33rd GGRR -- Gibson's return like visiting a 'time capsule'

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on April 12, 2014 11:32 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

Time might not be on Pete Gibson's side these days, but the avid runner proved he could hang with the younger guys Saturday morning.

The Goldsboro native, who now resides in Murfreesboro, won the men's 5k portion of the 33rd annual Greater Goldsboro Road Race in surprise fashion -- at least to him.

Gibson thought he had lost the race at one point.

"The guy that was in front of me, he made the turn and I didn't realize he was in the 10k, so I was killing myself trying to hang on to him thinking I was in second (place) hoping he would crack," Gibson laughed. "When he turned, I thought 'oh no, either's he wrong' and then the light bulb went on and I knew he was in the 10k."

Gibson crossed the finish line in 18 minutes, 16 seconds.

After his victory, he walked back up Centre Street and gazed at the buildings. He'd deliver the occasional high-five or either clap for a competitor who raced toward the finish line.

The stroll brought back a flood of memories.

Gibson stayed in Goldsboro until he was 10 years old while his dad was stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. He attended William Street Elementary and became good friends with current Milwaukee Brewers bench coach Jerry Narron in second grade.

The family moved to Okinawa for two years after Gibson completed fifth grade. They returned to the east coast a few years later. His dad became part of the Air Force One crew during the Nixon Administration in the early 1970s.

"I've gotten older and slower, so I go back to the ones (races) that are near and dear to my heart," Gibson said. "I've come back to Goldsboro off and on over the years. It's like a time capsule. I come back and see so many things when I was a kid here.

"My running career is winding down ... a lot slower than I used to be, but I can still hang in with the younger guys. I'm tickled to death to come back here and win this thing. I wish Jerry would show up some time, but I know he's probably coaching (in baseball) with somebody now."

Raleigh's Jeff Crume seized runner-up honors in 19:28. David Palmier of Cary took third in 19:42. Goldsboro's Todd Calloway and Steve Jones placed fourth and fifth, respectively.