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Gonzalez, Benton Get 3rd Turkey Trot Wins

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By LEE DIEKEMPER, Tribune correspondent

Published: November 23, 2007

CLEARWATER - The laid-back atmosphere of the 28th Turkey Trot, an annual Clearwater Thanksgiving Day event featuring a mile run, a 5k and a 10k race at Jack White Stadium at Clearwater High School, was explained by the winner of the women's 10k, Christa Benton of St. Petersburg.

"There was one man who, every time he passed someone or someone passed him, would say, 'Happy Thanksgiving.'"

Benton, a former star runner for the University of South Florida and Keswick Christian, won the women's 10k, while former University of Tampa All-American Elias Gonzalez won the men's 10k in 32:07.

The win for Gonzalez was his third Turkey Trot 10k win. He won consecutive Turkey Trot races in 2003-04. But Thursday's race was Gonzalez's first race since returning from Iraq, where he was stationed as an Army lieutenant.

David Matena of Nashville, Tenn., finished behind Gonzalez in 32:14.

Gonzalez and other runners often use the Turkey Trot as a gauge to see how well they are running in preparation for the Gasparilla Marathon on Feb. 9.

"I look forward to this race to get ready for Gasparilla," Gonzalez said. "I went out by myself and didn't see anyone coming and then Matena came and I kicked it in. I didn't even know we were coming close to the end of the race until I saw him making his move

"I forgot the course. Then I saw the stadium and I started kicking."

Gonzalez stayed in running condition while in Iraq by competing in marathon races. The Armed Forces even sponsored a race patterned after the Boston Marathon. The race included runners from various regions of the globe, Gonzalez said.

In Matena's case, running the Turkey Trot came by chance.

The cross country assistant coach at Belmont University in Nashville was in Clearwater for Thanksgiving, visiting his girlfriend's grandmother. Matena learned of the race by chance and decided to participate.

Matena, a native of Adelaide, Australia, easily adapted to the more temperate climate of the area for running.

"It's getting cold in Nashville," Matena said. "Gonzalez is probably a little more used to the heat so I decided to take it a bit more conservative. He took the pace. About two miles in I caught up to him and we pretty much rolled together until about the sixth mile and I made a move. He responded and had too much in the end.

"I thought the weather would take its toll a little bit more."

Hugo Wey of Zurich, Switzerland, who won the original Turkey Trot 10k in 1978, placed eighth in 37:39.

Benton also won her third Turkey Trot. She is a veteran, having run the race as a high school student, a college student and now as a music teacher at Northside Christian. Over the years, Benton has noticed the difference in how she is treated by fans.

"They used to yell encouragement by calling me 'Christa,'" Benton said. "Now I hear the fans yelling 'Ms. Benton.'"

Tyrone Bell won the men's 5k in 15:00. Jacki Wachtel, the women's cross country coach at Pasco-Hernando Community College, won the women's 5k in 17:25.

In what's becoming an annual tradition, the Turkey Trot broke attendance record with 16,506 runners (2,434 in the 10k, 10,071 in the 5k and 4,001 in the mile) participating. As a result, race director Skip Rogers said officials are planning on adding a fourth race with a length between 5k and 10k.

Results, Page 15

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