When the horn sounded Saturday morning to start the David McKannan Memorial 5K, a handful of runners bolted from the line like rabbits scattering in front of a brace of beagles.
Amid the group was 66-year-old David Glidewell of Athens, who had a few more birthdays under his soles than the others. The field of 95 wound through Ditto Landing for a loop before briefly hitting the woods and then the Tennessee River Greenway along the river. After the turnaround the field repeated the greenway to the finish.
After the loop and on the way to the greenway, Glidewell could see the leaders. But at that point, he wasn’t among them — yet.
One by one, Glidewell overtook the front-runners until he was in the lead. His years of experience, patience and training along with a heck of a finish propelled him to the win. He crossed the line in 17:54, winning by one second over 31-year-old James Miller. Patrick Mills, 30, of Huntsville, was third in 18:03.
Glidewell is no stranger to the running world, by any stretch. He’s one of the most accomplished runners in Ohio history, at Ohio State University in the Big 10 and on the national scene in the early 1980s. He qualified for four Olympic Marathon Trials (1980, ’84, ’88 and ’92), Glidewell was second in the UAH Spring 8K Road Race, just 23 seconds off the win and the oldest finisher in the Top 25. He also was third in the Spooktacular 5K last October, missing an age group world record by three seconds.
Linda Scarvada, 39, of Madison, won the McKannan women’s title in 22:02. She was 16th overall. Melissa Miller, 32, was second (18th) in 22:19, and Perla Nunez, 41, of Huntsville, was third (25th) in 23:53.
The flat course was prime for fast times. Conditions were overcast and quite humid, but the rain held off until after the event ended. Huntsville Track Club facilitated the race, with assistance from Fleet Feet.
The run is held in memory of David McKannan, an avid runner, who died in 2012 after a long battle with ALS. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Proceeds from the race, along with donations, will be used to continue research.
See all the results of the David McKannan Memorial 5K here.
John Glidewell, 66, of Athens, heads to the woods and Tennessee River Greenway during the David
McKannan Memorial 5K at Ditto Landing on Saturday. Glidewell won by one second.
PHOTOS Courtesy of Melissa Hopper Fritz
