, Stephanie Lemus was fourth in 29:57, and Gracie Horton fifth in 31:03.

“I kept pace with somebody who was doing the 10K, so I was trying to keep pace with him. Then we split. I don’t think I would have gotten as good of a time without him. I’m really grateful he was running,” Younce said.

In the 5K race walk, Ron Roma and Terrie Foster took the top two spots just as they did at the Run Thru History in March. Roma was the overall winner in 31:45, and Foster was the women’s champ and overall runner-up in 34 minutes even.

Lee Fore finished third in 36:05, followed by Rusty Pickett in 36:47 and Steve Pranger in 37:55 to round out the top five.

“I struggled a little bit. The old finish used to be at Belmont. That’s probably a little more than two miles and I struggled a little bit there. This hill on Monroe? They ought to bulldoze Monroe Street,” Roma said with a laugh. “But good fun, a lot of good people and good competition.”

Good fun and good people seemed to be what the Key City Classic was all about. The event is a fundraiser for Grace Christian Counseling Center, which provides low-cost counseling and mental health services in Warren County and surrounding areas.

“I love running, but then when it has a meaning to it it’s more important,” said Reese, who said she has family members who are clients of Grace Christian Counseling.

It was also a good kickoff to what quickly blew up into a spring festival in Vicksburg on Saturday and Sunday. The various events were scheduled from 8 a.m. Saturday through late Sunday afternoon.

By the time the race wrapped up around 10 a.m. Saturday the Old Court House Flea Market was in full swing and people were already enjoying dance and musical performances at Washington Street Park and Gordon’s Alley.

“I love to see all these people here. The more the better,” Roma said. “I’m going to eat something later, we’re probably going to pick up some caramel candy and whatever.”

About Ernest Bowker

Ernest Bowker is The Vicksburg Post's sports editor. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post's sports staff since 1998, making him one of the longest-tenured reporters in the paper's 140-year history. The New Jersey native is a graduate of LSU. In his career, he has won more than 50 awards from the Mississippi Press Association and Associated Press for his coverage of local sports in Vicksburg.

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