Adam Taylor of Huntsville zipped along the Galaxy of Lights 5K course at the Huntsville Botanical Garden in a time of 17:19 to take the win.
Taylor, 17, averaged 5:35 per mile along the route, which offers a variety of delightful Christmas lights. Keaton Schrorer, 15, of Huntsville, was second in 18:09 and Matthew Fletcher, 24, of Huntsville was third in 18:32.
Grace Gosline, 18, of Arab, was the women’s winner (11th overall) in 20:03. Alissa Fisher, 31, of Huntsville, was second (20th) in 20:43 and Kylie Gero, 16, of Madison, was third (23rd) in 20:55.
The Galaxy of Lights 3K fun run was canceled due to severe weather Tuesday night.
The event, held Monday night, saw 1,061 finishers on the course and kicked off the holiday run season. Runners primiarly were from Alabama, although a handful were from North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Hawaii and Delaware. The event was put on by the Huntsville Track Club.
See all the results of the Galaxy of Lights 5K here.
About the Botanical Garden
The Huntsville Botanical Garden was formed in 1979 with 14 people determined to create a public garden in the city. The Huntsville City Council gave the group 35 acres and three years to raise $200,000, which the city would match. After just six months of determined efforts to raise the money, the goal was met. In January 1983, the Society recommended to the city that the future Botanical Garden be established on property leased to the city from the Alabama Space Science Commission.
In 1985, leaders from the garden, city council and county commission met to formally plant the Southern Magnolia to officially christen the garden. From there more plans and development took place. Growth included 118 acres and an ambitious goal of $50 million in total implementation. Since then, in 1991, the garden has grown and thrived to become an important part of the area for all to enjoy.
