‘Watermelon Fuels Athletes’ at Cooper River Bridge Run
‘Watermelon Fuels Athletes’ at Cooper River Bridge Run
CHARLESTON, SC — They set up in the predawn darkness at 5 a.m. and 41 degrees. After the starter’s pistol went off at 8 a.m., they handed out 33,600 cups of watermelon chunks to a steady stream of runners and spectators at the 38th annual Cooper River Bridge Run, a 10K run and walk event held March 28. At around noon, as the last of the walkers streamed past the finish line, they gave out their last watermelon cups under signs proclaiming, “Watermelon Fuels Athletes.”
The race was won by Dominic Ondoro of Kenya. Women’s winner was Cynthia Limo of Kenya. Each won first-place checks of $10,000.
“It was a great event, and we gave away all we had,” said Matt Cornwell, executive director of the South Carolina Watermelon Association, which sponsored the stand that gave out thousands of watermelon cups to promote the fruit as a sports booster. “We had 20 people working the stand, including board members and eight watermelon queens. The runners and spectators had a great response to the watermelon. They loved it.”
National Watermelon Queen Emily Brown of Vincennes, IN, North Carolina Watermelon Queen Carmen Honeycutt of Benson and South Carolina Watermelon Queen Sydney Ford of Gaffney were among eight watermelon queens handing out cups of cubed watermelon. Runners were dressed as comic book characters like Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman.
“We had the Ninja Turtles and one guy dressed like a queen with strategically placed fruit,” Cornwell noted.
Brown, the national queen, was working here last year as her state queen. “I’m a nursing student at Vincennes University,” she said, “so I know about the health benefits of watermelon. It’s 92 percent water, so great for rehydration of athletes. And a good source of potassium and vitamin C.”
At a March 27 pre-race press briefing, Charleston Mayor Joe Riley and Bridge Run founder Marcus Newberry recalled that the Bridge Run’s original intent was to encourage local residents to adopt healthier lifestyles.
