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St. Pete Woman Runs To 10K Victory With Former Coach In Mind

News Channel 8 photo by JOE MARTIN

A little boy races to the finish line during the 2008 Clearwater Turkey Trot.

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By LEE DIEKEMPER

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 27, 2008

CLEARWATER - Christa Benton is an upbeat person by nature. So when she runs 10K races, she often tries to pass the time with pleasant thoughts.

But Thursday was a bit different. Benton of St. Petersburg, a former All-American cross country runner at University of South Florida, won her fourth consecutive Turkey Trot, which begins and ends at Jack White Stadium at Clearwater High School.

Benton joined Scott Mackley, who won the men's 10K, at the winners' table. Benton finished in 36:27, ahead of second-place finisher Jacki Wachtel, at 38:46.

Benton crossed the finish line wearing her old Keswick Christian High School running jersey as a tribute.

Last year her former high school track coach, Lance Lipman, with whom Benton was very close, was diagnosed with cancer and underwent chemotherapy treatments. No one knew he had just a short time to live. Lipman passed away in August.

"All Keswick alumni are running in memory of coach Lipman," Benton said of other former Keswick track and cross country runners who ran in the Turkey Trot. Like Benton, they wore their green Keswick gear to honor the coach.

Seconds after finishing the race, the Northside Christian music teacher and volunteer track and cross country assistant ran to some of her students to share the experience with them. Lipman wasn't far from her mind.

"Sometimes as runners, something you take for granted is having a healthy body," Benton said. "Coach never let that sickness keep him down. That's something I admired about him."

Mackley won in 31:37, ahead of Nathan Holden, who finished in 32:23. Mackley had a blister on his left foot to show for his effort.

"I'm not used to these shoes," Mackley said. "This hit me at the 2-mile mark. I've had a blister like this before playing basketball and running barefoot on the court."

The Florida Southern senior from Lakeland participated in the NCAA Division II cross country championships earlier this month. Thursday's Turkey Trot was his first, and his finish was a personal best in a 10K.

"I didn't know I could do this. This is crazy," Mackley said. "I knew I was pretty well in shape, but I didn't think I would be near as fast.

"At about the 2-mile mark, I decided to make my move. I don't like the pressure later on in the race. I thought if I could get a little gap I could slow down a little bit and not have the pressure."

Wachtel won the 5K race for women in 17:38. Tyrone Bell won the men's 5K in 15:36. Mike Ferrer won the men's mile run in 4:36, and Kendra Miller won the women's mile in 6:20.

A total of 14,920 participated in the Turkey Trot races, which included a 5K walk. It was the second-highest turnout in the 30-year history of the event.

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