STORY: Mooneyham, Rider take first at Greater Goldsboro Road Run

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on April 8, 2017 11:19 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

Joseph Mooneyham needed a "cool down" race.

Alicia Rider sought a "tune up" in preparation for one of the world's most prestigious events -- the Boston Marathon, which is scheduled for Monday.

Each got what they needed Saturday morning.

With a bright blue sky as the backdrop, a brisk wind and cool temperatures provided ideal running conditions during the 39th installment of the Greater Goldsboro Road Run.

Neither Mooneyham nor Rider experienced little resistance during their respective 10k race.

Mooneyham claimed his third consecutive GGRR title with a personal-best time of 34 minutes, 35 seconds. The result came just six days after the Charles B. Aycock alum placed sixth overall among 3,800 competitors in the Raleigh Rock 'N' Roll half marathon.

"Honestly, I was mainly going to use this race as a tune-up for a half marathon that was coming up later in the month, but I decided to turn that down and do the Raleigh Rock 'N' Roll half marathon a week prior to here," said Mooneyham, who added that the flat GGRR course allowed him to run consistent splits.

"Another thing about Raleigh is that it was super hilly and just running that -- plus it being a longer distance -- really prepared to me to run pretty well."

Rider knows about hills.

The challenging terrain in Winston-Salem is perfect for any runner who wants to gauge their ability in either short or long races.

The GGRR provided a nice change of pace.

"It was a great race. It was a great course. I loved the people," said Rider, a graduate of North Johnston who completed the two-loop course in 43:16 -- two-plus minutes faster than her nearest competitor.

"(The plan) was to actually just come out and have fun, just see where I was leg-wise and if I felt good enough to maybe push a little bit in Boston or just turn that into a fun run, and maybe have some different goals in the fall."

The GGRR, one of North Carolina's longest-running road events, attracted 275 people of all ages and from different regions of North Carolina this year.

"It was awesome, a lot of fun," Tyler Ham told race coordinator Scott Edwards after he completed the 5k race, which was won by Nelson Aguilar Martin in 18:58.

Less than 24 hours after playing a high school soccer match, Eastern Wayne senior Brennan Dove secured the women's 5k crown with a time of 24:28.

Tremayne Tucker, from Goldsboro, emerged as the first-place finisher in the 5k walk -- a 26:10 effort that was five-plus minutes faster than runner Ryan Rozsnyal of Pikeville.

Eight-year-old Adonis Hackett, who hails from La Grange, placed first in the 1-mile fun run.

Edwards said the 10k course will undergo re-certification for next year. Instead of running two loops downtown, Edwards hopes to create a layout that takes the runners through Stoney Creek Park where they'll encounter a challenging incline as they head back toward the finish line.

The GGRR is sponsored by the Sunrise Kiwanis, which through the help of area businesses, distributes the proceeds from the annual event to organizations that benefit the youth in need in Wayne County.