The National Black Marathoners Association held its historic 5th Annual Gathering at Ft Worth’s Cowtown Marathon. During the two-day event, money was donated to the scholarship fund through the race entry fees. Also, Cincinnati’s Avondale Running Club contributed a $500 donation to the scholarship fund.
The event brought together over 100 members from around the country to mingle, recognize people for their accomplishments, and run or walk their selected event. Members from various Black running clubs also participated. They included the South Fulton (Atlanta) Running Partners, Cleveland’s Team Marathon, Cincinnati’s Avondale, South DeKalb (Georgia) Striders Running Club, Jacksonville’s Team Mocha, and Tri-Unity.
Day one of the event gave members opportunities to meet such members as:
o Rudy Smith (60 years old) - the second Black in the world to run marathons on all seven continents. Fewer than 300 people in the world have accomplished this feat.
o Frederick Davis III (61 years old) - he has run over 340 marathons and ultra-marathons. Ultra-marathons are races that are longer than a 26.2-mile marathon.
o At 61 years old, Frederick Davis lll ran 504 miles in a 10-day race in New York last year.
o Angela Ivory (41 years old) - the first Black woman to run 26.2-mile marathons in all 50 States. She’s run over 220 marathons and ultra-marathons.
o Angela Ivory’s current goal is to run ultra-marathons in all 50 States.
o Donald Arthur (64 years old) - he has completed 37 marathons with a transplanted heart.
o Donald Arthur is planning to walk across America in 2010 or 2011 to raise awareness about transplants.
o Anthony Reed (53 years old) – a National Black Marathoners Association (NBMA) Co-Founder and the first Black to run marathons on all seven continents.
o This was Anthony Reed’s 100th marathon. He met Rudy Smith on the Great Wall Marathon in 2006. They learned that they share the same birthday, July 2nd.
o Charlotte Simmons-Foster - a NBMA Co-Founder and an active member and officer in the South Fulton (Georgia) Running Partners, the country’s oldest Black running club.
Nineteen of the NBMA members finished in the top ten in their categories. They ranged from 10 to 64 years old.
50K (31.1 miles) Ultra-Marathon
o Nikela Gates (Ft. Worth, TX) - first place female in the weight division.
o Michele Smith-Harden (Norfolk, VA) - second overall female & first place in 45-49 age group.
o The day after Cowtown, Michele Smith-Harden ran the Miracle Match Marathon in Waco, TX and placed first in her 45-49 age group.
o Frederick Davis III (Cleveland, OH) - first place in the male, 60-64 age group.
o Michael Pegues (Dallas, TX) - third place in the male, 45-49 age group.
o Mary Carmen (Austin, TX), Lei Durmmer (Jacksonville, FL) and Angela Ivory (Nashville, TN) also completed the ultra.
Marathon (26.2 miles) Results
o Arvat McClaine (Richmond, VA) - third place in the female in the weight division.
o Elzy Warren (Bedford, OH) - first place, male in the 55-59 age group.
Half Marathon (13.1 miles) Results
o Elizabeth Brown (Cincinnati, OH) - third place in the female, 60-64 age group.
o Frances Gilbert (Cincinnati, OH) - second place in the female, 70-74 age group.
o Rudy Smith (Gretna, LA) - second place in the male, 65-69 age group.
10K (6.2 miles) Results
o Joshua Skipper (Ellenwood, GA) - first place in the male, under 10 age group.
o Ellen Ector (Smyrna, GA) - second place in the female, 55-59 age group.
o Marcia Watson (Solon, OH) - third place in the female, 55-59 age group.
o Lameka Weeks (Dallas, TX) - second place in the female weight division.
Next year, the NBMA will be gathering at Atlanta’s ING Georgia Marathon, Half Marathon, and Publix 5K in March 2010.
The National Black Marathoners Association can be contacted at
www.BlackMarathoners.org.
Posted By: Tony Reed
Tuesday, June 2nd 2009 at 12:39PM
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