Over 100 winners were announced at the September 12th Cotton Pickin’ 5k & 1k Cotton Candy Fun Run benefiting Fayette Cares. Runners ranging from 8 – 80 years of age were applauded as they stood atop a special awards podium sponsored by The Bank of Fayette County. It is The Bank’s eighth year to sponsor this event.
Adding to the excitement was announcer Joe Birch of WMC Action News 5 who made the moment particularly special for one unsuspecting wife. From the stage Birch announced that Dr. Glenn Weatherly wore runner number 4-17 as a symbol of having four children and celebrating 17 years of marriage on race day. The crowd applauded and cheered for the couple.
Matthew Armour of The Bank of Fayette County presented awards including the following top winners: Female Grand Master, Debbie Searles of Bolivar, TN 25:17, Male Grand Master, Shawn Jewell of Memphis, TN 22:29, Female Master, Pamela Pierski of Somerville, TN 23:56, and Male Master, Dr. Glenn Weatherly of Somerville, TN 19:22.
The race was led by Overall Male winner TonyDee Davis of Humboldt, TN finishing at 18:57, and Overall Female winner, Meagan Nichols of Arlington, TN with a time of 21:04.
Runners, walkers, strollers, volunteers, and sponsors participated to support Fayette Cares’ services for victims of domestic violence, emergency homeless shelter, and crisis intervention for families in despair. The Bank of Fayette County was joined by sponsors including Cargill and Cargill Cotton, Ring, Town of Oakland, Sedgwick, Somerville Animal Hospital, The Seam, 24/7 Fitness of Oakland, BancorpSouth, Costco, Hurdle Machine Works, Memphis Contract Packaging/Softee, Print Solutions, Somerville First United Methodist Church, Somerville Rotary Club, Tri-State Printing, and Trustmark Bank.
If you missed the charity race but want to support the work of Fayette Cares by making a donation or purchasing a race shirt, or to see event photos and race results visit www.fayettecares.org or call (901) 465-3802 ext. 221. Fayette Cares is a United Way Agency.
###
Pictures:
116: The Bank of Fayette County created a special awards celebration by sponsoring the Cotton Pickin’ 5k awards podium to support Fayette Cares. Bobby Braden (right) ran the course with an American flag as a special tribute to his brother who is a United States Marine. Sharing the awards podium from left are Luke Crafton and Talbot Kruzan.
600: Determined faces on Cotton Pickin’ 1k fun runners.
84: Big smiles to go with big Cotton Pickin’ 5k trophies. From left are Overall Female winner Meagan Nichols, Clyde Nelson 2nd place male 50 – 54, Male Grand Master Shawn Jewell, Overall Male winner TonyDee Davis, and Male Master Dr. Glenn Weatherly.
