Jackson Turkey Trot Race Celebrates 20th Year with Nearly 1,300 Participants

Nearly 1,300 participated in the 20th annual Jackson Turkey Trot at Ella Sharp Park Thursday morning.

Story, photos by Jeff Steers

JTV Sports

What started with a “group of seven friends” is now nearly 1,300 strong.

The Jackson Turkey Trot celebrated its 20th event Thursday with 1,290 participants in the 10K run/5K run/5K elite run/5K walk/and Kids Run at Ella Sharp Park.

Race director Jeff Beagle wrote on the race’s website that the event started in 2005.

“It began as a way to get an early workout in before helping my wife prepare the Thanksgiving Day dinner with our family,” Beagle wrote on the website. “What started with a group of seven friends has grown into an awesome Turkey Trot.

“Now, together with other athletes, volunteers, and sponsors, we raise funds that will benefit our Jackson Community.”

Benefactors this year are the David Hinz Memorial Scholarship, Jackson Autism Support Network, Jackson YMCA, and Kory C. Wittman II Memorial.

The race is the final event for 2024 of the ORS Race Series – an 11-event race series that begins in February.

Tyler Landis of Homer won the elite 5K event in 16 minutes, 43 seconds, Eliza Bush won the women’s 5K race in 17:50, and Michael Happy of Chelsea took first in the 10K event with a time of 33:25.

Complete results are available at https://jacksonturkeytrot.com/results.

 Tyler Landis of Homer won the elite 5K event in 16 minutes, 43 seconds.