Dean Palmer/The Pilot
Dean Palmer/The Pilot
Karson Rowley and his friend and Pilot Mountain Elementary classmate Landon Smith finished together with respective times of 27:51 and 27:52.
Dean Palmer/The Pilot
Dean Palmer/The Pilot
Nine-year-old Roy Beth Kiser is all smiles as she crosses the finish line in 26th place among all finishers, with a quick time of 32:29.
Dean Palmer/The Pilot
Top female finisher for the day was Jaime Simmons, with a time of 20:46.
Dean Palmer/The Pilot
Dean Palmer/The Pilot
Chase Brewster, 16, a member of the East Surry track team, is the first to cross Saturday’s finish line with a time of 19 minutes and 59 seconds.
Dean Palmer/The Pilot
Dean Palmer/The Pilot
Leaders make their way down the large hill on Old Highway 52 Bypass.
PILOT MOUNTAIN — In what is quickly becoming a Mayfest tradition, some 69 walkers and runners got up early Saturday morning to take part in the third annual PMWC Heart and Sole 5K.
Participants covered a 3.2-mile circular route before ending at a downtown finish line, surrounded by cheering Mayfest vendors, volunteers and early visitors.
While many enjoyed a leisurely walk or a jog around the course, others took up the challenge to set a blistering pace.
Top finisher was 16-year-old Chase Brewster, a member of the East Surry track team, who completed the course in 19 minutes and 59 seconds. Second was Neil Rowley of Durham with a time of 20:06.
The event’s top female finisher was Jaime Simmons, who claimed the overall third place with a time of 20:46.
Among youths, a pair of 9-year-old runners led the way with Karson Rowley nipping Pilot Mountain Elementary classmate Landon Smith. Their times were 27:51 and 27:52 respectively.
Local resident Ron Moorefield, 68, was the top senior, finishing 24th overall with a time of 31:22.
The morning served as fundraiser for the Pilot Mountain Woman’s Club, helping to fund the group’s assortment of educational and community service projects undertaken throughout the year.
“People don’t know about how the PMWC does so much here and even internationally,” explained club member and event participant Tammy Gilley. “Everything they raise goes back into the community and to helping others. This is a way of giving back to Pilot Mountain.”
The 5K was Gilley’s first and she competed with other family members.
“I’ve been working out,” she noted, “and it was a good challenge. It’s a good run for a 5K.”
“With the support we received from our sponsors and participants,” PMWC President Marie Needham explained, “we feel this was very successful. We want to express our gratitude to everyone who came out to help and support us and to cheer everyone on.
“There was such a good community atmosphere. This was our third one and now we’re looking forward to next year.”
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