By Jon Johnson
PIMA — It was a gorgeous morning for a quick jog on Thursday, and roughly 1,000 runners, volunteers, and supporters enjoyed the weather and camaraderie of community and family at the 19th annual Pima Turkey Trot at the Vard Lines Memorial Roping Arena in Pima on Thanksgiving.
This year, 982 runners participated in the 5K trot and 1-mile fun run, which has become a Gila Valley holiday tradition.
“It was really just a great, fun day,” said event co-organizer Melinda Nelson. “I always love seeing the families.”
Born in 2006 out of a desire to bring a fun race to the area on Thanksgiving, as many cities offer, Co-Race Directors Melinda Nelson and Cody Marshal started soliciting sponsors in 2007 and still run the event. Over the previous 18 years, the race has raised and donated more than $130,000 to Pima Schools for physical fitness.
“That’s always an exciting thing to be able to – that the Turkey Trot can help out the Pima schools as well as just have a fun race on Thanksgiving morning (and) work off your pie a little bit,” said Melinda.
For an event focused on family, it was not surprising to see returning champion siblings Jonathan Barney, 20, and Meghan Barney, 23, take the top overall spots for male and female in this year’s Turkey Trot. Jonathan is now a four-time champ and is still the course record holder at 15:55.44. He was only a spectator last year but returned to cruise to victory this year in a time of 16:13.68.
While originally from Scottsdale, after running for Paradise Valley Community College for two years, Jonathan now lives in Provo, Utah, while attending Brigham Young University and is looking to make the track and cross-country teams.
Defending female champion Meghan Barney is also at BYU and running up in Provo.
“It’s always super fun,” Jonathan Barney said.
“We love it,” Meghan added. “We love the people; we love the atmosphere. Everyone is super encouraging. It feels like coming home because we have a lot of family here.”
Defending champion Wesley Pena, 22, of Safford, finished second overall in 17:49.72, and Josiah Turley, of Tucson, finished third overall in 18:20.87.
Meghan won the female division for the third year in a row. Her time this year of 18:59.39 was also 9th overall. Following her for the second year in a row was her sister, Rachel Barney, of Scottsdale, in a time of 21:17.92 for second place and 28th overall, and Natalie Waite, of Thatcher, finished in third place in 22:20.74 for 40th overall. Waite recently competed in a marathon and qualified for the upcoming Chicago Marathon, in which she plans to compete.
After the race, the crowd hung around for the traditional prize raffle and the turkey presentation to the family with the most participants.
“The Community is what makes it so great,” Melinda Nelson said. “Everyone coming out, cheering each other on and just making a really fun, unifying event – families coming home and making it part of their tradition. The people that come is definitely the best part of all.”
Click here for the Gila Herald’s photo album, or visit the Pima Turkey Trot page for more pictures and full race results.
