With many participants donning party hats and clutching noise-makers during warm-ups, those who attended the first Father Time Invitational Road Race in Brooks, Ga., on New Year’s Eve knew they were in for a unique experience.

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Dozens of runners had LED lights on headbands to help them light the way as they ran from one year into the next.

A large group huddled around the starting line next to the Brooks Fire Station at 11:45 p.m. The race began a few minutes later after Mayor Bobby Brooks fired the starting pistol and the 89 runners, ranging in age from under 11 to over 55, took off down the road and ran for glory in the inaugural race.

Sammy Nyamongo, a native Kenyan and assistant cross country coach at Augusta State University, was the overall champion and the fastest to the turn.

In statements after the race, Nyamongo, who started running at the age of 13, addressed the numerous high school cross country runners that ran in the event and stressed the importance of high school programs.

The overall female champion was Haley Smith, an 11-year-old runner from Tyrone.

Over $7,000 in prizes and giveaways were awarded to both male and female runners in 10 age groups. The response to the race was terrific with many participants vowing to make their entry an annual tradition and race organizers looking forward to a bigger and better race in 2006.

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