O'Kelley, Sherron lead the way in Springtime Tallahassee's 10K run
· Yahoo Sports
It’s not as if the winners of Springtime Tallahassee’s 10K came out of nowhere. Both are familiar names in the local running community.
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Still, neither expected to win.
“I didn’t think this was going to happen when I woke up this morning,” Chris O’Kelley said with a laugh. “I just happened to run a good race when there wasn’t a ringer there. It just worked out.”
O’Kelley, 32, finished first overall in 35 minutes, 25 seconds, outkicking Hawthorne Hay (35:39) down the final stretch of the 6.2-mile race.
The women’s race delivered its own dramatic finish. Katie Sherron, 44, surged past 24-year-old Hannah Hosay on the course’s final downhill to win in 39:32, capturing her first Springtime title since 2018 and finishing ninth overall. Hosay clocked a 40:17.
“I never thought in a million years I would outkick anyone,” Sherron said, laughing. “I tried to pass Hannah earlier. When we got to the final downhill, it was now or never.”
More than 2,000 runners — including team competitors — took part in the mile, 5K and 10K races, which started and finished near Cascades Park under sunny, warm conditions Saturday March 28.
Considered Tallahassee’s hometown race, Springtime Tallahassee is held each year on the morning of the Springtime festivities and is followed by the parade, arts and crafts in the park, and live music. The courses are known for their difficulty, winding through the hills of the Myers Park neighborhood.
Springtime Tallahassee winners share race's strategy
O’Kelley and the 24-year-old Hay stayed close early, running just behind a lead pack through the first two miles or so. Around the halfway point, O’Kelley decided it was time to push the pace — a move that proved decisive.
O’Kelley built enough of a cushion to stay in front, even though Hay ran a faster final mile.
“I knew I’d have no shot if I didn’t make a move,” said O’Kelley, an FSU graduate who earned his master’s degree before working seven years for the Department of Commerce. He recently re-enrolled at Florida State with the goal of becoming a professor. “My only chance was to go for it, and it just happened to work out.”
It worked out for Sherron as well, turning the morning into a family affair.
Her husband, Zach DeVeau, finished in 47:24 while pushing their young daughter in a stroller. Their son, Barrett DeVeau, won his age division (9 and under) in the 5K with a time of 26:32.
“He ate his share of pizza,” Sherron said with a laugh. “There were so many runners, and the volunteers were great. We had a great time.”
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Springtime Tallahassee 10K winners share strategy