Sports
Athleta Iron Girl Draws Thousands of Runners to Clearwater Beach
The women's half marathon and 5K race boasts more than 4,400 participants aged 3 to 83.
Sydney Avery came up just short Sunday.
Avery, of Tampa, ran 3.1 miles in 20 minutes and 35 seconds - barely two minutes behind the leader.
She finished second. Not too shabby for a 10-year old.
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Spirits were high, conditions were favorable and there were minimal medical emergencies as more than 4,400 women converged on Clearwater Beach for the Athleta Iron Girl event Sunday morning.
Participants aged three to 83 ran, walked or jogged the course, which included the first half marathon in Athleta Iron Girl history.
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The 13.1 mile route looped runners through Clearwater Beach over the Memorial Causeway Bridge and through Belleair and Largo and over the Belleair Bridge. Then back to the beach heading along Gulf Blvd and over the Sand Key Bridge.
Bonnie Kretchik, 27, of Ocala came in first with a time of 1:28:32. She was closely followed by Lisa Buohler, 41, of Lehigh Acres, who finished in 1:29:07.
The 5K looped around the Memorial Causeway Bridge and back.
Christa Benton finished that race so quickly, officials didn’t even have time to stretch the tape across the finish line. She completed the course in a brisk 18 minutes and nine seconds.
And no matter where they finished or if they finished, each participant provided inspiration for those whose idea of a tough Sunday morning is walking out to the driveway to grab the paper.
Like Ani Vidal.
The 43-year-old Valrico resident completed her first 5K in 2008, two years after she was diagnosed with leukemia. She ran again last year, despite undergoing radiation treatments for thyroid cancer.
A month after completing that race, Vidal suffered a severe brain injury in an auto accident.
Yet there she was, strong and determined, crossing the finish line Sunday with the aid of a walker.
In the senior divisions, Pat Linn, 75, defended her title for the 70 to 79 age group posting a time of 39:12.
Even more impressive? Her friend, Jackie Yost completed the race in 56 minutes and 10 seconds.
Yost is 83 years old.
For complete race results, click here.
