GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. —After taming one north Alabama’s toughest courses, the winners of the RunningLane Eagle Ridge half-marathon and 5K found themselves battling to the wire Saturday morning.
Twelve-year-old Charlie Lehr of Huntsville, winner of the Oak Park Challenge in Janary, clipped Carlos Perez, 19, of Blountsville by a hair for the 5K title. Lehr won in 28:42, with Perez posting a 28:43 for second.
All events were held at Lake Guntersville State Park. Runners started at the park lodge and made their way through a variety of trails that included scenic and lake views. This was the sixth year Running Lane has put on the events, which may now become the traditional trail season kickoff with the end of the Tick Ridge Trek.
Lehr is a rising force in the trail community. He was second in the 4-mile Frozen Goat in January and third in in the Wade Mountain 10K last fall. Lehr also finished third in the 2022 Eagle Ridge half in 2:03.
Maria Copeland of Grant claimed the women’s 5K title in 34:36. She was 11th overall. Zuzu Dillard, 12, of Pinson, was second (12th) in 35:03.
See all the results of the 5K here.
The half-marathon was close, as well, in the men’s and women’s events. Beau Beard of Chelsea won the men’s title in 1:56:03. Anthony Kosinski of Madison was second in 1:56:50. The half finishes with a trek through some severe rocky terrain before heading uphill and leveling off near the finish. Skyler Ledwell of Scottsboro was third in 1:58:38.
Brooke Seigle of Springfield, Tenn., won the women’s half title in 2:28:06 and was 18th overall. Jenn Hannah of Birmingham was second (19th) in 2:28:09.
See all the results of the half-marathon here.
Eagle Ridge 50K
Tilman Bertram of Tuscaloosa easily won the men’s 50K title by 11 minutes, in a time of 5:03.
Nate Ardanowski of Richmond, Va., was second in 5:14:53. Tristan Potter of Arab was third in 5:16.
Mary Gerth of Acworth, Ga., gave the overall podium a run but fell just short in fourth overall. She handily won the women’s title in 5:18, with Amelia Harrison of New Market in second (14th overall) in 6:50.
Twenty-five runners from six states including Minnesota finished the 50K. See all the 50K results here.
