Firecracker 5K: Honoring The Memory Of A Local Blind Runner
July 5, 2009
Last year, Angie White of Flomaton was legally blind when she ran the Firecracker 5K in Pensacola for the Fourth of July. Saturday, several area runners ran the race in her memory.
Angie was diagnosed with a brain tumor in September 2007, and was left legally blind. She ran the Firecracker on July 4, 2008, with husband Earnie White and best friend Jo Nolin holding her arms, guiding her across the finish line. It took her just less than an hour, almost 50 minutes behind the leader. Friends cheered and shouted her name as she crossed the finish line at number 732 out of 736 runners.
Angie died in February of this year after her battle with the disease called glioblastoma multiforme. Saturday, several runners from the area — including Earnie White and Jo Nolin — ran this year’s Firecracker 5K without Angie. They ran to honor her memory in the race that benefits those in need served by the Ronald McDonald House.
When doctors discovered the mass in her head, it was the size of a tennis ball. She underwent surgery on September 23, 2007. She stopped breathing. She survived the emergency procedure doctors performed, but her sight did not.
After the surgery, she was left unable to walk, unable to sit up. She credited the Lord for allowing her the strength to finish the race.
White often ran 5K and 10K races and even competed in the triathlon. She was active in her community as well, serving in the Flomaton Quaterback Club and Flomaton Band Boosters. She was a member of the Flomaton Baptist Church.
White died February 11, 2009, at the age of 49. She was survived by her husband, Earnest Ray White and three children.
Pictured top: Angie White (center) was legally blind when she ran last year’s Firecracker 5K on the July 4. She ran with the support of friend Jo Nolin (left) and husband Earnie White. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
North Escambia Area Runners Place In Firecracker 5K, Including Two In Top 10
July 5, 2009
Matt Dobson of Jay and Alan Ash of Atmore finished in the top 10 overall out of over 700 in Saturday’s Firecracker 5K in Pensacola. They were two of many runners from the North Escambia area taking part in the annual Fourth of July event.
Dobson, 39, finished fifth with a time of 16:28.8 to finish first in the male 36-39 age group. Neil McDonagh of Pensacola finished first overall with a time of 14:58.3.
Ash, 18, was sixth overall, first in the 15-19 age group, with a time of 16:34.5. John Nguyen, 16, of Cantonment finished 31 overall, sixth among males 15-19.
Hugh Long of Atmore finished first in the male 70-74 age group with a time of 28:28.1.
Dale Ash of Atmore was the top area walker in the Firecracker 5K, finishing ninth overall and first among females 40-49.
The race raised over $26,000 for the Ronald McDonald House.
Other North Escambia area runners and walkers are listed below, followed by their city, age, age group finish and time:
Top North Escambia area Firecracker 5K Runners:
- 5 Matt Dobson Jay FL 39 1M 35-39 16:28.8
- 6 Alan Ash Atmore AL 18 1M 15·19 16:34.5
- 31 John Nguyen Cantonment FL 16 6 M 15-19 19:28.0
- 45 James Dillard Cantonment FL 5 M35-39 20:31.3
- 64 Deanna Stewart Jay FL 22 1 F 20-24 21:25.2
- 85 Kevin P James Cantonment FL 26 9 M 25-29
- 66 D Rachel Yonke Cantonment FL 24 2 F 20-24 21:33.5
- 87 Matthew Yonke Cantonment FL 28 11 M 26-29 22:31.2
- 92 Matt Ash Atmore AL 20 11 M 20·24 22:45.2
- 107 Mark W. Gibson Cantonment FL 52 10 M 50-54 23:09,5
- 119 Danny Gainey Cantonment FL 42 7 M 40-44 23:46.1
- 124 Thomas Sapp Cantonment FL 43 8 M 40-44 23:54.0
- 173 Chris Dufour Cantonment FL 35 19M 35-39 25:30.1
- 193 James Alan Ash Atmore AL 61 16 M 50-54 25:58.2
- 223 Tom Richardson Cantonment FL 44 11 M 40-44 26:49.5
- 225 Melanie Garrett CantonmElnt FL 32 10 F 30-34 26:52.6
- 240 Brooke RowlllI Cantonment Fl 28 8 F 26-29 27:07.
