Zach Mitarotonda and Alana Scarano zoomed to wins in the UAH 8K Spring Road Race held on the University of Alabama Huntsville campus Sunday afternoon.
The unique 2 p.m. start gives runners a clear course on the UAH campus, which offers a smige of incline and uber-running fun. It’s put on by the Huntsville Track Club and benefits the Huntsville Dialysis Center. A donation from proceeds is made in remembrance of long time HTC member Earl Jacoby.
It’s a popular race for several reasons, one being the certified course and unique distance. It’s about five miles — technically, 4.97097 — and tucks into the Alabama running records among its 21 categories. No records were set this year, according to official race timer Carl Smith.
Mitarotonda, 23, of Ashburn, Va., smoked the course to take overall honors. He finished in 27:39, sixth best in the race’s history. The course changed last year, one of a handful of routes since its inception in 1972. Josh Whitehead of Madison holds the course record, 25:41, set in 2015. Hunter Nails is second with a 26:06 from 2022.
Scarano, 32, of Huntsville, posted the second-fastest women’s time with her 30:50 finish. That was good enough for third place, as well. Emma Hardman of Huntsville holds the course record with her 29:06, in 2024.
Carson Miller, 37, of Madison, was second in 29:29.
Cynthia Mitchell, 48, of Athens, won Women’s Masters honors with her finish of 38:09. She was 26th overall. Kendall Dock, 42, of New Market, won Men’s Masters with his 34:03. He was seventh overall.
Race History
Some background from track club founding member Harold Tinsley, from his “History of Huntsville Track Club Races” updated through 2017. Tommy Morris is the current race director.
This race began in 1972 under the direction of Tom Bolt. It started as the Research Park Spring 2 & 6 Mile Road Races even though it was held on the UAH campus on a course similar to the course used the next year. The race name changed to UAH Spring 2 & 6 Mile Road Races in 1973. It became the UAH Spring 10K Road Race in 1984. The race was canceled in 2007 due to weather.
The course and distance changed in 2015 to the current 8K distance. This race is currently free to HTC members. The original start/finish was at Morton Hall, one of the few buildings on campus at that time. It moved to Spragins Hall when it was built (in 1978) and later moved to the University Fitness Center.
See the overall results here, age group results here, and a super array of photos by Sayuri Beltran here.
