On the morning of May 4, 2024, runners came to Swainsboro for the 23rd running of the Knotty Pine 5K Race as part of the Pine Tree Festival. The 5K was sponsored by the Swainsboro Kiwanis Club, who provided logistics and support for the race. In 2022 the start/finish line was moved to the corner of Pine and Green Streets and the route changed to run mainly on Moring Street. This year the same route was used. This year as last year, SAR members lead by Dess Smith and Steve Burke assisted Swainsboro Police Chief Randy Ellison fire a starting cannon. The 1st place overall winner in the 5K male division was John Buxton from Kite, GA with a time of 20 minutes and 0 seconds, while the overall winner in the female division was Karin Elliott in a time of 22 minutes and 21 seconds. The 1st place master’s male winner was Parker Allums from Vidalia, GA, with a time of 22 minutes and 42 seconds and Susan Makalis from Vidalia, GA was 1st place in the master’s female division with a time of 30 minutes and 13 seconds.
Age group winners in the male division were: age 10 and under, 1st place Gabriel Strickland in 22 minutes and 41 seconds, 2nd place Charlie McNeely in 25 minutes and 42 seconds, and 3rd place Kellan McNeely in 27 minutes and 17 seconds; age 11 to 19, 1st place Samuel McBride in 22 minutes and 22 seconds, 2nd place Peyton Taylor in 22 minutes and 23 seconds, and 3rd place Vance Kelley in 22 minutes and 46 seconds; age 20 to 29, 1st place Jacob Westbrooks, in 26 minutes and 22 seconds and 2nd place Kevin Patel in 35 minutes and 46 seconds; age 30-39, 1st place Martin Neal in 20 minutes and 44 seconds, 2nd place Jauquin McKinney in 23 minutes and 12 seconds, and 3rd place Agan Tankersley in 23 minutes and 16 seconds; age 40 to 49, 1st place Chan Carter in 23 minutes and 18 seconds; age 50-59, 1st place Mark Haddock in 22 minutes and 36 seconds, 2nd place Ted Moen in 27 minutes and 20 seconds, and 3rd place Don Norton in 32 minutes and 37 minutes; age 60 to 69, 1st place Jose Becerril in 24 minutes and 11 seconds, 2nd place Kevin Faircloth in 31 minutes and 30 minutes, and 3rd place David Allmond in 34 minutes and 53 seconds; age 70 and older, 1st place Gerald Holsonback in 52 minutes and 9 seconds.
Age group winners in the female division were: age 10 and under, 1st place Virginia Palumbo in 28 minutes and 21 seconds; age 11 to 19, 1st place Kayla Crabb in 25 minutes and 54 seconds, 2nd place Lyley Mills 41 minutes and 27 seconds, and 3rd place Harmony Frank in 44 minutes and 4 seconds; age 20 to 29, 1st place Naomy Delgado in 48 minutes and 8 seconds, 2nd place Cassidy Cannady in 33 minutes and 21 seconds, and 3rd place Courtney Cox in 34 minutes and 18 seconds; age 30-39, 1st place Ashley Mills in 28 minutes and 40 seconds, 2nd place Mallory Wheeler in 28 minutes and 57 seconds, and 3rd place Jessica Palumbo in 29 minutes and 36 seconds; Age 40-49, 1st place Joy Pope in 36 minutes and 43 seconds, 2nd place Toni Rainey in 47 minutes and 44 seconds, and 3rd place Jami Fagler in 50 minutes and 56 seconds; age 50-59, 1st place Lara Norton in 30 minutes and 20 seconds, 2nd place Cathy Daniels in 43 minutes and 12 seconds, and 3rd place Beth Lane in 44 minutes and 52 seconds; age 60-69, 1st place Lynn Allmond in 33 minutes and 10 seconds, 2nd place Barbara Ervin in 42 minutes and 24 seconds, and 3rd place Cassandra Washington in 61 minutes and 40 seconds; and age 70 and over, 1st place Carolyn Edwards in 42 minutes and 36 seconds.
The Swainsboro Kiwanis Club would like to give a special thanks to our sponsors; - Domino’s Pizza, East Georgia Healthcare, Haddock Chiropractic, Harvey’s, Leanna’s, Nordson, Shop Rite, Stitch-N-Print, Statesboro Coca-Cola Bottling, Swainsboro Ford, Swainsboro Raceway, Walmart, and Ware’s Bar-B-Que. A special thanks also to the Swainsboro Police Department for all the assistance as they kept our runners safe even with all the people around for the Pine Tree Festival. Complete results of the runs can be found on the Swainsboro Kiwanis Club website at swainsborokiwanis.org and the Pine Tree Festival page at pinetreefestival.org.
Just Keep Running and Run Fast, Run Hard, and Run Safe!
