Babson Park, Fla. – Early Sunday morning overcast skies and temperatures in the mid-thirties greeted the field of 583 participants for the 36th Annual Gulf Winds Track Club Half Marathon. Participants included athletes from over 25 states and 3 countries (UK, Russia, and the Ukraine) alongside cross country and track athlete Jonathan Mott and distance coach Peter Ormsby.
The redshirt junior led from the gun, going on to win the event by just over two and a half minutes over his closest competitor, Daniel Lee of Tallahassee. For his efforts the St. Petersburg native, set a new school record (1:12:31) and is now qualified to participate in the NAIA Outdoor Track Championships in May; besting the “A” standard of 1 hour and 14 minutes by near 90 seconds.
“We were looking to run as relaxed as possible through half way and then see where he was at,” said Coach Ormsby “when he passed me [at about the 7 mile mark] he was already 20 seconds under pace and looked smooth.” “As I approached the track, people were telling me he went sub 1:13,” Ormsby added.
The focus now will turn to the remaining track schedule including The Sun Conference championships and preparations for the national meet which will be held May 27-29 in Marion, IN, hosted by Indiana Wesleyan University.
Coach Ormsby also fared well placing 8th overall and setting a new personal best of 1 hour 23 minutes and 37 seconds; both participants received handmade pottery from Tallahassee artist Brian Bachman.
