Grattan O’Neill and Emma Hardman won the Rudolph Run 5K on a chilly but festive Saturday morning in downtown Huntsville.
Perhaps more cool than those top dashers, though, is the Alabama record set by 83-year-old Ray Fanning. He crushed the 5K in 29:43 to put his name in the record books.
O’Neill, 15, of Huntsville, claimed the overall title in 16:44 and won by 16 seconds over Kevin Betts, 45, of Lacey’s Spring. Paul Richardson, 27, of Huntsville, was third in 17:06.
Hardman, 26, of Huntsville, cruised to the women’s title in 17:57. She was fifth overall.
Kara Nix Rummel, 23, of Mobile, was second (12th overall) in 19:37, and Rose Betts, 14, of Lacey’s Spring, was third (15th) in 20:08.
The event started at Constitution Village in Huntsville, with 535 finishers. Proceeds benefit the Blount Hospitality House, which is a home away from home for patients and/or their families in Huntsville seeking medical care. The organization offers convenient, affordable housing to Huntsville Hospital and other area treatment centers. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
The Rudolph Run is one of the area favorites and among the many December holiday runs throughout the Tennessee Valley. Runners weaved through downtown around the courthouse, over into the northern part of Five Points and back into downtown to the finish. Temperatures were about 39 degrees at the start. Santa Claus was on hand for photos, and many runners were decked out in costumes and festive gear.
The race was facilitated by Huntsville Track Club.
See all of the final results of the Blount Hospitality House 2022 Rudolph Run 5K here.
Click here to see the specific age-group Top 3 finishers.
