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Going for the Goldens: Run for Love 5K won by siblings

becky taylor, the tifton gazette, ga.
·3 min read

Aug. 8—TIFTON — Run for Love was golden for the Goldens. The 2023 edition of the race saw siblings Blair Golden and Emily Golden as the top male and female finishers in the 5K, held at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College on Aug. 5.

Blair Golden finished his run in 18 minutes flat. Emily Golden crossed the finish line in 19:34. Masters winners for the 5K were Joe Knoll in 22:28 and Tift County High cross country coach Cindy Marzen in 28:23.

Winners of the one-mile fun run were Abigail Thaba in 7:16 and Damani Fudge in 5:22.

Marzen had much to smile about and not just her own finish at the annual fundraiser for the Tift cross country teams. Six of her boys cross country runners completed the 5K in under 21 minutes. That makes for a formidable group once the season officially starts. Ninety-five runners participated in the 5K.

As usual, Tift Schools supported the run by running. Several coaches ran in one race or the other, including track coaches Kelli Walker and J.C. Clark. Clark admitted it was the first time he had run a mile since he was in high school.

His goal was to finish in under 12 minutes; he beat that by two minutes, crossing the finish line in under 10.

Don Borowski of Tifton's Best Running gave away several prizes to those running, as well as to Tift County athletes who ran at least 100 miles over the summer. Blair Golden led the way with 260, with Ava Wilson at 208 and Henry Anderson running 200.

Congratulating the effort, Borowski said, "Running under the surface of the sun in the Georgia heat is something else." He encouraged everyone to join the running group that meets up on Wednesday evenings at Eighth Street Middle.

ABAC cross country head coach Mike Beeman announced the names of everyone receiving medals. He recounted his move from New Hampshire in 2003 and how Run for Love was one of the first things he participated in after the move.

"Thank you everybody who is involved with the sport of cross country," Beeman said. It is a loyal crew, he noted, with those helping 20 years ago are still helping at the event.

Marzen thanked the platinum and gold sponsors of Run for Love.

Where applicable, the top three in each age group were recognized in the 5K:

10-under males: Jackson Reynolds (1st).

10-under females: Haley Nelson (1st) and Isabella Burdette (2nd)

11-13 males: Kellan Lukas (1st), William Maxwell (2nd) and Rylan Nelson (3rd).

11-13 females: Catherine Curry (1st), Bailey Brock (2nd) and Stella Byrnes (3rd)

14-18 males: Russ Benton (1st), Owen Davies (2nd) and Anthony Falatico (3rd).

14-18 females: Lola Reynolds (1st), Ava Wilson (2nd) and Emmalyn Lukas (3rd).

19-24 males: J.T. Crawford (1st)

19-24 females: Ainsley Toews (1st), Lizbeth Cortes (2nd) and Reagan Pate (3rd).

25-29 males: Irvin Alvarez (1st), Tucker Parris (2nd) and Andrew Floyd (3rd).

25-29 females: Emily Allen (1st).

30-34 males: Steven Haggard (1st).

30-34 females: Savannah Willis (1st), Kelsey Morris (2nd) and Jessie Marchant (3rd).

34-39 males: Chad Poole (1st).

34-39 females: Trisha Bridges (1st), Hannah Wilder (2nd) and Jodi Stuckey (3rd).

40-44 males: Luke Webster (1st), Josh Reynolds (2nd) and Peter Lukas (3rd).

40-44 females: Kristy Music (1st) and Lisa Delk (2nd)

45-49 males: Gene Roberts (1st).

45-49 females: Ashley Thaba (1st).

50-54 males: Andy Marzen (1st).

49-54 females: Becky Arnold (1st), Kelly Golden (2nd) and Wendy Pate (3rd).

55-59 males: William Arnold (1st), Richard Golden (2nd) and David Pollock (3rd).

55-59 females: Penny Peters (1st), Katie Jones (2nd) and Judy Lindsey (3rd).

60-64 males: Bret Wagenhorst (1st).

65-69 males: Mike Beeman (1st).

65-69 females: Donna Rucker (1st).

70+ males: Ernest Lang (1st).