Running: Knoxville family feels right at home at Plummer cross country run

Sarah Crowley runs high school cross country in Knoxville, Tenn., but she kicks off her season in Kentucky.
Crowley, 15, was the top female runner Saturday at Coach Plummer’s 5K Run, posting a time of 21 minutes, 54 seconds to place sixth out of 118 runners on the 3.1-mile cross country course at Admiral Stadium.
And there is no other place she enjoys running more than this one.
“It’s my favorite course, and it’s the right time in the season before all the other races have started,” said Crowley, who was running in her third Plummer Run. “During the summer I do trail races, the long ones in the woods. This is like my unofficial start to my cross country season.”
The Plummer race has become an annual family affair for the Crowley family. Pete Crowley, a 1984 Danville graduate, ran with daughter Leah, 12, and he said he always likes coming back to run for his old coach, former Danville cross country coach E.G. Plummer, on his old course.
“Coach Plummer had a huge influence on all of our family,” said Pete Crowley, who works for Scripps Network in Knoxville. “My mom still lives here, and it’s just a fun event to come up to. It’s good way for (Sarah) to start out informally her cross country season.
“I like the course, obviously visiting with family, and we always run into friends that we knew here.”
Sarah Crowley said what she likes about the course is that it makes her run her best, especially since she is an outsider.
“I like how challenging it is because you have to push yourself, especially since I don’t know anyone here, so I can’t go I have to beat that girl,” she said. “I like how it’s not a good spectator course so there’s not a lot of people shouting at you like at the races back home. It’s more of a peaceful race so you can get into the zone. So I like it a lot.”
And she likes have a good challenge to kick off her season since she runs on a good squad at Bearden High School in Knoxville.
“I have a really good team. Our strength is in the team, not just the individuals, although we have a lot of good runners. Both our guys and girls won regionals last year, so it’s kind of a pride thing, we have to do well because people expect us to,” she said. “So that’s kind of what pushes me. It’s like, ‘Well, everybody’s going to want me to do this so I’d better go do it. But I also love it. I‘ve been running since I could walk. My dad is like my coach and running partner.”

* * *

Cole Grecco of Lancaster was the top finisher Saturday, posting a winning time of 18:32.

Coach Plummer’s 5K Run and Fun Run/Walk
Saturday
At Admiral Stadium
5K Run
(3.1 miles)

    Runner, Age, Time
1. Cole Grecco, 16, 18:32
2. Karl Hempel, 18, 20:03
3. John Anderson, 22, 20:25
4. Max Meckes, 18, 21:15
5. Greg DeHaven, 31, 21:29
6. f-Sarah Crowley, 15, 21:54
7. Ethan Smith, 17, 22:07
8. Eric Riley Smith, 22, 22:45
9. Matthew Calvert, 15, 22:56
10. Jenny Watson, 33, 23:03
11. David Grigson, 26, 23:07
12. Amanda Goodwin, 33, 23:11
13. Holman Colvin, 46, 23:14
14. Gene Robertson, 46, 23:26
15. Mark Morgan, 60, 24:23
16. Matt Wagner, 15, 24:28
17. David Brock, 31, 24:30
18. Celeste Miller, 26, 24:50
19. Madeline Salinas, 18, 24:58
20. Keith Stillwell, 50, 25:20
21. Jenna Ellsworth, 25, 25:26
22. Abby Kerbagugh, 20, 25:30
23. Jeremy Ellis, 34, 25:40
24. Cody Henson, 19, 25:58
25. Madeline Meckes, 21, 25:59
26. Teague Sims, 41, 26:03
27. Jeff Pence, 51, 26:13
28. Russell Woods, 35, 26:15
29. Eli Salas, 19, 26:25
30. Jamey Gay, 50, 26:26
31. Trevar Lay, 12, 26:43
32. Alfred Miller, 23, 26:58
33. Todd Kirkpatrick, 46, 27:04
34. Casey Heath, 41, 27:14
35. Larry Vaught, 60, 27:23
36. David Gash, 31, 27:29
37. Bobbie Perkins, 35, 27:55
38. Ada Benson, 13, 28:01
39. Jonathan Crowe, 24, 28:17
40. Austin Crowe, 10, 28:18
41. Cassie Trueblood, 27, 28:21
42. Jennifer Gover, 48, 28:34
43. David Anderson, 48, 28:35
44. Arlen Finke, 69, 28:37
45. Libby Poland, 27, 28:43
46. Leah Crowley, 12, 28:56
47. Pete Crowley, 46, 28:57
58. Emily Wesley, 20, 29:10
59. Kimberly Hamilton, 40, 29:22
60. Rob Slocum, 60, 29:28
61. Simon Lowe, 11, 29:36
62. Max Hester, 55, 29:42
63. Christie Gourley, 39, 29:51
64. Elisabeth Smith, 56, 29:59
65. John Shannon, 42, 30:10
66. Anderson Salinas, 22, 30:11
67. Kim Hulette, 47, 30:16
68. Carmen Coleman, 42, 30:54
69. Bobby Cassady, 25, 30:55
70. Victoria Slocum, 56, 31:07
71. Jon Harris, 26, 31:15
72. Ed McKinney, 46, 31:38
73. Betty Lewis, 63, 31:51
74. Jenica Lizer, 24, 32:08
75. Charlene Dodson, 51, 32:15
76. Dan Wells, 65, 32:28
77. Brandon Bottom, 37, 32:38
78. Michael Shannon, 53, 32:58
79. Mary Kay Godbey, 53, 33:41
80. Holly Helmers, 8, 33:50
81. Judy Stanley, 61, 33:53
82. Lewis Dowden, 64, 33:54
83. Tim Helmers, 48, 33:55
84. Elmer Jackson, 70, 34:31
85. Mavis McCowan, 44, 34:32
86. Anjum Bux, 40, 34:34
87. Rita Peat Harris, 26, 34:32
88. Terry Wesley, 53, 34:53
89. Paden Center, 22, 35:58
90. Terry Foody, 64, 36:10
91. John Hart, 40, 36:21
92. Sandy Shannon, 32, 36:39
93. Dick Webb, 56, 36:48
94. Clark Hale, 39, 36:54
95. Amanda Hale, 38, 37:52
96. Dee Pendygraft, 58, 38:01
97. Mimi Becker, 58, 38:14
99. Evelyn Barker, 38, 38:23
100. Carla Bates, 57, 38:41
101. Jon Mullan, 54, 38:55
102. Rhonda Anderson, 50, 39:31
103. John Ellis, 62, 39:42
104. Yolantha Pace, 57, 39:51
105. Bernie Hunstad, 61, 42:13
106. Susan Hunstad, 49, 42:16
107. Carol Kesterman, 74, 42:43
108. Julie Dexter, 62, 44:25
109. Jim Sullivan, 69, 46:06
110. Caroline Sullivan, 67, 46:36
111. Julie Hall, 46, 46:54
112. Dianne Stillwell, 51, 46:55
113. Hope Helmers, 9, 49:12
114. Hannah Helmers, 12, 50:24
115. Tom Tye, 58, 51:06
116. Alexandra Tye, 22, 51:07
117. John Davis, 63, 51:40
118. Paul Smiley, 63, 51:41
f-female leader

