Petrus and Africa Top Finishers In Wellness Challenge 5K

April showers bring May flowers. And on Saturday, May 22nd, the rescheduling of the Wellness Challenge 5K due to April showers was long forgotten. Participants from surrounding areas traveled from Alexandria, Gonzales, Arcadia, Calhoun, Choudrant, West Monroe, Shreveport and Arkansas to participate in the first annual Wellness Challenge 5K sponsored by Healthy Woman of NLMC, Seasons and Sharon Jackson’s Slammin’ Boot Camp.

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With a winning time of 18:31.7, the overall male winner was Jesse Petrus, 24, of Ruston. The overall female winner was Lauren-Elizabeth Africa, 18, of Calhoun. Lauren-Elizabeth finished the 5K trail run in 22:33.4.

But the amazing story of this 5K was not just in who won, but also in who finished the 5K. In January, a group of 100 women embarked on a journey –  the Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge. The Challenge was a six-part event created for women of north Louisiana to learn more about proper nutrition and the benefit of exercise. Each event featured nutrition presentations by Valerie Costanza, RD, of Seasons as well as fitness presentations by Sharon Jackson, CPT, of Sharon Jackson’s Slammin’ Boot Camps. The joint effort event was designed to promote a lifestyle of health and wellness. A kickoff event was held Tuesday, January 12 followed by monthly Challenge Sessions in January, February, and March. The culminating event was the the Wellness Challenge 5K, originally scheduled for Saturday, April 24, but rescheduled for May 22 due to rain.

Seven Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge participants completed all six events in the Wellness Challenge including the 5K and were awarded a special gift from Seasons. The Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge graduates were Theresa Snipe, Wanda Ellenberger, Linda Kay Gore, Pam Willis, Kathy Shipp, Lolo Long, and Roseline Clary. All of the graduates were entered into a drawing for a Smooth Shapes Cellulite Treatment package (valued at $2,000) from Seasons. The winner of this package was Roseline Clary.

Proceeds from the 5K will benefit Healthy Woman and the Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge for 2011, a free-to-the-public health and wellness educational effort.

Awards were given to the top-three finishers in each age category along with the overall male and female winners. Congratulations to the winners and great job to all participants!

Male 17 and under

1. Jacob Lee 19:58.1
2. E.M. Smith 20:16.3
3. Blake Moss 23:00.7
4. Jarod Sexton-Davis.1 24:24
5. Adam Lee 28:26.2
6. Andrew Daniel 29.1:54
7. Corey Moss 43:04.2

Male 18-35

1. Cody Fueger 27:03.2
2. David Caston 28:03.1
3. Chandler Herndon 28:11.4
4. Kiran Seshagiri 28:21.6
5. Eric Buskirk 29:26.0

Male 36-55

1. Craig Moss 23:00.0
2. Dr. Nathan Goodyear 24:08.6
3. Bert Lee 25:57.6
4. Chad Herndon 28:15.3
5. Heath Miller 29:51.7
6. Cary Shively 30:23.7

Male 56 and over:

1. Joe Lane 23:15.1
2. Steven Pawlitschek 28:49.2

Female 18-35

1. Heather Tuerschmann 25:19.5
2. Kristy Stephens 26:31.5
3. Shelley Mercer 27:42.7
4. Kelly Derveloy 28:18.9
5. Emily Pullin 29:12.3
6. Danielle Fueger 29:53.0
7. Audrey Buskirk 31:21.6
8. Shelley Sishagiri 32:02.4
9. Stormy Maxwell 32:23.8
10. Janie Carrico 33:05.8
11. Tracy Oglesby 33:28.1
12. Brandi Kyzar 3:35.3
13. Holly Henley 38:29.4
14. Jessica Benson 38:30.1
15. Elaine Caston 58:28.6

Female 36-55

1. Kelli Worthy 24:23.1
2. Ramona Miller 27:17.3
3. Christine Sanderson 27:42.6
4. Michal-Jean Storms 30:06.7
5. Lynne Brazzel 32:09.1
6. Tammy Goodyear 32:14.8
7. Angela Grafton 32:31.6
8. Shawn Moss 34:04.4
9. Michelle Scott 34:45.2
10. Wanda Ellenberger 35:29.9
11. Cheryl Richardson 35:50.7
12. Becky Hood 38:40.5
13. Tracy Smith 38:53.7
14. Deidra Shively 39:11.0
15. Christine Strebeck 39:30.6
16. Donna Benson 40:52.2
17. Alyssa Phillips 45:43.2
18. Karla Atwater 45:51.9
19. Lora Hammons 46:18.9
20. Riesa Gusewelle 54:35.4
21. Roseline Clary 55:01.5
22. Lolo Long 55:07.2
23. Linda Gore 55:09.6
24. Pam Willis 58:22.0

Female 56 and over

1. Alice May 31:58.9
2. Theresa Snipe 56:21.6
3. Kathy Shipp 58:23.7