VALDOSTA — For the fourth time in the last five years, Christopher Rice was the first runner across the finish line at the Valdosta 5K.

Rice won his fourth Valdosta 5K road race on Wednesday. He crossed the finish line in 16:56, 35 seconds ahead of the second place finisher.

“I’m very excited. I look forward to this race every year,” Rice said.

Rice has run in the annual fourth of July road race in Valdosta five times. Four times he has won it, and the other time he finished second.

“I’m usually in the middle of summer training, so it’s not my fastest race of the year, but it’s always fun to run one of Todd (Smoot’s) races. I always love running these races,” he said. “It’s good to see where I’m at in the middle of the summer. It’s probably my favorite course in Valdosta.”

Rice wore his patriotic American flag shorts for the race, in celebration of Independence Day.

“I’m an American, I love the USA and I love to at least cheer people up when I run (with these shorts on). I’m proud to be an American. (Red, white and blue are) always good colors to wear,” he said.

Rice spent four years on the cross country team at Valdosta State, and will be an assistant coach for the Blazers next season.

Wright Calhoun of Americus was second, with a time of 17:31. Nathan Norton, also from Americus, finished third with a time of 17:55. David Burnett of Valdosta was fourth (18:14) and the Masked Avenger was fifth (18:22).

Tyler Thurman, a 16-year-old from Valdosta, finished sixth (18:39). Aaron Williams of Valdosta was seventh (18:58), followed by Bret Wagenhorst of Tifton (19:11), Colin Prinsloo of Valdosta (19:33) and 15-year-old Caleb Coil of Valdosta (19:37).

Chris Schattles was the female winner, crossing the finish line in 20:17. It was a personal best for the 14-year-old, who runs cross country for Southland Academy in Americus. She finished 17th overall.

“I’m very happy (to be the female winner),” Schattles said. “It was a new personal record, so I was happy.”

Schattles and her father Ed (who finished 21st) drove to Valdosta from Americus and spent Tuesday night in a hotel so that they could run in the Valdosta 5K.

“Me and Daddy like to run in road races,” Schattles said. “Me and my dad pushed (our paces). It was kind of (the time) we wanted.”

Wagenhorst was the first veteran to finish. Wagenhorst ran the race in 19:11 and finished eighth overall. Sherrie Ball of Hahira was the first female veteran, running the race in 28:42.

The male masters winner was Sean McConnell of Adel, who finished 11th overall with a time of 19:47. The female masters winner was Alice Smoot of Valdosta, who finished 24th overall and second among female runners (21:00).

Rice, Calhoun, Burnett, the Masked Avenger, Thurman, Williams, Wagenhorst, McConnell, Pat Collins of Valdosta, Lars Leader of Valdosta, Larry Morts of Valdosta, Bob Bowen of Nashville and Joe Christian of Naylor all finished first in their age groups. So did Braeden Denson, a 9-year-old from LaVernia, Texas.

On the women’s side, Schattles, Smoot, Alison Peters of Valdosta, Jo Ann Fort of Glencoe, Ala., Libby Smith of Nashville, Lauren Strike of Ray City, Elizabeth Rosatu of Valdosta, Beth Deloach of Valdosta, Anna Leigh Powell of Hahira, Nancy Elam of Valdosta and Eryn Wilkey of Valdosta all finished first in their age groups.

This was the seventh year in a row that a road race was held on Independence Day morning in Valdosta. A total of 193 runners crossed the finish line on Wednesday.

Wednesday’s field was one of the fastest ever for the Valdosta 5K. Fifteen runners finished the race in under 20 minutes, and 77 completed the 3.1-mile run in 25 minutes or less. By the 32-minute mark, approximately 80 percent of the runners had crossed the finish line.

The proceeds from the road race will go to the American Legion Post 13. Every year, veterans from American Legion Post 13 have volunteered their time to help with the July 4 race. Moody Air Force Base personnel also helped out at the race.

“It was great to see that kind of community support,” race organizer Todd Smoot said.