- 247 Sue l James Cantonment FL 53 2 F 50-54 27:18.3
- 264 Richard Thomas Murray Cantonmant FL 39 24 M 35-39 27:40.5
- 267 Lynn Lambeth Flomaton AL 45 6 F 45-49 27:42.2
- 271 Scott Wilford Cantonment FL 37 25 M35·39 27:45.7
- 276 Keegan Lambeth Flomaton AL 18 30 M 15-19 27:48.8
- 295 Hugh Long Atmore AL 72 1M 70-74 28:28.1
- 320 Earnest White Flomaton AL 54 20M 50-54 29:24.6
- 333 Robert Bath Molino FL 58 11 M 55-59 29:56.9
- 383 Robyn Sapp Cantonment FL 35 9 F 35-39 31:19.1
- 394 Steve Lambeth Flomaton AL 48 32 M 45-49 31:37.9
- 415 Brian K McGill Atmore AL 49 34 M 45·49 32:11.9
- 455 Jo Nolin Flomaton AL 59 4 F 65·59 33:21.4
- 462 Dee Ann Keliy Cantonment FL 35 19 F 35-39 33:29.7
- 477 Mary Nixon Molino FL 55 5 F 55·59 34:14.6
- 504 Victoria Fox Cantonment FL 26 23 F 25-29 35:13.3
- 515 Dawn Thomas Cantonment FL 44 23 F 40-44 35:36.2
- 537 Terry Kelly Atmore AL 45 39 M 45·49 36:31.7
- 538 Kimberly Kelly Atmore AL 41 24 F 40·44 36:33.0
- 539 Katherine S McGill Atmore AL 49 24F 4549 36:33.8
- 560 Amanda Patterson Cantonment FL 37 28 F 35-39 37:09.2
- 562 Erica Bondurant Atmore AL 27 27 F 25-29 37:13.8
- 572 Emily Russell Jay FL 12 5 F 10-14 37:42.8
- 573 Alison Russell Jay FL 14 6 F 10-14 37:44.3
- 575 Terri Dufour Cantonment FL 30 41 F 30-34 37:53.7
- 579 Pamela Clark Cantonment FL 37 31 F 35-39 38:02.0
- 587 Cecily Sauls Cantonment FL 46 27 F 45-49 38:47.9
- 603 Stephanie Boyett Cantonment FL 30 47 F 30-34 40:12.8
- 606 Jill Conner Flomaton AL 32 49 F 30-34 40:17.3
- 636 Nathan Gainey Cantonment FL 9 4M 0·9 41:54.6
- 645 Rai Lopez Cantonment FL 43 36 F 4044 42:34.2
- 650 Juie Russell Jay FL 37 37 F 35-39 43:28.2
- 655 Susan Hendrix Molino FL 45 33 F 45·49 43:35.6
- 662 Cyndi Jolly Cantonment FL 56 14 F 55·59 43:57.2
- 694 Shawna Moore Flomaton AL 23 23 F 20-24 51:02.4
Top North Escambia area Firecracker 5K Walkers:
- 9 Dale Ash Atmore AL 49 1 F 40·49 40:02.1
- 16 Candace R. Gibson Cantonment FL 56 3 F 50-59 41:55.2
- 33 Robyn Klumpp Cantonment FL 34 4 F 30-39 45:44.4
- 34 Phillip Klumpp Cantonment FL 43 2 M 40-49 45:44.9
- 49 Kathy Walker Cantonment FL 36 9F 30-39 48:06.9
- 56 Sandy Russell Cantonment FL 50 13 F 50·59 48:23.8
- 62 Susan Jernigan Cantonment FL 36 10 F 30-39 49:51.3
- 63 Nancy Pelfrey Cantonment FL 54 18 F 50-59 49:51.6
- 70 Brandi Morris Cantonment FL 27 2 F 20-29 50:21.6
- 73 Sherry Cunningham Century FL 55 3 F 60-69 50:59.5
Pictured above: Runners start the Firecracker 5K Saturday morning in Pensacola. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Destin Downs Tri-County; Rain Causes Delays In Jay, Destin
July 3, 2009
Tri-County was knocked out of the 11-12 Year Old Baseball All-Star Tournament in Jay with a Thursday night loss to Destin.
The Destin All-Stars defeated Tri-County 15-5 in a game that was delayed by weather. That weather delay in the first game of the night caused the second Thursday night tournament game between Defuniak Springs and Niceville-American to be postponed until a future date to be determined.
Meanwhile, it was a wet and stormy night in Destin too, with a rainout of the Northwest Escambia softball game against Shalimar. It has been rescheduled for Monday night as the 11-12 Year Old All-Star District 1 Tournament continues in Destin.
The Destin area was hit hard by storms Thursday afternoon, with over $1 million in damage done to several planes at the Destin Airport.
NWE Falls Out Of Jay Tournament With Loss To Niceville
July 2, 2009
Northwest Escambia is out of the 11-12 Year Old Baseball All-Star Tournament in Jay following a Wednesday night loss to Niceville-American.
Niceville-American topped NWE 13-0. Wednesday afternoon, Destin beat Shalimar 11-9.
The Tri-County will face Destin at 5:30 this afternoon in Jay.
