STARKVILLE — Hundreds of runners lined up Saturday morning on Main Street at the starting line of each of the 2025 Starkville Frostbite races. After a countdown and a blow of a nearby fire engine’s horn, the racers took off running in the half marathon, 10K and 5K races.
Brad Jones, co-race director for the Frostbite, said this was the largest number of runners the Frostbite races have ever drawn, fitting for the event’s 40th year.
We’ve got for the first time ever over 1,000 registrants this year,” Jones said. “We’re pretty excited about that. They keep coming out. I think we give them a good community event to come and support, and I think that’s why people keep coming.”
Jones took over organizing the event from OCH Regional Medical Center 10 years ago, he said. At that time, Frostbite expanded to make it a true “Starkville event,” including adding the 10K and 5K races and changing the route to its current location – winding through Starkville’s historic district, the Cotton District and Mississippi State University.
Each year, a portion of the proceeds from the Frostbite benefits a different local charity, Jones said, with this year’s race benefiting Starkville Strong, a nonprofit that focuses on building a support system for some of the most vulnerable in the community.
“Even (five) years in, we’re still so incredibly humbled when we’re chosen or sought out for something like this,” Starkville Strong Executive Director Brandi Herrington told The Dispatch in a text message.
“Because of the generosity of the Frostbite … and other contributions, we’re confident we can continue being creative problem solvers to help connect, empower and support those in our community and keep Starkville strong and resilient,” Herrington added.
The Frostbite brings together a community of both die-hard fans and newcomers, Jones said, along with attracting runners from all over to Starkville. This year, he said, racers came from Tennessee, Texas, North Carolina and even Alaska to run the race.
One long-time Frostbite fan, Timmy Farish, said he first ran the Frostbite when he was 19 years old, and he has kept returning ever since. He is 40 years old now.
Farish ran with an American flag painted across his face, in honor of his brother who serves as a major in the Army.
“I love this race,” Farish said. “I’m from Louisville. It’s about 27 miles from here, but it’s one of my favorite races.”
Still, the races attracted plenty of newcomers. Ava Grace Noe and Portia Mobley, two freshmen at Mississippi State University, decided to run the Frostbite 5K the night before the race. Each put on a sparkly skirt over their running leggings to bring some extra fun to the event.
“My grandma was going to run the race with one of her best friends, and then she went to (Las Vegas, Nevada) to go see The Eagles,” Noe said. “And so, last night, I got a text, ‘Do you want to do a 5K?’ And I was like ‘Why not? Let’s do it.’”
Another new racer, Tammy Frost said she had never run in the Frostbite before, but she and her husband decided to come out and walk the 5K race to support a good cause.
“It’s for a good cause, Starkville Strong,” Frost said. “We believe in helping others, and it’s just a way to give back to the community and accomplish something for ourselves, too.”
Still, other runners had unique reasons to run. Kate and Craig James have been running together for the past nine months, but this was their first time in the Frostbite half marathon. The pair came out early to acclimate to the cold weather – which started out in the low 30s before rising throughout the day.
“My husband and I started running as another way to connect together, and we thought, ‘Why not do a half marathon?’” Kate said. “Our kids are coming out later, so we get to show them how important it is for Mommy and Daddy to be together and exercise together.”
Starkville Firefighter Brian Flaherty said he came out to run the 5K as a good way to stay in shape while enjoying the community. He has been a firefighter for about a year, and he said he had been training for the race for about a month. He ran in shorts and his firefighting jacket.
“I just enjoy the community aspect of it,” Flaherty said. “It’s never a bad thing to get out and run, especially when it’s cold like this. What better way to warm up?”
2025 Frostbite winners
In the 5K race, Isaiah Jewett, 27, placed first overall with a time of 18 minutes, 16 seconds. Scott McDonnall, 22, placed second in 19:31 and Ramon Alvarez Zapat, 60, placed third in 19:34.
The top female finisher in the 5K was Alex Cougle, 15, who placed sixth overall in 22:19. Following her were Emma Claire Spradli, 18, who finished in 21st overall in 24:44 and Lucy Turnage, 17, who finished in 22nd overall in 24:49.
In the 10K race, Matthew Johnson, 24, placed first overall in 38:31. Jack Johnsey, 16, placed second in 38:54 and Brock Baskin, 14, placed third in 39:31.
The top female finisher in the 10K was Janice Eubanks, 53, who finished in fifth overall in 41:55. Following her were Adeline Shepherd, 15, who finished in ninth place overall in 45:29 and Ella Shepherd, 18, who finished in 10th place overall in 45:29.
In the half marathon, Charlie Dawson, 49, placed first overall in 1:14:08. Jay McCurdy, 40, placed second in 1:15:31 and Branden Schaff, 26, placed third in 1:17:00.
The top female finisher in the half marathon was Rhianwedd Price-Wei, 30, who finished in 13th place overall in 1:23:20. Following her were Marissa Platt, 27, who finished in 21st place overall in 1:30:29 and Lisa Ziegler, 30, who finished in 23rd place overall in 1:31:23, according to results from Race Roster.
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
