Registration open for 5K

By ANTONYA ENGLISH

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 28, 2000

Road runners looking for a challenging race this weekend still have time to register for the third annual Regions Bank Citrus Road Run 5K, which will start at 7:45 a.m. Saturday at Citrus Springs Middle School.

What began as a small, community race run by the Citrus Road Runners Club has become a highly competitive event.

"(Early response) has been super," club president Colon Joiner said. "We have 83 registered so far. It's the most advance registration I've had for any race." Participants will include many of the county's top prep runners, including Lecanto's Amanda Howard and Bryan Holcomb, Crystal River's Rebecca Thielemann and Citrus' Rick Miller.

Several of the top master's runners in the area and state, including defending champion Francisco Vasquez, also will compete. Joiner said he also has received pre-registration from Joel Rich, a Gainesville runner who has clocked a 5K time of 15 minutes, 30 seconds this year.

"He's coming, but it will be tough to match that time out here," Joiner said. "It's a hilly course, and with the heat and humidity we usually get here on Saturday morning, it's a tough course."

The race will begin at Citrus Springs Middle School, head onto Citrus Springs Boulevard and turn west on Deltona for about 11/2 miles before looping around and back on the same course.

"I've got the young runners, and I've got the master's runners," Joiner said. "And I think this is going to be the biggest, best, most competitive race we've had."

The race costs $11 in advance, $13 on the day of the race. Race day registration will be held from 7 to 7:30 a.m.

Applications can be obtained at www.hotmallets.com/crr or by calling Joiner at (352) 527-2445.

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