Evidently, the Kenyans aren't content with winning the Cooper River Bridge Run.
On Thanksgiving morning, David Cheromei became the first Kenyan to win the Turkey Day Run and Gobble Wobble. He won the 33rd annual event with a time of 14 minutes and 55 seconds to edge local television meteorologist Neville Miller by 10 seconds. Michael Banks of Washington finished third with a time of 15:15.
Thursday was a day to give thanks, to eat -- and sweat as the temperature reached into the 70s.
"It was perfect for me," said Cheromei, who resides in Damascus, Va. "I'm used to running when it's 100 degrees. So today, it felt perfect."
Lauren Goss, a Mount Pleasant resident who attends Clemson University won the women's division with a time of 17:36. Kathleen Casto of Harrisonburg, Va. finished second in 17:39 and Michelle LaFleur of Savannah was third in 17:50.
Cheromei was in town with his family to celebrate Thanksgiving. He said he ran in last year's Cooper River Bridge Run but didn't fare well because he wasn't in good shape.
He was ready for Thursday's field and enjoyed running the 5-kilometer course that snaked its way through downtown Charleston.
"This is a wonderful course," Cheromei said. "They should make this race as big as the bridge run because this course is great. I've run races all over the world, and I really like this race."
Goss is a 22-year-old athlete who has little experience in the 5K world. She was a member of the Wando High School swimming team and started competing in triathlons when she enrolled at Clemson. Thursday was only the third time she ran a 5K race. She competed in the Turkey Day Run two years ago and posted a time of approximately 20 minutes.
"I took two weeks off after the triathlon season ended," Goss said. "I was going to do (the Turkey Day Run) for fun, but then it got competitive."
A record 5,888 runners and walkers entered this year's event and 5,260 crossed the finish line.
The event is a fundraising project of the Rev. P. N. Lynch Council No. 704 of the Knights of Columbus.
Results
Women
Overall
Age group winners
Grand Masters: Kerry Robinson 20:34. Masters: Dian Ford 19:50. 9-and-under: Caroline Mathisen 23:19. 10-14: Shelby Cain 21:12. 15-19: Grace Murray 20:27. 20-24: Anne Powell 20:13. 25-29: Mary Legare Whaley 20:38. 30-34: Jamie Turner 20:37. 35-39: Deborah Whitfield 20:41 40-44: Camelia Marculescu 20:00. 45-49: Kelly Hazel 20:18. 50-54: Kerry Robinson 20:15. 55-59: Lisa Hibdon 22:23 60-64: Lyn Hammond: 24:24. 65-69: Nancy Hassig 34:15. 70-and-over: Margaret Gerkin 34:07.
Men
Overall
Age group winners
Grand Masters: Marc Embler 17:34. Masters: Tom Mather 16:37. 9-and-under: David Grayson 19:49. 10-14: A.J. Gawryluck 17:18. 15-19: Tom Ford 16:21. 20-24: Kyle Carufe 15: 59. 25-29: Matt Chrabot 16:00. 30-34: Jeff Baxter 17:12. 35-39: Jason Annan 17:22. 40-44: Stephen Kenny 16:47. 45-49: David Quick 17:44. 50-54: Mike Seekings 18:26. 55-59: David Rennesien 18:11. 60-64: Bob Schlau 19:13. 65-69: Fred Reinhard 20:01. 70-and-over: Harvey McCormick 24:52.
