In his first-ever Gate River Run after years at Nease High School and the University of North Florida, Justin Tackling achieved a top-30 finish.
Pontius races into top 20
For Kelsey Pontius, the goal was a top-20 finish. It wasn’t until several minutes after the race that she realized it was mission accomplished.The Jacksonville native, 31, crossed the finish line in 56:31 to place 20th among women. She ran in the elite group, which also contained eventual champion Emily Sisson and 2019 winner Erika Kemp.
Because she raced with the elites, Pontius wasn’t eligible for the Duval Cup for top local finishers. That went instead to Laura Campbell, who placed 27“It was a rough day, but good to be back out on the course,” Pontius said.On a morning that started like a sauna and ended with a soaker, the weather took a toll on both weekend warriors and elite runners alike.
As of 11 a.m., Trauma One director Tony Hayes said the race’s medical team had treated multiple runners for heat issues, particularly during the earlier portion of the morning before the rain arrived. In some cases, race officials said, body temperatures were measured as high as 108 degrees.The start temperature was among the warmest on record for the annual race. As of 8 a.m., Jacksonville International Airport measured temperatures at 76 degrees, with 82 percent humidity.
Clayton Freeman covers high school sports and more for the Florida Times-Union. Follow him on Twitter at @CFreemanJAX.
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