Shrum, Gautier Win Communities In Schools 5K

Ringgold Race Proceeds Benefit Schools In Catoosa County

  • Saturday, April 30, 2016
  • John Hunt

Ryan Shrum and Jan Gautier may still be recovering from the Boston Marathon 12 days ago, but that didn’t keep them from winning overall titles in the 18th Annual Communities In Schools 5K in Ringgold Saturday morning.

The race, a circular 3.1-mile route that was somewhat flat, but included a few challenging climbs, was sponsored by First Volunteer Bank with proceeds benefitting the schools in Catoosa County.

Shrum, that high-energy 48-year-old salesman and service manager for Icemakers, Inc., had finished third on this course last year with a time of 18:41, but his time of 18 minutes flat the second time around was more than good enough to beat runner-up Tripp McCallie, who crossed the finish line in the parking lot of Ingles in 18:20.

Nathan Kile was third in 18:31 while Jonathan Hutchins and Marco Bianchini completed the top five with times of 18:45 and 20:20, respectively.

While Shrum’s margin of victory was 20 seconds, the race for first place among the ladies was much closer as Jan Gautier held off Jennifer Curtis to win with a time of 20:49.  Curtis was seventh overall and right behind Gautier in 20:57.

Mallory Edwards, Lisa Logan and Moriah Edwards were 11th, 12th and 13th overall to complete the top five women with times of 21:44, 22:11 and 22:32, respectively.

The temperature when the race began was relatively cool and skies were overcast, but there was some humidity that made running conditions tougher than they looked.

That didn’t seem to matter to the front runners as they bolted from the starting line like they were on their way to a fire.

“I went out a little faster than I would have liked, but I finally settled in an hung on at the end,” said Shrum after his winning performance ended with an uphill finish.

“It’s only been 12 days since Boston and I’m feeling it.  I was hoping to break 18 minutes, so I’m pleased with my time.  It was a hard race for me, but I’m happy to be finished.  But it’s good to be back home running a Chattanooga Track Club race,” he added.

McCallie is the 46-year-old development director for the YMCA who didn’t even decide to enter until late Friday night.  It seems that he and his family are in the process of moving and he was planning to be moving stuff out of a nearby storage building anyway, so he came out for a brief workout to start his day.

“I didn’t decide to do it until last night, but that’s not too bad for 12 days after a brutal marathon in Boston,” McCallie explained.

“It was a little faster than I would have liked, but I just tried to keep Ryan in sight.  I was really hurting when we were climbing that hill by Ringgold High School.  I’m glad it’s over,” he said.

Gautier is a 50-year-old teacher and coach at Baylor who has won more races in the past 30 years than she can count.  It’s probably safe to say that she’s never won a 5K with a slower time, but her time was good enough for victory on this particular day.

“Holy cow, that hurt,” she said shortly after crossing the finish line and trying to catch her breath.

“I knew that Jennifer was right behind me because I could hear the people on the side talking about us, but I didn’t want to turn around and look.  I just had to keep going.  At times when I was feeling good, I went hard.

“I didn’t realize how dead my legs were until we started, but I just went out hard and held on at the end.  I’m sad there weren’t more people here as this race supports such a good cause,” she nodded.

While Shrum was third a year ago, Curtis was the runner-up in 2015 with a time that was more than a minute faster.

“I loved having Jan in front of me as she knew the course better than anyone.  She’s such an amazing runner who makes it look so easy,” she praised the female winner.

“My time wasn’t what I wanted, but I did the best I could.  It seems like last year was raining and cold and my time was much faster, but I’m trying to work my way into some longer races.  Jan finished in front of me, but I was never close to passing her,” said the 34-year-old social worker for the elderly who is also the reigning Overall Female Runner of the Year in the CTC.

Last year’s race attracted 137 finishers while Saturday’s event only had 75.

(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)

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