With temperatures and wind chills in the thirties Thanksgiving morning, the first ever Oriental Turkey Trot might well go down in history as the Frozen Turkey Trot. And as a success. Despite the frigid temperatures, 72 people took part … either in a 1-mile fun run, or the 5 and 10 kilometer races.

Dozens were in the field as the 5 and 10 k races began at the Town and Country grocery Store on Highway 55. Tom Vogt (#63) and Robbie Cleary (#59) were in the front and never fell behind.

In the one mile Fun Run, the runners set off from the Health and Fitness Club towards town on Highway 55 and then returned. Nick Schwarzer was the first to receive the medallion which Nancy Schwarzer was bestowing as the children crossed the finish in front of the Village Health and Fitness Club.

Hannah Thorne with her mother at the finish line in the kids Fun Run. She came away from the race with more than the medal; along the course on Hiway 55 she found a sea horse

Second place went to Chris Phelps of Holly Springs. Also finishing in the race was Hannah Thorne who found a seahorse along the way and carried it across the finish line. (We don’t know if it was a thoroughbred, but it seemed to be treasured as much as the medal.)

The 5 K race route went from the Town and Country, down Highway 55 to the top of the Oriental bridge, then back down along the new Oriental Harbor Marina waterfront, around past Garland Fulchers, the Town Dock, Lou Mac Park, the waterfront, Vandemere Street to Ragan and to a point just past the Oriental Women’s Club. In the 10 K race runners went over the bridge to Sail/Loft and then followed the same route as the 5 K.

In the 5K race, Julie and Tom Vogt of Arapahoe were the first in the mens and women’s divisions to cross the line.

The following are the winners in age categories:

5K Mens
Under 20: Tom Vogt 19:32
20-39 Josh Summers 22:10
40-over Todd Bridges 24:01

5K Womens
Under 20: Julie Vogt 22:27*
20-39 Anna Simmons 25:46
40-over Sue Henry 28:40
* Some officials suggested Julie Vogt's time might have been even better if not for running an extra block on New Street.. and then back to the course past the Oriental Harbor Marina.

10K
First Man Across the Line: Gary Rickner 40:25
First Woman Across the Line Stacy Lomer 45:29*
* At the awards ceremony there was discussion of sawing the plaque in half to share with Melanie Phelps

Oldest Participant
Clint Hasty, of Emerald Isle who is 65 and ran the 5K in 24:27

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Turkey Trot organizer Gary Mastrodonato says that all of the proceeds will go toward First Alert and the Dottie Gray Ambulance Fund.

You may be seeing more turkeys around Oriental as a result of today’s race. There’s a large turkey on the back of the commemorative race T-shirts, designed by Betsy Bik (56:21 in the 10K) of Oriental Screen Printing.

Design the t-shirt, run the 10-K. Betsy Bik at the Town Dock - well past the halfway point in the 10K race.

Nick Schwarzer won the kids Fun Run.. one mile down and back up Highway 55

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