Age Group Winners

Danville Alumni — Karl Hempel, 18 (Male); Amanda Goodwin, 33 (Female).
Masters 40-39 — Holman Calin, 46 (Male); Jennifer Gover, 48 (Femae).
Grand Masters 50-over — Mark Morgan, 60 (Male) Elizabeth Smith, 56 (Female).
11-under Male — 1. Austin Crowe; 2. Simon Lowe.
11-under Female — 1. Holly Helmers; 2. Hope Helmers.
12-14 Male — 1. Tarvar Lay.
12-14 Female — 1. Ada Benson; 2. Leah Crowley; 3. Hannah Helmers.
15-19 Male — 1. Max Meckes; 2. Ethan Smith; 3. Matthew Calvert.
15-19 Female — 1. Madeline Salinas.
20-24 Male — 1. John Anderson; 2. Eric Smith; 3. Aldred Miller.
20-24 Female — 1. Abby Kerbaugh; 2. Madeline Meckes; 3. Jenica Lizer.
25-29 Male — 1. David Grigson; 2. Bobby Cassady; 3. John Harris.
25-29 Female — 1. Celeste Miller; 2. Jenna Ellsworth; 3. Cassie Trueblood.
30-34 Male — 1. Greg DeHaven; 2. David Brock; 3. Jeremy Ellis.
30-34 Female — 1. Jenny Watson; 2. Sandy Shannon.
35-39 male — 1. Russell Woods; 2. Brandon Bottoms; 3. Clark Hale.
35-39 Female — 1. Bobby Perkins; 2. Christie Gourley; 3. Amanda Hale.
40-44 Male — 1. Teague Sims; 2. Casey Heath; 3. John Shannon.
40-44 Female — 1. Kimberly Hamilton; 2. Carmen Coleman; 3. Mavis McCowan.
45-49 Male — 1. Gene Robertson; 2. Todd Kirkpatrick; 3. David Anderson.
50-54 Male — 1. Keith Stilllwell; 2. Jeff Pence; 3. Jamey Gay.
50-54 Female — 1. Charlene Dodson; 2. Mary Kay Godbey; 3. Terry Wesley.
55-59 Male — 1. Max Hester; 2. Dick Webb; 3. Tom Tye.
55-59 Female — 1. Victoria Slocum; 2. Dee Pendygraft; 3. Mimi Becker.
60-64 Male — 1. Larry Vaught; 2. Rob Slocum; 3. Lewis Dowden.
60-64 Female — 1. Betty Lewis; 2. Judy Stanley; 3. Terry Foody.
65-69 Male — 1. Arlen Finke; 2. Dan Wells; 3. Jim Sullivan.
65-69 Female — 1. Carolyn Sullivan.
70-over Male — 1. Elmer Jackson.
70-over Female — 1. Carol Kesterman.

Fun Run/Walk
(1 Mile)

1. Heidi Blevins, 24; 2. Lia Hart, 13; 3. Latreesha Cook, 45; 4. Deb Thalen, 51; 5. Mary Lou Henderlight, 59; Brooklyn Hart, 5.