NATCHEZ — There was no turkey hangover for 14-year-old John Schroeder Saturday.

Schroeder, an eighth-grader from Houston, Texas, ran home with the top prize at the first Turkey Trot 5K sponsored by Natchez Regional Medical Center and the Christmas in Natchez Committee.

Schroeder completed the 5K in 18 minutes and 30 seconds. Schroeder started running in sixth grade and uses it to stay in shape for soccer and track at school, but Saturday he was just running for
fun.

“I just wanted to do the best I could,” he said. “I didn’t really think about winning.”

Schroeder was in town for Thanksgiving and joined several of his family members in the run, but he was glad he came out on top.

“It was a fun race,” he said. “I really didn’t know I was going to win, but that’s good, too.”

Kari Simpson of Natchez was the overall female winner with a time of 23 minutes and 46 seconds.

There were 82 total participants in the inaugural post-Thanksgiving run.

Sisters Sheila Lipsey, Ashley Avery, both of Monterey, and Leslie Thompson of Natchez, the race was just a warm up for the half-marathon they will be running in February.

“This was my first ever race,” Avery said. “I guess its good preparation for February.”

The sisters have been running for recreation for approximately three years.

Avery and Lipsey will be running their first half-marathon, while Thompson has a little more experience.

“Leslie has run half-marathons before, and she talked us into doing it this time,” Lipsey said. “She has us on a pretty good training schedule.

“She’s the motivator or the drill sergeant,” Lipsey joked.