What a fantastic weekend for the crew of studs making this week’s TVO Roundup, which includes a host of events far and wide.
We won’t dilly-dally too long but have a few items of note to highlight first:
— If you’re pining for something to do this weekend, sign up here now for the 9th annual Dan Robinson Memorial 10K or 5K in Grant. It’s hosted by the Grant Playground and Recreation Association. Proceeds benefit the incredibly fantastic, inclusive Kidtopia playground that is an awesome plus for a small town. If you’re keen on events that benefit a public good, and not just a bank account, this is one to consider. It’s a scenic course with rolling hills so take a water bottle.
— If you’re hankerin’ for something more, registration is open for the Pinhoti 100 in November. This iconic point-to-point 100-miler will test physical and mental abilities. It is a Western States qualifier. You’ll start in Heflin, go over Mount Cheaha and finish at Lake Howard on the Sylaward Trail northeast-ish of Sylacauga. See the deets here.
— Registrations for the Rocket City Marathon and other RCM Weekend races are ticking along nicely. The marathon is 42 percent sold, while the half is 31 percent and the 10K-5K is at 27 percent. Runners from more than two dozen states already are registered, many of them repeat visitors.
The event is Dec. 12-14, put on by Huntsville Track Club and sponsored by the Huntsville Sports Commission, among others. The weekend pumps more than $1 million into the city’s economy via food, lodging and associated travel expenditures.
On to the roundup:
Canyons 100s
Jamie Holt of Huntsville and Dylan Glass of Gurley tackled the rugged hills of central California on April 27 in the Canyons Endurance Runs.
Holt, 41, finished 76th in the 100-mile event. She finished in 29:23:17 and was 11th in the women’s division.
Glass, 32, knocked off the 100K in 12:25:44 for his first finish at that distance. He also was 76th in the standings.
Lori Stephan and Jeff Morgan crewed both, with Stephan going the final 27 miles with Holt. Stephan recently finished among the top 10 in the Ladiga 100K. Morgan assisted Glass on the trail. Conditions included snow, rain, cold temps, wind and all the fun things.
See the 100-mile results here and the 100K results here.
Falling Waters 100K
NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK, W. Va. — Dominick Borreggine of Huntsville was fifth overall in the 4th annual Falling Waters 100K on April 26.
Borreggine, 38, was third in the men’s division. He finished in 11:40:44, which is sixth-best in race history. This year’s event was fast, with five men’s records and seven women’s records set.
The Falling Waters 100K is part of the Rim to River Endurance Company series. Borreggine won the Rim to River 100 last year and was fourth in the Cabin Fever 50K in February.
See all of the Falling Waters 100K results here.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon
NASHVILLE — Harrison Morris of Huntsville finished second in the 25th St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon on April 26.
Morris, 24, from Huntsville, finished in 2:44:13. It was Morris’s first completed marathon. He told The Tennessean he was more concerned with finishing, after blowing up last year due to the early course elevation.
“I just tried to stay in that pocket, run my pace,” said Morris, a former Georgia Tech runner. “I felt really good about halfway, started picking it up a bit. Around Mile 20 it gets brutal back in Shelby Park. I blew up a bit, but it was a really good day overall and I was really happy with it.”
Erick Kigen, 36, of Huntsville, was sixth in 2:47:33. He won the inaugural Run the Cove Half in March in Hampton Cove.
David Gregory won the marathon in 2:32:06, by more than 12 minutes. It was his first marathon win. The course started at 8th Avenue and Broadway by Bridgestone Arena. It finished across the Cumberland River at Nissan Stadium.
The marathon and other events attracted more than 20,000 participants.
See all of the results here.
Ironman Texas
THE WOODLANDS, Texas — Carolyn Sanders and Sydney Hoyt, both of Huntsville, completed the Ironman Texas on April 26.
Sanders and Hoyt are longtime members of the Team Rocket Tri Club. The event was held north of Houston. Athletes started with a a 2.4-mile lake swim, followed by a 112-mile bike ride on mostly closed roads. They finished with a 26.2-mile run.
Sanders had a swim of 1:29:32, bike of 6:24:56 and run of 5:56:51, with transitions of 8:21 and 12:56. Her overall time was 14:12:36.
Hoyt had a swim of 1:51:36, bike of 6:42:42 and run of 6:43, with transitions of 18:25 and 14:00. Her overall time was 15:49:42.
Bell Rings in 10K
CHATSWORTH, Ga. — Drew Bell of Madison completed the Tear Drop 10K in 37:24 on April 26 in his fastest time.
Bell, coach of the James Clemens High track and cross country teams, posted on FB that this was “my best 10K race ever, certified course in Georgia.”
Bell said he ran five minutes faster than he did in March at the World 10K Masters Championship event. He carried a 5:58 per mile average, beating his goal of 6-minute miles, and battled through cramps on the hilly back half of the Chatsworth course.
Locomotion Endurance
EAST RIDGE, Tenn. — Carrie Lin and Amy Goen, both of Madison, competed in the 5th annual Locomotion 6/12/24-hour Endurance event on April 26.
Goen completed 51.16 miles in 14:46 and set a PR for the 50K. Lin completed 51 miles in 15:31.
The Locomotion event is a timed run/walk on a flat, USATF-certified 2-mile loop at Camp Jordan Recreation Area. Runners received plaques for 100 miles (24-hour), 50 miles (12-hour), and 50K (6-hour).
Final results should be posted here soon.
Cornbread Festival 5K
SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. — Josh Whitehead and Samantha Garcia, both of Madison, won the men’s and women’s titles at the National Cornbread Festival 5K on April 26.
Whitehead finished in 16:58, winning by more than four minutes. Garcia, 40, was 10th overall and finished in 24:26.
The race had 216 registered and 197 official finishers, which an average pace of 12:02 per mile.
See all of the results here.
Arbor Day 5K
Nathaniel Pierce of Huntsville won the Arbor Day 5K at the Huntsville Botanical Garden on April 26.
Pierce finished in 16:51 and won by more than a minute.
Haley Hernandez of Madison won the women’s title and was sixth overall. She finished in 22:22.
See all of the results here.
Rockin’ Choccolocco 50K
HEFLIN — Joe Ritchie of Vestavia Hills won the 13th annual Rockin’ Choccolocco 50K on April 26 by more than 10 minutes.
Ritchie finished in 5:18:23. Burt Lavender of Hokes Bluff was second in 5:28.
Aden St. Charles of Chattanooga was third in 5:32 and won the women’s title. Her time is fifth-best in event history.
Bryan Presley of Boaz was sixth in 5:48. Martin Schneekloth of Huntsville was 11th in 6:13.
Emili Crispi of Huntsville took third-place women’s honors and was 19th overall. She finished in 6:28.
Darby Calvin of Athens was the top area finisher in the half-marathon. She was 13th in 3:18.
Anna Gluszek of Huntsville was third in the 10K, in 1:23.
See all of the results here.
