Given the conditions, it wasn’t a surprise to see the number of DNFs in the 14th Georgia Jewel 100-mile race. It also wasn’t a surprise to see James Ebert’s name atop the standings after the year he’s had on the trails.
The 37-year-old from Huntsville was the only runner out of 40 who finished the Sept. 20-21 race in Dalton, Ga., in less than 24 hours. Ebert crossed the finish line in 22 hours, 3 minutes, 20 seconds to earn the win and silver belt buckle. He finished fourth last year in 22 hours, 40 seconds. Other wins this year include the Memorial Day 12-miler in Pelham, inaugural Southern States 200 and Hotter than Hell 18-miler in July.
Unseasonable heat battered, beat down and befuddled many in the Jewel field, with 50 runners dropping out and 13 not starting. Another 49 were DNF or DNS in the 50-mile race. It’s not for the faint of heart anyway, with single-track along the Pinhoti Trail and some delicious climbs. Scenery is superb, too.
The 100-miler is a two-day affair, with runners enjoying somewhat cooler overnight temps. Still, it was a rough one. In a report posted on Facebook, Ebert said he battled the heat, gut rumbles and “ominous movements” requiring a few off-trail visits. Aid station help with his crew-coach Michael Patton got him back on track. More aid station help from Darrin Dunham, another crew member and pacer, helped Ebert keep rolling.
Heat is an evil booger, though. Between cramping and a nasty fall that gashed both knees, Ebert somehow kept chugging along. Aid station crew help, pacers, adrenaline, training and more helped fuel him along toward the finish.
“I rolled into the 3-mile aid station, chugged half a warm coke, filled my bottles, and headed down the power line cut,” Ebert wrote. “I pushed my bloody legs as hard as I could over the road rollers and up the final climb for a finish of 22:03:20.”
Ebert wasn’t the only TVO-area athlete punching around at the Jewel, with Kyle Wagner of Huntsville completing the 100-miler in yet another century finish this year.
Wagner, 38, of Huntsville, finished sixth in 25:52:14. Since winning the Heron Hundreds 100-miler last year, Wagner has knocked off several others including Devil’s Racetrack, Cascades 100 and Dark Divide 100.
See all of the 100-mile results here.
Jewel 50, 35, 18
Nick Bianchini of Chattanooga was fourth in the Jewel 50-miler, finishing in 9:57:29 to lead the TVO area athletes.
Nathan Vetch of Soddy Daisy was 11th in 10:36:04 and Shannon Dye of Chattanooga was 16th in 11:00:12.
Jacob Flaugher of Huntsville led the north Alabama crew, finishing 20th in 11:19:59. Others included Lindsey Shady of Huntsville (27th, 12:18:15) and Christy Scott of Owens Cross Roads (28th, 12:18:16).
See all of the 50-mile results here.
Kyle Fitzgerrel of Chattanooga finished third in the 35-mile race, in 7:43:33. Emily Kennedy of Huntsville was 19th in 9:21:32. Lisa Gates of Huntsville was 26th in 9:47:32.
Bob Gingrich, 67, of Falkville finished the 18-mile race in 6:13:43.
MAIN PHOTO: James Ebert of Huntsville with his sub-24-hour Georgia Jewel buckle after winning the event Sept. 21 in Dalton, Ga. With him is his coach, Michael Patton (left) and friend-pacer Darin Dunham.
