Gobble Wobble ~ South runners, walkers go for the turkey
by Jason Hollins, reporter

     Despite the cold and blustery weather last Wednesday, the South Campus Gobble Wobble went off without a hitch. Every one of the 166 participants gladly handed over three cans of food for the Tarrant County food bank.

     Tim Johnson, the event’s director, led runners and walkers alike through some stretching exercises before the start. Students and teachers along with volunteers gathered in the parking lot while Paul Stewart, intramural director, explained the course.

     With the sound of the gun, they were off. Most chose to pace themselves for the 5K wobble. The first runner—Cande Montes—crossed the line 14 minutes and 21 seconds later. Just behind him was the second-place finisher, Ibrahim Noorzaie.

     "I feel good, a little tired though,” Noorzaie said as he walked to cool down slowly.

     The top two runners had less than a minute to catch their breath before the first female runner, Tahwana James, finished third at 15:58.

     “I like to run marathons; this is just something to do here at the school,” James said.

     Second place went to Miquela Macias, who finished with a time of 18:46.

     Charles Overstreet won first place in the 36-55 age group finishing 10 seconds ahead of Macias.

     Jim Black took home second place in the same age group crossing the line at 20:37. Theresa Landers also took home a turkey winning over Rita Short by 5:46; her time was 26:11.

     Winners for the 56 and up age group were Dane Phillips at 19:22 and Dr. Anita Barrett at 28:51. Bil

l Engelke finished a close second just 6 seconds behind Phillips.
     “I am surprised I beat Bill. I stayed right with him all the way. When we got close to the finish, I knew I had to sprint,” Phillips said.

     The first walking participant to cross the line was Roger Walter.
“I was just trying to keep up with the young guys up front,” Walter said.

     By that time, most runners were cooling off by drinking water and swapping stories, wondering where their friends had finished.

     As more time passed, walkers were joining the conversation.

     The winners among walkers included Walter, 28:22, and Dan Broyles, 30:20, in the 36-55 age group. David Wissore, 32:10, and Phillip Ross, 32:55, in the 18-35 age group.

     Roy Strickland and Ted Drake walked their way to the prizes in the 56 and up group.

     On the women’s side, the results were tightly contested. Turkeys and hams went to Prudence Zavala, 30:41 and Elena Bredehoeft and Ruby Anderson who tied at 32:55 in the 18-35 group.

     Delores People finished first in the 36-55 group followed by Donna Jimoh. Their times were 28:51 and 33:21, respectively. Mary Lou Strickland, 29:17, finished first in the 56 and up group. Patsy Hemmings followed winning second place in 36:20

     There will probably be fewer hungry people this holiday season because of those who participated in this year’s Gobble Wobble.