Gasparilla Distance Classic

Last updated
Gasparilla Distance Classic
Datelate February-early March
Location Tampa, Florida
Event typeHalf Marathon, 15K, 8K, 5K
Primary sponsor Publix
Established1978

The Gasparilla Distance Classic is a road race which is held in late February or early March on Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa, Florida. Over 30,000 competitors participate each year. [1] It is named after the Gasparilla Pirate Festival, which takes place on Tampa's Bayshore Boulevard a few weeks earlier.

Contents

History

The Gasparilla Distance Classic Association was established in 1978 dedicated specifically to raising funds for charitable youth organizations and running programs in the Tampa Bay area. Its mission is carried out through the administration of the annual Publix Super Markets Gasparilla Distance Classic Race Weekend and Jr. Gasparilla Distance Classic. Since the first running of the Gasparilla Distance Classic in February 1978, $5.9 million has been donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa, Girls Inc. of Pinellas, The Friends of Tampa Parks & Recreation and other running programs.[ citation needed ] More than 485,000+ runners and walkers have crossed the finish line. [2]

The race weekend includes the Half Marathon, 8k, the Publix Super Markets Gasparilla Distance Classic 15K & 5K, Kellogg's 5K Walk, Fifth Third Bank Half Marathon Team Challenge & Stroller Roll, Michelob Ultra Challenge (15K, 5K, Half Marathon & 8K) and the Beck's Light Challenge (15K, 5K & Half Marathon) [3]

The Gasparilla Distance Classic used to include a marathon race (26.2 miles). The final marathon was in 2010 and titled the "Final Voyage". Wilson Chepkwony of Kenya was the Men’s 2010 Marathon Champion with a time of 2:24:48 and Melissa Gacek of St. Paul, Minn was the Women’s 2010 Marathon Champion with a time of 2:53:20 [4]

Human interest stories

In 2008 Iraq war veteran Ivan Castro ran 20.0975 kilometres (12.4880 mi) of the Gasparilla Classic only 17 months after being blinded by shrapnel on a rooftop in Baghdad. [5]

Lieutenant Colonel Sam Arwood ran the 2010 Gasparilla Marathon 7,800 miles (12,600 km) away on a treadmill in Afghanistan. Sam had originally planned to run in the marathon in Tampa, but was deployed one month before the race. He was given the Ok by race officials to run a course on base in Afghanistan, but was forced onto a treadmill after heavy rains ruined the outdoor track. [6]

Charity

The Challenged Athletes Foundation(CAF) sponsors the LabCorp Elite 15K Wheelchair Division. CAF raises money to help people with physical disabilities pursue an active lifestyle through physical fitness and athletics. [7]

The Mendez Foundation Too Good For Drugs Junior Gasparilla Distance Classic is a free mini-marathon, now in its 20th year, for children ages 2 to 10. The race emphasizes participation over competition. Every child receives a race bib with the number "1" printed on it, as well as a goody bag, T-shirt and, after crossing the finish line, a competitor's medal. [8]

2011 Charitable Organizations & Running Related Programs Supported By The Gasparilla Distance Classic Association, Inc.:

Tampa Cross Country & Track Programs:

Youth Running Programs:

