Cole Robinson breezed to a second record-setting Wild Thangs Chupacabra 10K title Saturday at Monte Sano State Park, crossing the line in a zippy 41:23 to win by almost four minutes.
Josh Cornett of Madison claimed the Chupacabra Half title in an easy 2:03:13, winning by more than seven minutes. Cornett and Robinson were among 427 runners who toed the line in the final Running Lane Events Wild Thangs summer series at the state park. The series began in June and featured long and short runs three weeks apart, culminating in the August finale.
The deceiving Chupacabra lulls the Half runners into a joyous security, with six easy miles on wonderfully flat, clean trails. At about six-ish miles, the split hits. The 10K runners dash on to the finish line past the hiker’s lot, ampitheater and lodge. The Half runners dive off into McKay Hollow at the rest shelter, plunging into a rocky hellscape of McKay, Natural Well, Arrowhead and back up (straight up!) McKay on what is affectionately known as Death Trail. The experience is like enjoying a bowl of double-chocolate ice cream and then chewing a ghost pepper.
Robinson’s assault on the 10K course is not surprising, as the 16-year-old has tamed the Monte Sano trails with ease. The record of 47:12 was set in 2018 by Scott Zimmerman and held for two years, with Robinson clipping it in 46:52 in 2020. Then, in 2021 Robinson notched a 45:04 as one of the best times that year but just a shade behind Luke Alverson’s 44:52.
This year, Robinson had no challenger close as he posted a 41:23. Ronan Barnes, 17, of Madison, was second in 45:34, and Will Chaplow, 30, of Gurley, was third in 45:50.
Ella Carter, 14, of Madison, was the first female (9th overall) in 52:53. Gretchen Pearson, 23, of Cleveland, Miss., was second (15th) in 56:43. Victoria Tkacs, 19, of Madison, was third (27th) in 57:37.
See all the Wild Thangs Chupacabra 10K results here.
Wild Thangs Chupacabra Half Marathon
Josh Cornett, 28, of Madison breezed to the Chupacabra Half title in an easy 2:03:13, crossing the line seven minutes ahead of his nearest challenger.
Half competitors finish the final half mile or more slogging up McKay Trail, better known as Death Trail. The rocky switchbacks are a haymaker to any run or hike. While physical, the finale is quite a mental deal as well. It doesn’t stop going up until you get to the overlook and the final, flat 10 yards or so to the finish line. You’re climbing even at the end.
Cornett’s time was about a minute off easing into the Top 10 for the event, but not enough. The humidity never let up during the morning. Half competitors made their way through the hollow to the Land Trust Trough Springs parking lot aid station before the final blast to the finish.
Calvin Vechinski, 20, of Huntsville finished second in 2:10:22, and Aaron Losee, 27, of Antioch, Tenn., was third in 2:14:28. Craig Smith, 46, of Madison, was fourth in 2:14:36.
Brittany Berger, 31, of Huntsville was first female (19th overall) in 2:19:44. Sarah Manning, 33, of Madison was second (23rd) in 2:46:18, and Meredith Parks, 23, of Madison was third (25th) in 2:49:03.
The Half had 120 finishers, and the 10K had 215 finishers. Some competing in the Half dropped to 10K. Running Lane Events put on the series at the state park.
See all of the Chupacabra Half Marathon finshers here.
