Roof paces area runners in Freedom 5K

  • The Blue Ridge Freedom 5K was not just for serious runners, but for those who wanted to start the July 4 celebration in Blue Ridge with their own style, as many entrants brought along babies and dogs.
    The Blue Ridge Freedom 5K was not just for serious runners, but for those who wanted to start the July 4 celebration in Blue Ridge with their own style, as many entrants brought along babies and dogs.
  • Jose Beguiristain (45) of Morganton gives two thumbs up as he makes his was down East Main Street in the Blue Ridge Freedom 5K. He is flanked by Kaitlin Walker (11) of Monroe, Virginia, and Jessica Perez (482) of Smyrna, Georgia.
    Jose Beguiristain (45) of Morganton gives two thumbs up as he makes his was down East Main Street in the Blue Ridge Freedom 5K. He is flanked by Kaitlin Walker (11) of Monroe, Virginia, and Jessica Perez (482) of Smyrna, Georgia.
  • The Blue Ridge Freedom 5K was a time for many to celebrate freedom.
    The Blue Ridge Freedom 5K was a time for many to celebrate freedom.

    Lucas Roof of Mineral Bluff set the pace for area runners who were among the finishers in the Blue Ridge Freedom 5K that took place downtown early July 4.

    A total of 681 runners and walkers completed the race that got underway at 7:30 a.m.

    Roof, who helps coach the Fannin County High School Track & Field and Cross Country team, finished fourth overall with a blistering time of 17:34:34.  The time also gave Roof first place in the Male Masters division.

    He was also only a little more than 30 seconds behind first place finisher Evan Brakefield of Austin, Texas, who finished in 17:00:02.

    Roof was not alone in his first place finished in his age division. Other first place winners included:

    •Emily Kruger took the top spot in the Female Masters competition with a time of 21:11:35;

    •Karli Sams won first place in the Female 15-19 age group with a time of 20:47:12. Sams was a members of the Fannin County Lady Rebels Track & Field team than won the state championship in the 4x800 meter relay;

    •Anthony Rivera of Mineral Bluff took first place in the Male 65-69 age group;

    •Brandon Baker of Blue Ridge won first place in the Male 50-54 age group;

    •Molly Christman of Blue Ridge took first place in the 70-and-over age group;

    •Sharon Arnold of Blue Ridge was the winner in the Female 50-54 age group;

    •O. Baker of Blue Ridge was the first place winner in the female 1 to 10 competition;

    •L. Scoggins of Copperhill won first place in the female 11-14 age category;

    •Diane Pearce of Blue Ridge was the first place winner in the Female 60-64 category; and,

    •Jason Hinson of Blue Ridge finished ninth overall and in first place in the Male 20-24 age group with a time of 19:10:31.

    Other runners from the area also turned in top three finishes in the July 4 race. These included:

    •Whitney Stanley of Epworth who finished third in the Female Overall division with a time of 20:35:68;

    •Ted Beaux of Blue Ridge who finished second in the Male 11-14 division;

    •Miranda Roof  of Mineral Bluff who finished third in the Female Masters division with a time of  22:33:72. She is the head coach of the Track & dsField and Cross Country teams at Fannin County High School;

    •Eric Woods of Morganton finished third in the Male 55-59 race;

    •Macy Hawkins of Blue Ridge finished second in the Female 15-19 run;

    •Eva Zaro of Blue Ridge finished second in the Female 20-24 event;

    •Heather Foresman of Epworth was third in the Female 45-49 competition;

    •Susan Paul of Blue Ridge was third among Female 65-69 competitors;

    •L. Roof of Mineral Bluff finished second in the Female 1-10 group;

    •Sherry Roof of Blue Ridge took second place in the Female 70-and-over competition;

    •Jason Butler of Blue Ridge finished third in the Male 45-49 class;

    •Russell Stevenson of Morganton was the third place finisher in the Male 50-54 class; and,

    •Andy Sharp of Blue Ridge finished in second place in the Male 60-64 run.

    Placings and times are thanks to the Blue Ridge Freedom 5K website.