Celebrate Fourth With Jay Freedom Fun 5K, Fun Run
July 2, 2009
Jay will celebrate the Fourth with the 10th annual Jay Celebration Freedom 5K and One Mile Fun Run at 6 p.m. at the Jay City Park on Booker Lane.
The patriotic race will begin and end at the city park. Runners will loop around Jay Elementary and Jay High as they pass the neighboring countryside.
The last half of the course is on a paved road between cotton and peanut fields. Awards will be presented to top finishers, master runners, grand master runners and senior grand master runners. Day-of-race registration begins at 4:30 p.m., and costs $20. For details, call Matt Dobson at (850) 217-2603 or (850) 675-6474.
Tri-County All-Stars Win 10-11 Year Softball Championship
July 1, 2009
The Tri-County All-Stars picked up the 10-11 year old tournament crown in Defuniak Springs Tuesday with a strong win.
Tri-County won the 10-11 Year Old Florida District 1 Softball Championship with a 16-0 shutout over Defuniak Springs. Tri-County was led by Michaela Stewart on the mound. Samantha Steadham had an in-park home run, and a triple from Dana Blackmon helped seal the strong win.
Tri-County will advance to the sectional tournament on July 18 at Defuniak Springs.
Pictured above and below: Thee 10-11 Year Old Tri-County All-Stars won the District 1 Championship Tuesday night in Defuniak Springs. Photos by Ricky Tagert for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NWE Wins In 11-12 Softball, Tri-County Falls To Niceville
July 1, 2009
(Updated With More Photos) In Tuesday night All-Star games, NWE beat Niceville in 11-12 year old play in Destin; and Tri-County lost in Jay.
NWE Advances In 11-12 Softball Tournament
Northwest Escambia shutout Niceville 7-0 Tuesday night in the 11-12 Year Old All-Star District 1 Tournament in Destin to advance to the next round Thursday night.
Mallory Ryan pitched six innings for NWE with seven strikeouts and no walks. Scoring for NWE were Ryan, Kendall Cobb, Kyndall Hall (2), Madison Arrington, Danielle Steadham and Reagan Bell.
Tri-County Falls in 11-12 Baseball Tournament
In the 11-12 year old All-Star Tournament in Jay Tuesday night, Niceville-National downed Tri-County 13-0 and RL Turner beat Defuniak Springs 16-10.
Pictured above: The Northwest Escambia 11-12 Year Old All-Stars Tuesday night in Destin. Submitted photo by Kim Ryan for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Special thanks to Kim Ryan and Tony deGraaf for their assistance with this story.
NWE, Tri-County Baseball And Softball Roundup
June 30, 2009
Tri-County will play for the 10-11 year old Softball district title tonight in Defuniak Springs. Tri-County and Defuniak at 1-1 in their series. Defuniak won the their first game 8-5. Tri-County came back to beat Defuniak Monday night, 12-7.
In 9-10 softball tournament play Monday night in Niceville, Tri-County fell to Shalimar 19-9. Tri-County will take on Destin Tuesday night as the tourney continues.
Northwest Escambia’s 11-12 year old softball district game in Destin was rained out Monday night. The game has been rescheduled for tonight at 7:30 when NWE will take on Niceville. Shalimar and Defuniak Springs will also play in Destin tonight.
In 9-10 year old baseball action Monday night in Panama City, Tri-County advanced to game three of the tournament Thursday night when they will take on Niceville-American. Coming off a 12-2 win over host RL Turner on Saturday, Tri-County dominated Freeport Monday night 13-3.
Tri-County Downs NWE In 11-12 Year Old Tourney
June 30, 2009
Tri-County downed Northwest Escambia Monday night in Little League 11-12 year old All-Stars Tournament action in Jay.
Tri-County won the game in four innings, 14-3 over NWE.
In other tournament play Monday night in Jay, RL Turner beat Destin 11-4; Defuniak Springs was victorious over Shalimar 12-9; and Niceville-National slipped pass Niceville-American 4-3.
Tri-County will advance to take on Niceville-National at 7:30 Tuesday night in Jay Northwest Escambia will play again Wednesday evening.
Tri-County Advances In 9-10 Baseball Tourney
June 29, 2009
The Tri-County All-Stars advanced in 9-10 year old baseball tournament action over the weekend.
Tri-County beat R.L. Turner of Panama City 12-2.
Tri-County, which includes players from Century, Jay, Chumuckla and Fidelis, will play again Monday night against Freeport in Panama City.
If Tri-County wins Monday night, they will advance to play the winner of Destin versus Niceville-American on Thursday night. If they lose, they will play again Wednesday night against the winner of Tuesday night’s Defuniak Springs versus Shalimar game.