Past 15K winners

Key:  Course record

EditionYearMen's winnerTime (m:s)Women's winnerTime (m:s)
1st1978Flag of the United States.svg  Bill Rodgers  (USA)44:29Flag of the United States.svg  Kim Merritt  (USA)55:40
2nd1979Flag of the United States.svg  Ralph King  (USA)44:12Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Gayle Olinekova  (CAN)53:17
3rd1980Flag of the United States.svg  Greg Meyer  (USA)43:40Flag of Norway.svg  Grete Waitz  (NOR)48:01
4th1981Flag of the United States.svg  Ric Rojas  (USA)43:12Flag of Norway.svg  Grete Waitz  (NOR)48:12
5th1982Flag of Kenya.svg  Michael Musyoki  (KEN)43:09Flag of Norway.svg  Grete Waitz  (NOR)48:26
6th1983Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Robert de Castella  (AUS)42:47Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Wendy Sly  (GBR)48:18
7th1984Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Mike McLeod  (GBR)42:55Flag of Norway.svg  Grete Waitz  (NOR)47:52
8th1985Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Mike McLeod  (GBR)43:02Flag of Norway.svg  Grete Waitz  (NOR)48:10
9th1986Flag of Ireland.svg  John Treacy  (IRL)42:59Flag of Norway.svg  Ingrid Kristiansen  (NOR)48:00
10th1987Flag of Mexico.svg  Marcos Barreto  (MEX)43:17Flag of Norway.svg  Grete Waitz  (NOR)48:50
11th1988Flag of Mexico.svg  Marcos Barreto  (MEX)42:37Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Liz McColgan  (GBR)47:43
12th1989Flag of the United States.svg  Keith Brantly  (USA)42:50Flag of Norway.svg  Ingrid Kristiansen  (NOR)48:14
13th1990Flag of Norway.svg  John Halvorsen  (NOR)43:25Flag of the United States.svg  Judi St. Hilaire  (USA)49:26
14th1991Flag of Norway.svg  John Halvorsen  (NOR)43:14Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Jill Boltz  (GBR)49:00
15th1992Flag of Brazil.svg  Valdenor dos Santos  (BRA)43:10Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Wilma van Onna  (NED)49:11
16th1993Flag of Brazil.svg  Valdenor dos Santos  (BRA)42:41Flag of Brazil.svg  Carmem de Oliveira  (BRA)49:03
17th1994Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Philemon Hanneck  (ZIM)42:35Flag of South Africa.svg  Elana Meyer  (RSA)48:11
18th1995Flag of Kenya.svg  Josephat Machuka  (KEN)42:37Flag of Kenya.svg  Delilah Asiago  (KEN)48:38
19th1996Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Jon Brown  (GBR)42:42Flag of Kenya.svg  Tegla Loroupe  (KEN)48:30
20th1997Flag of Kenya.svg  Joseph Kimani  (KEN)43:11Flag of South Africa.svg  Elana Meyer  (RSA)48:48
21st1998Flag of Mexico.svg  Gabino Apolonio  (MEX)43:23Flag of Kenya.svg  Lornah Kiplagat  (KEN)49:24
22nd1999Flag of the United States.svg  Russ Gerbers  (USA)46:48Flag of the United States.svg Laura Drake (USA)54:33
23rd2000Flag of the United States.svg  Russ Gerbers  (USA)46:37Flag of the United States.svg Laura Drake (USA)52:59
24th2001Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Muchapiwa Mazano  (ZIM)48:50Flag of the United States.svg Laura Drake (USA)54:47
25th2002Flag of the United States.svg  Tony Teats  (USA)46:36Flag of the United States.svg  Monica Joyce  (USA)55:10
26th2003Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Ronnie Holassie  (TRI)46:40Flag of the United States.svg  Amy Begley  (USA)52:21
27th2004Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Joep Tigchelaar  (NED)46:37Flag of the United States.svg  Rosa Gutierrez  (USA)55:20
28th2005Flag of the United States.svg  Elias Gonzalez  (USA)48:23Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Victoria Gill (GBR)54:00
29th2006Flag of the United States.svg  Elias Gonzalez  (USA)48:39Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Victoria Gill (GBR)53:47
30th2007Flag of the United States.svg  Todd Snyder  (USA)45:48Flag of the United States.svg  Christa Benton  (USA)54:27
31st2008Flag of Kenya.svg  Joseph Sitienei  (KEN)46:45Flag of the United States.svg  Annie Cooper-Gasway  (USA)56:00
32nd2009Flag of the United States.svg  Ryan Hall  (USA)43:26Flag of the United States.svg  Christa Benton  (USA)54:42
33rd2010Flag of the United States.svg  Austin Richmond  (USA)46:49Flag of the United States.svg  Briana Whaley  (USA)54:05
34th2011Flag of the United States.svg  Jeremy Criscione  (USA)46:22Flag of the United States.svg  Briana Whaley  (USA)54:05
35th2012Flag of the United States.svg  Jeremy Criscione  (USA)46:55Flag of the United States.svg  Sara Petrick  (USA)54:59
36th2013Flag of the United States.svg  Jonathan Mott  (USA)48:44Flag of the United States.svg  Sara Petrick  (USA)55:49
37th2014Flag of the United States.svg Jonathan Mott (USA)48:44Flag of the United States.svg Sara Petrick (USA)55:49
38th2015Flag of the United States.svg Jonathan Mott (USA)47:49 [9] Megan Goethals52:17 [9]
39th2016Flag of the United States.svg Mike Parrish (USA)46:38 [10] Flag of the United States.svg Becky Howarth (USA)54:47 [10]
40th2017Flag of the United States.svg Austin Richmond (USA)47:26 [11] Flag of the United States.svg Stephanie Pezzullo (USA)54:58 [11]
41st2018Flag of the United States.svg Jonathan Mott (USA)47:01 [12] Flag of the United States.svg Paige Howard (USA)57:15 [12]
42nd2019Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Chris Balestrini (CAN)47:12 [13] Flag of the United States.svg Becky Howarth (USA)55:49 [13]
43rd2020Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Phil Parrot-Migas (CAN)45:35 [14] Flag of the United States.svg Kristen Tenaglia (USA)54:08 [14]
44th2022Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Phil Parrot-Migas (CAN)46:19 [15] Flag of the United States.svg Christina Welsh (USA)54:43 [15]
45th2023Flag of the United States.svg Jonathan Mott (USA)48:50 [16] Flag of the United States.svg Christina Welsh (USA)55:24 [16]
46th2024Flag of the United States.svg Luis Orta (USA)46:48Flag of the United States.svg Bethany Sachtleben (USA)52:22
47th2025Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Mike Tate (CAN)46:28Flag of the United States.svg Christina Welsh (USA)53:53

References

  1. ↑ Miller, Jen (22 February 2014). "Going the Distance Grows Shorter for Many Runners". New York Times. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  2. ↑ "Tampa Bay Run". Archived from the original on 2010-07-06. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  3. ↑ "Treasure Coast Running". Archived from the original on 2012-07-08. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  4. ↑ "Marathon Guide" . Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  5. ↑ "Blind Vet Runs Half Marathon" . Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  6. ↑ "Deployed but by no means deterred". Archived from the original on 2010-03-03. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  7. ↑ "CAF" . Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  8. ↑ "All Kids are Winners at Free Annual Race". Archived from the original on 2013-02-03. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  9. 1 2 "Xact Results". results2.xacte.com. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  10. 1 2 "Xact Results". results2.xacte.com. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  11. 1 2 "Xact Results". results2.xacte.com. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  12. 1 2 "Xact Results". results2.xacte.com. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  13. 1 2 "Xact Results". results2.xacte.com. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  14. 1 2 "Xact Results". results2.xacte.com. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  15. 1 2 "Xact Results". results2.xacte.com. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  16. 1 2 "Xact Results". results2.xacte.com. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
List of winners
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