by Kevin Grogan, Clermont Waterfront parkrun
The final Saturday of May brought a little bit of everything to Clermont Waterfront parkrun—sunshine, clouds, and even a touch of drizzle as the morning progressed. Despite the changing conditions, the fast times kept coming.
Leading the charge was prep standout Jonahel Vazquez-Escribano, who wasted no time asserting himself at the front of the field. Through the opening mile, he had already established a commanding 30-second lead and never looked back, cruising to a parkrun personal best of 16:54.
Behind him, top local masters runner Jeremy Arguelles put together another strong performance, holding second place from start to finish in 17:54.
On the women’s side, a former East Ridge high school graduate & current Flagler College runner stole the show. Hanna Warren ran a superb 19:35, dominating the female field and finishing comfortably under the 20-minute barrier. This year at Flagler Warren broke the 18 minute mark in the 5k run!
One of the biggest breakthroughs of the morning belonged to local running legend Jason Fuqua. Despite logging fewer than 14 miles of running during the week, Fuqua delivered a personal best of 19:37, slicing 15 seconds off his previous mark.
As the school year winds down, many educators and coaches are preparing for new chapters. One familiar face at Clermont parkrun entering a transition is longtime East Ridge High School coach and parkrun advocate Grant Mollett. Before he begins his next adventure, we caught up with Coach Mollett to reflect on the impact parkrun has had on both him and his athletes.
parkrun: What has parkrun meant to you and your East Ridge runners? How has it helped develop your program?
Coach Mollett:
“Personally, parkrun has been a source of motivation, opportunity, discipline, and camaraderie since its inception in Clermont. I’ve met some fantastic people who have been encouraging and friendly over the years.
For my team, it has helped our athletes build consistency and endurance, especially during the summer months as they prepare for the fall cross-country season. I’ve long said that what is achieved in November during championship season is earned in June and July, and parkrun has played a major role in that development.
Like all parkrunners, our athletes can find others running at a similar pace and simply compete. Because parkrun tracks lifetime results, we can compare performances from one summer to the next and measure progress. Most importantly, the parkrun community has always been supportive and encouraging to East Ridge athletes, and for that I am truly grateful.”
parkrun: Is there a memory that stands out from bringing East Ridge runners to parkrun?
Coach Mollett:
“There are so many memories that come to mind, but one perfectly captures what parkrun is all about.
One summer, one of my runners, Madi, was working hard to improve her endurance. Fellow parkrunner Tim Strickler ran just ahead of her for most of the event. With about a quarter mile remaining, I yelled, ‘Great job, Madi, you’re going under 24 minutes!’
Tim immediately turned around and responded, ‘Get ahead of me and we’ll both go well under 24!’
Madi surged forward and finished in 23:01. Tim’s encouragement helped her find another gear when she needed it most. That moment exemplifies parkrun—everyone encouraging everyone.
Beyond that, runners such as Hector, Daniel, Jessica, Anne, Toni, Jim, Jeremy, Jimmy, Jeff, Tracy, Chris, and many others have consistently supported our athletes. Whether through encouragement, compliments, photos, or simply making them feel welcome, they’ve helped create a genuine sense of belonging for our runners.”
parkrun: What advice would you give a new high school parkrunner?
Coach Mollett:
“Use parkrun as a way to break the ice for your high school cross-country career. Let it ease your nerves and build your confidence. Make it part of your routine and the 5K distance will start to feel much less intimidating.
Any teenager willing to be up and running a 7:30 a.m. parkrun on a Saturday has my respect and admiration. Chances are their competition is sleeping in while they’re building endurance, confidence, and discipline.”
parkrun: What’s next for Coach Mollett?
Coach Mollett:
“I’ll be moving closer to my family in Ocala after accepting a teaching and coaching position at a new high school. I’ll serve as the head cross-country coach there.
Even with the distance between Ocala and Clermont, I plan to remain involved with Clermont parkrun whenever opportunities arise. When the weather cools down, I’ll be back to run. If there’s a need and I’m available, I’ll be back to volunteer.
And who knows? Maybe someday I’ll bring some South Marion athletes down too.
