Josh Whitehead won the 2022 Pill Hill 10K in a smooth 36:25 on a muggy Saturday morning, and $14,000 was raised for the Huntsville Police Department Citizens Foundation Fund.
The Pill Hill 10K returned to the Rocket City after a 19-year hiatus. Race director Kelly Clary worked on its return for more than two years. He worked with Huntsville Police about the best dates and routes out of four he mapped, and navigated all the pandemic situation and other running events. The event was, back in the day, and still is now, one of the toughest 10Ks around.
More than 70 runners participated. Whitehead, 43, was the only runner to crack 40 minutes, and only seven others bested 50 minutes. The new route included some of the streets from the original Pill Hill route, but took a way a couple and added some new ones. Runners didn’t have to be on Drake Avenue or Garth Road as long as on the old route. Huntsville Police were at each turn to stop traffic and help runners.
Wright McManus, 16, was second in 42:25, and Andy Ladner, 31, was third in 42:52.
Megan Allen, 38, won the women’s title in 51:50 and finished 13th overall. Chia-Chi Kuo, 46, was second female in 54:23 (17th overall), and Anna David, 55, was third in 55:18 (22nd overall).
Harper Guasti was the youngest participant at age 12. He finished 53rd, in a time of 1:09.
Graham Gallemore was the oldest, at age 79. He finished in 1:44, continuing his string of Pill Hill finishes from two decades ago.
“Still have the t-shirts, somewhere in plastic bins at home,” Gallemore said.
Pill Hill 10K Donation
Krispy Kreme donuts and pasta from Nothing But Noodles awaited runners at the Greenwyche Pool finish area. Clary made his check presentation to the HPD Citizens Foundation Fund prior to the start. He hopes to raise $500,000 for the fund in the coming years. The fund supports families of fallen officers, officers in need of medical or mental health issues, and the HPD Memorial. The goal of the Pill Hill 10K is to raise community awareness of the issues officers face on a daily basis in the line of duty and impacts on their mental health.
See all of the results of the 2022 Pill Hill 10K here.
TOP PHOTO — Pill Hill 10K race director Kelly Clary and 2022 winner Josh Whitehead. (Photo: Alan Clemons)
