DELTA, Ala. — Kyle Kraeft had a near Top-10 finish Saturday to win the 20th Mount Cheaha 50K, one of the Southeast’s iconic ultramarathons.
Kraeft, 35, of Tallahassee, Fla., finished 4:34:12, about two minutes off the tenth-best time in the race’s history. He won by more than 20 minutes over Graham Grant, 28 of Carrollton, Ga.
Ana Watters, 22, of Bessemer took top women’s honors, finishing 11th in 5:43:54. Ruth Wamack, 20, of Chattanooga, was next in 5:51:50.
The field had 230 finishers and attracted runners from Florida, Massachusetts, Idaho and California, among others. The race is a point-to-point trail run that finishes in Cheaha State Park at the summit of Cheaha Mountain. The mountain measures 2,407 feet and is the highest point in Alabama. Runners experience scenic overlooks, creek crossings, lakes, water falls, hardwood and pine forests. Eighty percent of the course is run on single track trails in the Talladega National Forest.
Huntsville runners Robert Pless of Birmingham, and Allen Smith and Dink Taylor, of Huntsville, completed the event for the 20th time. They are the only 20-time finishers.
See all of the results here.
