Local runner takes first place

Joyce Hodges-Hite wears her 50-kilometer champion medal and holds a copy of Marathon and Beyond, which featured the Jenkins County athlete in its March-April issue. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett)

Joyce Hodges-Hite added to her national champion laurels as she took first place in age-group 70-74 at the USA Track and Field 50 kilometer (31.2 miles) championship held Sunday, March 2, at Caumsett State Park on Long Island, N.Y.

Running in somewhat windy conditions with temperatures that stayed in the low-to-mid 30s, she completed the 12 laps of 2.63 miles in a time of seven hours, 22 minutes and 54 seconds. A total of 97 runners took part, ranging in age from those in their 20s to several over the age of 70, representing 13 states.

This was Hodges-Hite's 109th time that she has competed in events of marathon distance (26.2 miles) or longer.

Upon picking up her mail after returning home, Hodges- Hite found the March-April issue of Marathon and Beyond, that carried a feature story about her long-distance running exploits.