Kirui wins Kudzu • Franks sets female record


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Kirui wins Kudzu
• Franks sets female record

By BARRY BURLESON
Editor

Photo by Ronnie Day

Runners leave the starting line, including eventual winners Barnabas Kirui (front, right) and Meggan Franks (third from left).

A pair of former track stars in the Southeastern Conference raced to top finishes in the Killer Kudzu Saturday.

Barnabas Kirui, a three-time SEC cross country champion at Ole Miss, was the overall winner in the 5K with a time of 15.16.

Meggan Franks, who excelled at Mississippi State, set a female course record with a time of 18.01.

Kirui, originally from Kenya, made his first trip to Holly Springs for the Killer Kudzu. It was his first 5K road race. He said he won a half marathon about a month ago in Oxford.

“This was a tough course – that last part (through Hill Crest Cemetery) was really tough,” Kirui said.

“My time was good. I was trying to run below 15, but I will take it.”

The overall course record, set by Brian Pope, is 14.55.


Photos by Ronnie Day Fred M. Belk III (left), in his Killer Kudzu/Pilgrimage costume, and Miles Moore cross the finish line. Each placed third in his age division Saturday morning.

Race organizer Scott Beggs, with American Pacific, said Kirui actually came closer to the record than his 15.16 indicated.

“He missed a turn and then he had to run around a pickup and trailer parked in the cemetery. I’m guessing maybe eight seconds were lost.”

It was also Franks’ first time at the Killer Kudzu. She was excited about shattering the course record for females.

“It was a decent time for me – not a good one,” she said. “I’m still trying to get in 5K shape.”

She won a marathon in New Orleans, La., about six weeks ago.

“I always wanted to run this race (in Holly Springs),” Franks said. “It’s challenging. It’s nice to get up that hill (in the cemetery) and see the finish line.”

This year the Killer Kudzu 5K was combined with the run held in connection with the Holly Springs Pilgrimage, “Hoopskirts on the Highway.”

“I think it was the right thing to do,” Beggs said about working together with the Holly Springs Garden Club. “We made the decision to combine a little late in the game. It’s a new thing. We need to do a little more planning next time around. But it was successful.”

Ninety-three people finished the race Saturday morning.

Results – Males

Barnabas Kirui finishes first overall with a time of 15.16.

• Overall – first, Barnabas Kirui, 15.16; second, Drew Kellum, 16.24; third, Scott McNeil, 16.39; master, Eric Butze, 17.30; grandmaster, Larry Hakin, 19.50.

• 10 and under – first, Landon Scruggs, 28.49.

• 11-14 – first, Barry Gormon, 25.16; second, Tyler Barrier, 30.19; third, Matthew Callicutt, 37.23.

• 15-19 – first, Joseph Macgown, 17.16; second, Joshua Kuykendall, 24.26; third, Miles Moore, 25.25.

• 20-24 – first, Lloyd Gray, 18.00; second, Ian Chatfield, 19.30; third, Austin Huffman, 20.31.

• 25-29 – first, Allen Tatum, 23.49.

• 30-34 – first, Pip Gordon, 22.00; second, Mike Green, 28.03.

• 35-39 – first, Charlie Dawson, 17.31; second, Bryan Miller, 22.09; third, Matt Greene, 28.03.

• 40-44 – first, Arturo Cruz, 21.31; second, Bruce Kesling, 21.35.

• 45-49 – first, Don Mutchler, 22.57; second, Andrew Chicione, 27.00; third, Fred M. Belk III, 28.50.

• 50-54 – first, Dennis Hatchett, 24.56; second, Clyde Nelson, 25.59; third, Ki Jones, 31.09.

• 55-59 – first, Alex Alpe, 23.50; second, Kevin Prester, 25.46.

• 60-64 – first, James Martin, 26.23; second, Jim Moton, 29.33; third, Bobby Clanton, 39.54.

• 65-69 – first, Louis Alpe, 26.06; second, Bob Teutsch, 27.09; third, Bill Bolton, 31.32.

• 70 and over – first, Ivy Evans, 42.58.

Results – Females

• Overall – first, Meggan Franks, 18.01; second, Clare Corban, 19.22; third, Sheryl Chatfield, 20.14; master, Leigh Morris, 24.03; grandmaster, Julie Lord, 26.23.

• 11-14 – first, Karen Holden, 26.54; second, Katie Chicione, 23.37; third, Anna Summerlin, 28.07.

• 15-19 – first, Brynn Holden, 21.41; second, Nikki Vick, 24.12; third, Callie Clanton, 39.54.

• 20-24 – first, Jill Hubbard, 33.35; second, Jennifer Tatum, 34.35; third, Amee Tedder, 39.06.

• 30-34 – first, Alice Thomas, 31.43; second, Amy Gresham, 31.43.

• 35-39 – first, Ann Lovelance, 28.16; second, Amy Bennett, 29.37; third, Becky Barrier, 36.16.

• 40-44 – first, Julie Faulkner, 30.16; second, Sally Proctor, 37.23; third, Mrs. Fred M. Belk III, 41.27.

• 45-49 – first, Donna McAlister, 26.19; second, Melanie Chicione, 27.17; third, Teresa Dunlap, 43.23.

• 50-54 – first, Debra Tomlinson, 50.27.

• 55-59 – first, Machelle Gibson, 47.32.

• 60-64 – first, Sharon Moore, 37.50; second, Susan Heigle, 46.46.

• 65-69 – first, Pearl Smitherman, 46.36.

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