David Everts and Susanna Anz claimed top honors Saturday morning at the fifth annual Smoke Rise Half Marathon at Blevins Gap Nature Preserve.
Everts, 39, of Spring Hill, Tenn., topped the field in 2:29:23 for overall honors. He won by about eight minutes, a strong showing on a technical course.
Anz, 14, of Signal Mountain, Tenn., posted a super 2:39:17 to finish fourth and capture the women’s division title. She was just 19 seconds from an overall podium spot. Her time is seventh-best in the half marathon women’s Top 10. Milena Arthur, 48, was second (6th) in 2:39:59, putting her eighth on the T10 records list.
Runners in the half completed two loops of the course, with 27 official finishers. Runners in it and the 10K and 5K enjoyed an immediate climb to the top, runnable trails on the ridge, and heads-up descents from the radio tower and then a rocky ravine. They finish with a final climb to the parking lot and sprint to the finish line. The 10K runners make one loop, and the 5K crew has an abbreviated version. All get to enjoy some climbing, rocks, roots and other fun.
Smoke Rise 10K, 5K
Andres Manuel, 30, won the 10K race in 57:03 and Jake Wilson, 44, was second in 58:37.
Sandy Trail finished seventh and repeated as women’s champ with a record time. She crossed the line in 1:04:48, tops on the list just above her 2024 record time. Trail was about a minute faster than last year. Kristin Deaton, 44, was second (18th) in 1:11:52 and now is ninth on the T10 records list.
Mark Wells, 37, won the 5K title with a 25:43 finish, second-best on the records list. He was second last year, battling to the finish, and won this year by about two minutes. Kyler Morris, 15, was second in 27:44.
Adalynn Tapscott, 17, won the women’s division in 34:53 and was fifth overall. Amy Mangrum, 36, was clipping her heels, pushing to the line to finish second in 34:59.
See the half marathon results here, 10K results here and 5K results here.
The Blevins Gap preserve is located between Jones Valley and Hampton Cove, part of the Land Trust of North Alabama. It has 1,127 acres spanning both sides of Cecil Ashburn Drive. Runners in the Smoke Rise events were on the south side, which has about 730 acres, more than eight miles of connected trails and cool views.
The Smoke Rise trail runs are put on by Running Lane Events.
