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On a cool Thanksgiving morning, the 12th annual Lexington Gobble Wobble 5-kilometer race welcomed close to 500 runners and walkers, while the children’s fun run brought 28 enthusiastic youths.
With the help of more than 500 registered individuals, the event raised money for the Rockbridge Christmas Baskets, the Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce and the Community Table for the Rockbridge Area. The Lexington- Rockbridge Jaycees Gobble Wobble committee organized the event, with the help of volunteers from the community and board members of the event’s beneficiaries. The committee members – Katie MacRobbie, Brent Buswell and Jenny Nicely – expressed their thanks to the volunteers and to the Lexington Police Department for keeping the runners and volunteers safe.
A short children’s fun run of kids running in the Maury River Middle School parking lot began the morning at 8:30 a.m., and then the moderately hilly 5K started at 9, with sunny weather and temperatures in the low 40s. The 5K course started and finished in the Maury River Middle School parking lot and went into downtown Lexington and back, with volunteers pointing the way and providing encouragement throughout the race.
Winning the 5K for the third consecutive year was Kedryn Chandler, a 2021 Parry McCluer High School graduate and a Southern Virginia University senior cross country runner, finishing in 15 minutes, 30.07 seconds. SVU freshman cross country runner Joseph Hughes of Buena Vista placed second in 16:01.85, and Evan Roney, a 2023 Rockbridge County High School graduate who runs for Rhodes College, finished third in 16:11.75.
The top female finisher, for the second year in a row, was Laurel Sheffield of Buena Vista, 2014 Rockbridge County High School graduate, who placed 16th overall in 19:17.99. Placing second among females and 24th overall was Rebecca Doner of Mount Wolf, Pa. in 20:50.83. The third female finisher was Natalie White of Millboro, placing 25th overall in 20:55.69.
Male age group winners were Evan Roney (19 and under, 16:11.74), Kedryn Chandler (20-29, 15:30.06), Dan Baur (30-39, 17:06.56), Justin Clement (40-49, 19:27.3), Yoshimasa Ueno (5059, 21:19.05), James Williams (60-69, 21:31.96) and Frederick Richter (70 and over, 27:42.92).
Female age group winners were Natalie White (19 and under, 20:55.68), Laurel Sheffield (20-29, 19:17.99), Rebecca Doner (30-39, 20:50.83), Emily L. King (40-49, 23:04.91), Gayle Alderfer Fisher (50-59, 27:29.54), Laura Brown (60-69, 29:49.12) and Elizabeth Lynn (70 and over, 34:01.25).
For full race results, visit www.commonwealthtiming. net. For more information on the Gobble Wobble, visit www. lexingtongobblewobble.com.
