VALDOSTA — On Saturday morning, 230 competitors put on their running shoes and began Independence Day by competing in the inaugural Valdosta 5K.

It was the fourth consecutive year that a road race was held on July 4 in Valdosta, and Saturday’s turnout was the largest of the four.

Valdosta State’s biology department had reason to be proud Saturday. Alan McGough, a senior biology major at VSU, won the race, and Ashley McGee, a biology professor at the college, was the women’s winner.

McGough’s time was a personal best, as he crossed the finish line in 16:37. McGough, a native of Forsyth, is a member of the Valdosta State cross country team.

“I’m very excited. This is probably the first major race I’ve won, so I’m excited,” McGough said. “It’s funny, but my last two personal bests have been run in Valdosta.”

McGough was just as excited to see two Blazer teammates not far behind him. Austin McDonald, a rising sophomore from Fitzgerald, finished second in 16:40, while Steve Cary, a senior from Monroe, was third, crossing the finish line in 17:09.

“I was happy to win, and have Austin McDonald, who is a teammate, right behind me, and Steve Cary, another teammate, behind him,” McGough said. “That excites me for the upcoming cross country season, to know that we have three strong guys (like this). That excites me more than winning the race.”

“It’s real exciting to see huge improvements in the men’s and women’s cross country teams,” said VSU cross country coach Todd Smoot, who was also the organizer of Saturday’s race. “They really are doing what they have to do to be successful.”

Gary Droze of Tallahassee, Fla. finished fourth in 17:13. Droze was the first veteran to finish. Chad Novack of Nashville took fifth (18:27). Bret Wagenhurst of Tifton won the master’s division and finished sixth overall in 18:32.

Chris Gaither of Nashville finished seventh (18:35), followed by the Masked Avenger (18:38), Rodney Elliott (18:40) and Al Bakari (18:43).

McGee crossed the finish line in 20:31, good enough for 13th overall and first among the female runners.

“It was good. I ran a (20:31), so I was pretty happy with that time,” McGee said. “I’m excited to be out here, excited to get a good race in.”

McGee ran track collegiately at Texas A&M.; She has won several races since college, including the Jingle Bell Run in 2007 in Valdosta (when she finished fourth overall and beat the next closest woman by four minutes). Her husband Rob also ran Saturday, and finished 21st overall, in 21:26.

In last year’s Independence Day run, the Baytree 8K, McGough finished third overall, and McGee was the second woman to cross the finish line.

Angelina Horne of Coolidge finished second among the women, and 17th overall, in 20:54. April Scruggs of Valdosta took third (22:02), and was the female master’s winner. Brandi Faircloth of Hahira was right behind her, finishing in 22:04. Heidi Gonzalez of Valdosta was fifth (22:14).

In previous years, the July 4 race was an eight-kilometer (five mile) race. But this year, the distance was shortened to five kilometers (3.1 miles), and the course was changed. Runners started at the BakerSmith Corners Shopping Center in northern Valdosta and ran down Patterson Street, past South Georgia Medical Center and Valdosta State. The finish line was located downtown, between Central and Hill Avenues.

“The race was well-run. The 5K distance was different from the 8K. It was a good, quick, fun race,” McGough said. “We train up and down Patterson, so I was pretty familiar with the course. It was a great day to run, and a great way to start (Independence Day).”

Smoot was pleased with how things went in the race, and indicated that he planned on continuing the Valdosta 5K every Fourth of July.

“I was thrilled,” Smoot said. “I was very proud of the presentation, and the outpouring of support from the community. I was enthusiastic at the number of first-time entrants in the race. We had a seven percent increase from last year, and every person that started the race finished the race. I saw happy people, a lot of satisfied individuals. A number of people sought out me and my staff to tell us that they enjoyed the race.”

The run included entrants from Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Alabama and even Texas.

For the first time, $50 cash prizes were given out to the overall female winner, the masters division male and female winners, and the top male and female military personnel. Due to NCAA rules, McGough could not accept the money, because he is an amateur who runs for a college team. The top 20 male and female finishers also received prizes.

On Independence Day, race organizers made sure that the men and women of the U.S. military got their due. Runners who were active military personnel wore numbers in the 400s, female veterans wore numbers in the 500s and male veterans wore numbers in the 600s. Both the active military and the veterans were given a loud ovation before the race.

The local chapter of the Knights of Columbus presented the colors before the run, and members of the First Presbyterian Church of Valdosta’s choir sang the national anthem.