Flapjack Run Brings in the Alumni

The weather was good, and the support from parents and Land O' Lakes High alumni was better.

The annual Flapjack 5K and Fun Run drew about 220 runners Dec. 11, race  organizer and Land O' Lakes High coach Kris Keppel said.

The turnout was a bit less than expected, Kris Keppel said. More people registered than actually showed up.

Still, it was an average turnout, said Keppel, who has been organizing the race for the past 15 years.

Many of those who came to race were former student athletes.

The male overall winner, Lee Stephens of St. Petersburg, graduated from the school in 1998.

Stephens finished with a time of 16:23.

Stephens began his high school running career the same year Keppel came on board as the Land O' Lakes High cross country coach, and ran for Keppel for four years, Keppel said.

"We broke in together," Keppel said.

The event is the cross county team's biggest fundraiser of the year, Keppel said. The money from the event is used to pay for meet expenses and transportation costs, Keppel said.

And the fun wasn't all in the run.

"We had a great group of parents that put on a pancake breakfast," Keppel said.

BJ's Wholesale supplied most of the breakfast supplies, Keppel said.

Walton's Ice Cream and Coffee donated coffee and coffee supplies, Keppel said.

"We try to get the community involved with it," Keppel said. "It's the only thing left of the Flapjack Festival, so we try to keep the spirit of that alive."

Flapjack 5K Race 2011 Results (as reported by The Pasco Tribune)

Men's Overall winner: Lee Stephens, St. Petersburg 16:23
Women's Overall winner: Christa Stephens, St. Petersburg 18:24
Men's Masters winner: James Hummel, Tarpon Springs 20:06 *
Women's Masters winner: Lisa Grey, Wesley Chapel 24:40

Top 10 Finishers

1. Lee Stephens, St. Petersburg 16:23; 2. Tommy Brown, Land O' Lakes 16:41; 3. Ermias Bireda, Wesley Chapel 16:58; 4. Jake Poore, Land O' Lakes 17:20; 5. Ben Hall, Land O' Lakes 17:49; 6. Bill Edwards, Valrico 17:49; 7. Tanner Bites, Lutz 17:58; 8. Christa Stephens, St. Petersburg 18;24; 9. Steven Brown, Wesley Chapel 19:51; 10. James Hummel, Tarpon Springs 20:06.

Flapjack 1 Mile 2011 Results

Men's overall winner: Jake Poore, Land O' Lakes 5:18
Women's overall winner: Ashley Alvarez, Land O' Lakes 7:04

Poore is a sophomore at Land O' Lakes High, Keppel said.

Editor's Note: The Men's Master's Winner was updated from the Pasco Tribune list based on information from race organizer Kris Keppel.