by Kevin Grogan, Clermont Waterfront parkrun
Clermont Waterfront parkrun took place on Saturday, April 25, with another beautiful morning greeting participants as runners, walkers, and volunteers gathered along the scenic shoreline of Lake Minneola at Hiawatha Preserve for this week’s 5K.
It doesn’t get much better for late April in Central Florida—63 degrees and sunny at the start, creating near-perfect running conditions for fast times and strong efforts across the field.
This week featured a notable first-time visitor, as Mayor Tim Murry of Clermont spectated his very first Clermont parkrun, and after experiencing the comraderie and community firsthand, he promised to return and bring his wife, Kassier Kyler-Murry, along next time, a great sign of continued local support for this growing event.
The fast conditions translated into impressive performances, with Nicholas Jollye leading the men in 16:42; the 2:30 marathoner showing his speed with a controlled and efficient run, while Lexi Whitehead, the local East Ridge High standout, led the women in 22:30 with a strong effort.
Just a little bit back of Jollye, masters runner Simon Croft of the Red Rose Runners, delivered a standout performance of his own, crossing 14 seconds later, highlighting the continued strength and depth of the masters field that included the likes of Martin Attwood, Jason Fuqua, Kevin Grogan, & Joshua Castleman. The women’s top three were rounded out by sisters Linsey & Annabella Ekebergh respectively.
A mix of experienced runners and first-timers continued to fuel steady participation at Clermont, and the flat, fast out-and-back course along the waterfront once again produced strong finishing times, with the early 7:30 am start helping participants beat the Florida heat and maximize performance potential.
As always, the 15 volunteers made the morning run so smoothly from setup to timing and barcode scanning, and the welcoming atmosphere remained one of the defining features of Clermont parkrun.
Clermont resident Jason Fuqua, who is a weekly fixture at the parkrun event added, “Saturday mornings at parkrun Clermont with my family have become a staple. It keeps us accountable, active, and it’s fun for all fitness levels. I’m a big believer in leading by example, something I didn’t have growing up, but something I’m committed to giving my family now.”
It was another outstanding morning in Clermont, with strong performances, community leadership showing up, and the kind of energy that keeps our parkrun community thriving week after week.
