Molly Nunn
Conway, Turner take top honors in 5K; Record number of kids participate in the Mashed Potato Mile and Gravy Gallop
ATLANTA – Over 12,800 runners and walkers kicked off Thanksgiving morning at the 2012 Atlanta Half Marathon events on Thursday, November 22, making it one of the largest participant fields in the event’s history. Along with the Atlanta Half Marathon, the Thanksgiving Day event featured the Thanksgiving Day 5K, the Mashed Potato Mile for children ages 7 to 12 and the Gravy Gallop for kids ages 6 and under.
“The Atlanta Half Marathon events really bring the Atlanta Track Club’s mission of inspiring and engaging the community to achieve health and fitness through running to life,” said Tracey Russell, Executive Director of the Atlanta Track Club. “It’s truly inspiring to see so many families and friends come together to kick off their holiday in a healthy and active way.”
Near-perfect running conditions contributed to a personal record for Atlanta Half Marathon first place finisher, Wallace Campbell, 26, of Clemson, S.C., who finished with a time of 1 hour, 8 minutes, 10 seconds, more than a minute ahead of second place finisher, Jared Carson, 26, of Atlanta. Campbell took the lead just past mile three, and maintained his lead through the finish. In the women’s race, Molly Nunn, 29, of Winston Salem, N.C., took top honors with a time of 1:21:31, more than a minute and a half ahead of second place finisher, Abbie Robinson, 22, of Douglasville, Ga.
Michael Conway, 20, of West Hartford, Ct., took home a victory in the men’s division of the Thanksgiving Day 5K with a time of 15:14, while Jenny Turner, 27, of Sandy Springs, Ga. won the women’s division with a time of 18:28. 2012 marked the third running of the Thanksgiving Day 5K.
Five hundred kids participated in the Mashed Potato Mile and Gravy Gallop, a record number for the youth portion of the Thanksgiving Day events.
2012 Atlanta Half Marathon
Atlanta, Ga., Thursday, Nov. 22
MEN
1) Wallace Campbell, 26, Clemson, S.C., 1:08:10
2) Jared Carson, 26, Atlanta, Ga., 1:10:23
3) Andrew Heath, 28, Atlanta, Ga., 1:11:37
4) Clay Watson, 19, Norcross, Ga., 1:13:22
5 ) David Dixon, 20, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, 1:13:48
WOMEN
1) Molly Nunn, 29, Winston Salem, N.C., 1:21:31
2) Abbie Robinson, 22, Douglasville, Ga., 1:23:16
3) Jessica Cohen, 31, Atlanta, Ga., 1:27:51
4) Sophie Harkins, 20, Dunwoody, Ga., 1:28:33
5) Dara Steele-Belkin, 38, Atlanta, Ga., 1:28:45
MASTERS MEN
1) Scott Lowe, 41, Canton, Ga., 1:17:03
2) Lucas Andrews, 43, Atlanta, Ga., 1:17:09
3) Avelino Garcia, 43, Atlanta, Ga., 1:19:33
MASTERS WOMEN
1) Sue Kelly, 51, Alpharetta, Ga., 1:33:26
2) Barbara Chandler, 49, Atlanta, Ga., 1:33:52
3) Danette Betts, 48, Alpharetta, Ga. 1:34:20
2012 Thanksgiving Day 5K
Atlanta, Ga., Thursday, Nov. 22
MEN
1) Michael Conway, 20, West Hartford, Conn., 15:14
WOMEN
1) Jenny Turner, 27, Sandy Springs, Ga., 18:28
MASTERS MEN
1) Michael Murfee, 51, College Park, Ga., 19:45
MASTERS WOMEN
1) Kelly Walsh, 42, Decatur, Ga., 20:59
