Onion Run Hits Vidalia Streets

It was a great morning for the Kiwanis Vidalia Onion Run on Saturday morning. They had the largest turn out in race history with over 800 runners signing up for the event. They kicked off the day with the fourth running of the half marathon, followed by the 5k, and the one mile run. There were two new records set this year and one that was just missed. It was a great morning for running with good temperatures as the racers took to the streets of Vidalia.

Half Marathon

With a great story and an even better time, Seth Weprin, originally from Dallas, TX, came in with a new course record of 1:13.38. That time according to Runners World is good enough to place him in the top 1% of runners in the world for half marathon times. Which means that is going to be a tough time to beat.

Weprin, who moved to Atlanta just three months ago, had not run in a race in two years and had never run in a half marathon. He found the Onion Run online and decided that he wanted to check out the home of the onions. So he signed up for the race. On the morning of the race, he left Atlanta at 2:00 a.m. and drove to Vidalia, grabbed a quick bite to eat, then began warming up for the race, which kicked off at 7:00 a.m. And what a race he ran to come in with that time, beating the old record by 10 minutes.

Second place in the half marathon went to Jae Chel Lim, who is a South Korean currently living in Claxton. His time of 1:26.01 was just three minutes off the old record. Third place was Brayan Escudero in a time of 1:30.37.

For the women, Carlee James of Satesboro took the top spot in the half marathon in a time of 1:36.21, just five seconds off the record pace. Her friend, Jen Scott, also of Statesboro came in second with a time of 1:38.18. Third place went to Holly Olson in a time of 1:48.57.

5k

There was also a new record set for the men in the 5k this year. The old record was 17.18 set last year by Toombs County's Juan Luna. This year, Adyn Easton from South Effingham High School took the top spot with a new record time of 17.09. Luna came in second in 17.37 and third place was Adam Costello with a time of 19.34.

For the women, JR Trippe Middle School runner, Ginny Meredith, finished in first place with a time of 20.50. Second place was Tracy Mulkey in 24.04, and third place went to Macey Todd, a former winner, with a time of 24.18.

1-Mile

The winner of the 1-Mile Fun Run was Joseph Nelson from Reidville. The female winner was Macey Todd of Vidalia, who ran that after taking third place in the 5k.

Good friends, Carlee James (L, 1st place) and Jen Scott (R, 2nd place) from Statesboro both came close to the women’s half marathon record.Photo by Mike Branch