Along with the typical stew of July heat and wet-quilt humidity, Saturday evening’s field at the annual UAH Twilight 5K pondered the threat of a thunderstorm. Twenty or so minutes before the start at Spragins Hall, angry clouds formed to the west. Thunder rumbled. A flash or two of lightning opened a few eyes. Runners, family and friends waited to see what would happen.
The storm moved east, though, following the I-565 superspeedway. After the short delay, the field of 170 took off amid cheers. Youngsters jumped and jostled in anticipation of the 1-mile fun run. Up the Ben Graves Drive hill past Spragins, along toward Morton Hall, a joggle and jiggle, back onto Graves for the jaunt to the turnaround.
Athan O’Neill paced the field and took the win, in 18:02. The 16-year-old from Huntsville was smooth and in control. He was second in 2024, fifth in 2023 and 10th in 2022.
Nathaniel Pierce, 39, of Huntsville, was second in 18:21 and Josh Cornett, 31, of Madison, was third in 18:30.
Tay Cavett, 27, of Huntsville, claimed top women’s honors. She was sixth overall in 19:12.
Nina Sillivant, 31, of Huntsville, was second (12th overall) in 20:22. Bryana Wilson, 36, of Toney, was third (21st) in 22:15.
Kendall Dock, 41, of New Market, finished 11th and won Male Masters honors in 20:08. Catherine Toriello, 44, of Huntsville was the Women’s Masters winner in 24:07. She was 33rd overall.
The race was put on by the Huntsville Track Club with assistance from Running Lane.
