Okello Claims Senior Bowl Charity Run Title
Mobile, AL. (Nov. 7)—Thousands of runners pounded the pavement in downtown Mobile for the 22nd annual Senior Bowl Charity Run Saturday. Cool temperatures and a fast, flat course were there to welcome the field of 3,456 runners, all of which had the option of competing in a 10K, 5K or the one mile Healthy Families Healthy Kids Fun Run.
By participating in the 10K, 5K or one mile Fun Run, runners helped raise thousands of dollars for several Gulf Coast charities. Since the inception of the Senior Bowl Charity Run, more than $4.5 million has been donated to area charities.
For the second straight year all three races finished at historic Bienville Square, the site of the popular Family Fun Festival. Free food and drink, live entertainment and activities for kids were just some of the highlights of the Festival.
In the 10K event, former University of South Alabama track standout Tonny Okello crossed the finish line first with a time of 31:54. Mobile’s Mindy Sullivan took home top honors as the first female finisher. Sullivan posted a time of 35:48.
In the 5K event, Daphne’s Darrel Williams won his second straight title, finishing in 16:24. Loxley native Trista Phelps, who is just 13 years old, claimed the overall female champion title in the 5K with a time of 21:02.
Masters Champions in the 10K were Leonard Vergunst of Ocean Springs, Mississippi and Kelly Nicholas of New Orleans, Louisiana. In the 5K Masters division, Kevin McDonald of Lucedale, Mississippi and Ginny Dufrene of Purvis, Mississippi claimed the top spots.
More than 1500 students, teachers and parents turned out for the Healthy Families, Healthy Kids Fun Run. For the fourth consecutive year it was Deuntai Kemp taking home the title in the boy’s division. Kemp finished in 5:49. Rebecca Denson was the first female finisher in the Fun Run with a time of 5:51.
2009 Senior Bowl Charity Run Major Category Winners
10K Winners
Men’s Overall
1. Tonny Okello, Mobile, AL. (31:54)
2. Richard Ondimu, Mobile, AL. (32:34)
3. Jon Bowie, Daphne, AL. (33:09)
Women’s Overall
1. Mindy Sullivan, Mobile, AL. (35:48)
2. Rebecca Jordan, Mobile, AL. (38:54)
3. Amy Huff, Daphne, AL. (39:27)
Men’s Masters
1. Leonard Vergunst, Ocean Springs, MS. (36:00)
2. Brad Davis, Fairhope, AL. (36:20)
3. Chris Neal, Pace, FL. (37:28)
Women’s Masters
1. Kelly Nicholas, New Orleans, LA. (40:29)
2. Christine Conrad, Mobile, AL. (42:13)
3. Sandy Ebanks, Pace, FL. (42:23)
Men’s Grand Masters
1. Brian McMahon, Shalimar, FL. (39:07)
2. Douglas Meduna, Mobile, AL. (40:20)
3. David Jeffrey, Semmes, AL. (41:00)
Women’s Grand Masters
1. Jackie Faulkingham, Daphne, AL. (49:06)
2. Elise Partridge, Mobile, AL. (51:17)
3. Debbie Renfroe, Daphne, AL. (52:14)
5K Winners
Men’s Overall
1. Darrel Williams, Daphne, AL. (16:24)
2. James Frazier, Valparaiso, FL. (16:25)
3. Dave Hope, Defuniak Springs, FL. (18:30)
Women’s Overall
1. Trista Phelps, Loxley, AL. (21:02)
2. Allison Smith, Fairhope, AL. (21:17)
3. Paula Piazza, Shalimar, FL. (21:34)
Men’s Masters
1. Kevin McDonald, Lucedale, MS. (18:43)
2. Filippo Piazza, Shalimar, FL. (19:53)
3. Ron Renfroe, Lucedale, MS. (20:08)
Women’s Masters
1. Ginny Dufrene, Purvis, MS. (23:48)
2. Anne Reneman, Mobile, AL. (25:20)
3. Kenya Dennis, Satsuma, AL. (25:35)
Men’s Grand Masters
1. Thomas Montgomery, Spanish Fort, AL. (23:26)
2. Earl Gochey, Mobile, AL. (23:40)
3. Alan Ash, Atmore, AL. (24:27)
Women’s Grand Masters
1. Judith Morseth, Jackson, AL. (25:18)
2. Robbie Headrick, Laurel, MS. (26:26)
3. Carol Cowan, Fairhope, MS. (27:27)
Fun Run Winners
Boys--Deuntai Kemp
Girls--Rebecca Denson
