WOW!
WHAT A WORKOUT…
AND MUCH FUN….
ON THE WATERFRONT!
March 5, 2018
The Nature Coast Biological Station’s February 24 Workout on the Waterfront event proved itself to be great fun and great sport, for both participants and onlookers. The perfect 70-degree, cloudless sky, breezy weather, was the perfect partner in the event.
The 9 am Five-K Race involved seventy-three runners; the 10:15 am Atsena Otie Kayak Challenge mustered eleven kayakers; and the 11:15 am Repurpose-It Regatta sported seven entrants. Every event took place without a hitch, thanks to the Nature Coast’s omnipresent coordinator Mendy Allen.
By 11 am, shortly before the final event was to occur, nearly three hundred people were lined up on G Street cheering the Repurpose-It Regatta teams on.
PROCEEDS GENEROUSLY RETURN TO COMMUNITY
Proceeds from the event will go to the Nature Coast Biological Station Aquarium, to be located on the ground level of the NCB, the Cedar Key School Fifth Grade Class, and the 2018 Coastal Cleanup.
FIVE-K RACE; WOMEN TOPPLE MEN
Julie Stackhouse took the race in 19minutes, 3 seconds (19.03). She was followed by Michelle MCullough with a time of 22:49, hen by Elisabeth Diamond with a time of 24:43 . Indeed, he ladies triumphed!
The men followed. Jeff Holcomb came in with a time of 26:04. He was followed by Scott Alford with 26:42, then by Chris Cowart with 27:08.
KAYAKS CRUISE CHOPPY WATERS
In choppy waters, Nick Vitale kayaked from City Park Beach, to Atsena Otie, picked up a piece of trash, and returned to City Park beach in smashing 19 minutes. He was followed by Jeffrey and Judson Steinback in 19 minutes and three seconds and Sam Gibbs in 20 minutes and 3 seconds. Gibbs said, “I just go out for the fun; I don’t try to win.”
REPURPOSE-IT REGATTA; SOME FLOAT, SOME DON’T
Savanna Barry’s boat, the Almond Breeze, made of bamboo poles and milk cartons, proved the fastest boat in the competition, leaving the G Street private boat dock and rowing to the NCBS backyard.
Cedar Key School’s Fifth Grade Gifted Class, led by Paula Willis, earned the “Pulling up the Rear” award in their boat “Li’l Shark.” Willis said, “The kids learned so much doing this; they loved it.” Onlooker Joanne O’Steen exclaimed, “I sure wish they had things like this when I was a kid!”
Other entries included John’s and Kyle’s SS Mud out of High Springs. John and Kyle said they had much fun working on this boat and loved the idea of the event.
“Ze Pickle,” constructed of left-over air-conditioning packing boxes, was entered by Heath Davis’ niece and nephew, Holly and Thomas Johnston.
LUNCH AND MUSIC!
A Kenny McCain chicken lunch with all the fixings, slaw, bun, beans, awaited the event goers. Additionally, music by Don Austin made the event wonderfully complete; his website is worth a visit: https://www.reverbnation.com/donaustin
SILENT AUCTION, SPONSORS ABOUND
With well over thirty Silent Auction Partnerships, participants could bid on everything from a boat tour to an evening dinner. Sponsors, too, were numerous and impressive. Click here for a complete list of partnerships and sponsors: https://ncbs.ifas.ufl.edu/wow-2018/
MORE INFORMATION
More information may be found at: https://ncbs.ifas.ufl.edu/wow-2018/
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