It’s been a great year for local athletes shining in events large and small, as our list of the TVO Top 10 Stories of 2024 will illustrate.
Whether it’s a summer trail run with humidity, heat and rattlesnakes (maybe!) or a chilly winter road event, the local scene is bumping. Biking, running, swimming, walking and volunteering … it all helps to make a difference for someone.
These are the most-read stories from 2024. We hope you enjoy them.
10. Nunez, Glass Win Slam
Dylan Glass and Perla Nùñez claimed their first Huntsville Slam titles, completing three trail 50Ks and the Rocket City Marathon in just 71 days. Read the story
9. Freedom 5K
With the tiny cannon boom that evoked freedom’s repulse of dirty British aggressors 245 years ago, more than 740 runners took off July 4 with smiles and cheers in the Freedom 5K. With hot dogs and cold sodas awaiting, Bryce McCleary, 17, of Meridanville, took top honors with his speedy time of 15:36. Rose Betts, 17, of Somerville, grabbed top honors in the women’s division in 18:10. She was 11th overall. Read the story
8. Stoneking Sets Walking Tall Record
A stunning morning fueled runners in the Walking Tall 50K at Big Hill Pond in Pocahontas, Tenn., with Hannah Stoneking smashing the women’s record by almost five minutes. James Ebert of Huntsville finished second in the 50K. Read the story
7. Taylor wins Rocket City Marathon
Andrew Taylor won the 48th Rocket City Marathon on Dec. 15, holding off a surging Joshua Moore in the final miles to win his second marathon this year. Taylor, a 24-year-old from Hilliard, Ohio, finished in 2:28:10. Moore, 33, of Hattiesburg, Miss., crossed in 2:28:37. Moore closed a gap of 2:01 to less than 30 seconds in the final four miles of the race. Read the story
6. Chupacabra Results: Bustos Busts Out
Andrew Bustos of Huntsville held off Dylan Glass of Gurley in the second half of the summer Wild Thangs Chupacabra half-marathon at Monte Sano State Park. Read the story
5. Hoka’s New Speedgoat
Hoka tweaked its popular Speedgoat trail shoe for a midsummer 2024 introduction, and they hit all the right notes for this dirt-loving icon. Read the story
4. Hardman Wins Rocket City Marathon
Experience and patience paid off for area favorite Emma Hardman, who won the women’s division of the 48th Rocket City Marathon on Dec. 15 in Huntsville. Hardman, 28, of Huntsville, gained confidence over each step of the last half of the race to notch her first RCM win. She was third in 2023. Hardman is the first area woman to win the race since 2018. Read the story
3. Habanero Beef Jerky
Jerky is a great snack and is easy to make at home. TVO co-founder Chad Gay wrote this story almost three years ago and it’s still a reader favorite. Read the story
2. Pill Hill 10K is Back
The reboot or sequel is rarely better than the original, right? Saturday morning’s full-fledged return of the legendary Pill Hill 10K presented by Window World blew that notion out of the water. Read the story
1. Sloppy Mountain Mist 50K
For the first time in 30 years, the annual Mountain Mist 50K lived up to its name on a rainy, foggy Saturday morning at Monte Sano State Park. Jeffrey Stern of Mill Valley, Calif., and Deanna Doane of Jacksonville Beach, Fla., weren’t phased. Both claimed their first Mountain Mist titles. Read the story
MAIN PHOTO: Deanna Doane of Florida crosses the finish line at the sloppy 30th annual Mountain Mist 50K in January 2024 at Monte Sano State Park.
