Young and old compete well in 5K run, walk

By By Jeff Byrd/staff writer
June 23, 2002
Around the lake they went. Runners for the 5K Road Race and 2-mile walk enjoyed a cloudy but pleasant day for the State Games of Mississippi competition.
Nearly 100 runners and walkers participated in the State Games event. The field included standout distance runners and others who just seem to love the State Games.
Take the case of 66-year-old William Calvert of Gulfport. The 2-mile walk was Calvert's third event of the Games. He won two gold medals in the Summer Biathlon back on June 1.
Then last week, he ran track and field at Meridian Community College, taking part in three events. On Saturday, he took another gold by winning his age group (65-69) the 2-mile walk.
The top runner on the day was Picayune High School cross country coach Dennis Devore. Devore turned in an impressive time of 17:33. He claimed the gold in the 30-34 age group, but his time was the best of all.
Event commissioner Harold Keyes was pleased with the overall quality of the races.
Curillo won the girls 10-14 age group with a time of 20.33. Holly Corbitt, a gold medalist in the table tennis last week and a top swimmer, got the silver with a time of 20:54.
Northeast Lauderdale distance runner Melissa Brentz won the 15-19 girls division with a time of 21:59.
Finishing second overall, but winning the 15-19 boys division was Chris Young, 15, of Brandon. He ran a 21-flat.
Seventy-year-old Jerry Parker collected his fifth gold medal of the games, he won four last week in track. Parker turned in an excellent time of 22:16.