Bryan Wins 5K, Sets New Personal Record
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BankFirst sponsored the Casey Jones Blues Fest 5K Run Walk Saturday. Bankfirst employees participating were (from left) Regina Caulder, Chris Hart, Jeff Bynum, Lisa Edwards, Tyler Hill, Jenni Horn, Cooper Clement, Cam Tyler, Latashua Cottom, Ashley Armstrong and Rod Harris.
Seventeen-year-old Sam Bryan was the fastest runner at the inaugural Casey Jones Blues Fest 5K Run Walk with a blazing 15 minute, 38 second finish, winning the teen category and finishing several minutes ahead of all other contestants. The time was a personal record for Bryan, who reported his previous record in a 5K was 16:20.
Bryan is no stranger to running in Water Valley, he was the top runner in the last two Watermelon Carnival 3K races, winning in 2022 and again in 2023. His 2023 win also set a carnival record as he finished the 3K course in nine minutes, 20 seconds.
A junior at Regents School in Oxford, Bryan first entered the carnival race five years ago at the encouragement of Christy Mills, who works at Water Valley Dental where he is a long-time patient. After that first race, he hasn’t missed one since.
Bryan dedicated his 2023 Carnival win and Saturday’s Blues Fest wins to Mills, a breast cancer survivor. He also competed in pink running shoes in the races to honor Mills and support breast cancer awareness. He enters races across the state, but always looks forward to running in Water Valley.
“Nobody puts them on like Water Valley does. I have yet to compete in an atmosphere as electric as Water Valley,” Bryan explained.
Bryan issued a challenge for the August carnival race.
“Watch out, because I am going sub nine (minutes) this year,” he predicted.
Winners in the men’s division in the Casey Jones Blues Fest 5K Run Walk were (from left) Adam Gussow (third), Peyton Rials (second, and Edgar Davison (first). – Photos by Robert Maze
Winners in the kid’s division in the race were (from left) Nolan Benedict (third – tie), Cohen Trusty (third – tie), Cohen Trusty (second), Hartley Loprinzi (second) and Tom Kirkpatrick (first).
Winners in the women’s division in the 5K (from left) were (from left) Sital Sigh (first), Jordan Garner (second) and (not pictured) Lindsey Hemphill (third).
