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Back In Front, Benton Runs To Easy Win

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By JEFFREY JONES

Tribune correspondent

Published: March 1, 2009

TAMPA - For Christa Benton, her most important task for the Publix Super Markets Gasparilla Distance Classic was not to win but to make sure she got to the starting line of the 15-kilometer race on time.

Benton was late a year ago, when she confused the marathon time with the 15k, and was still doing warm-ups when she heard the gun go off signaling the start.

The St. Petersburg native and former University of South Florida All-American found herself in the unfamiliar situation of playing catch-up rather than being in the lead.

"It was a different perspective," Benton said. "I'm used to starting right up in front and taking off with the rush.

"It was kind of funny to me because it never happened before. But you've got to take those kind of things in stride."

So, with that precarious moment stuck firmly in her memory, Benton made sure she was right on time for Saturday morning's race and 54 minutes, 42 seconds after the starting horn sounded, Benton had won her second Gasparilla title. She won the first-place prize money ($2,000) awarded to local runners.

"My natural rhythm is to go out quick and try to hang on, and that's what I did today," said Benton, whose first title came in 2007. "I also had a lot of encouragement from the other runners."

Benton also benefited from the mileage she put in for the Disney Marathon in January. There, she ran in 2 hours 54 minutes.

The amount of endurance that is required for a 26.2-mile race seemed to help Benton during Saturday's comparatively short 9.3-mile run.

"What may seem like a long race like the 15k ends up being not so long because you've already done the 26 miles," Benton said. "I do think that was a big help."

But Benton isn't relegating herself to local races. In fact, Benton plans to participate in one of the most prestigious races in the United States - the Boston Marathon.

"I am signed up for the Boston Marathon, and if I run it that would make it my seventh marathon," Benton said. "I am getting quite fond of that distance, and my coach always says the longer the distance the better."

When Benton isn't putting in long hours training, she teaches music at Northside Christian School in St. Petersburg.

Taking second in the women's race was former University of Tampa All-American and Lakeland native Laura Woznicki. The 22-year-old earned $1,500 with a time of 56:02.

"I plan on coming back next year if I can stay injury free," said Woznicki, who was making her 15k debut. "I just got back into running about two and a half months ago."

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