4TH ANNUAL MAXEYS MODEL MILE 5K WAS A RECORD BREAKER!

The Maxeys Model Mile 5K just gets better and better. This May 21st was the event’s fourth running, and race director Anne Garner and the Maxeys community outdid themselves once again.

A total of 268 registrations were received, surpassing last year’s previous high of 255. The 2022 figure includes 139 race morning runners and walkers plus 36 “virtual” participants, who completed their 5Ks on their own the week leading up to the event. The remaining 93 registered as “Phantom” or non-participating event supporters.

While Georgia supplied most of the registrations (247 in all, representing 48 towns across the state), entries came in from 11 other states as well. And there was one international registrant, Hector Leiva from New South Wales, Australia. 

Overall 5K winner was 13-year-old Andrew Cabaniss of Knoxville, Tennessee, grandson of Maxeys residents Barbara and Bill Cabaniss. Andrew’s time of 18:18.9 established a new course record. The first female finisher was Lizzie Wadsworth of Winterville in a speedy 22:30.1, good for 12th overall.

No fewer than 64 Maxeys residents volunteered for the event in a variety of capacities, including sponsor solicitation, registration, race day parking, water stations, refreshments and award distribution. Members of Boy Scout Troup 97 assisted with registration and finish line duties.

Total proceeds from this year’s event have yet to be fully tabulated, but the first three Model Mile 5Ks raised approximately $20,000 for the Firefly Trail Amenities Fund. The intention is that these funds will go toward amenities for the Maxeys Model Mile within the Maxeys city limits. Three picnic tables were recently acquired and installed, thanks to the Model Mile 5K.

The event’s origin in 2019 also gave rise to the Firefly Trail Race Series, now in its third and most successful year. The Race Series is composed of four running/walking events in Firefly Trail towns, the other three consisting of the Winterville Civitan Snowflake 10K (held January 29), the Crawford Restoration Run 5K on Labor Day, and the Union Point J3 5K on September 24.