Emma Hardman and Josh Whitehead won in record-setting style Sunday in the UAH Spring 8K Road Race on the University of Alabama-Huntsville campus.
The two runners blew away the field and Alabama 8K age group records that stood for more than 30 years. The course began in front of the UAH Fitness Center and finished in front of the Sigma Nu fraternity house. Runners made the final stretch uphill to the finish line. Many earned cheers from six or seven hearty Sigma Nu members reclining on their front patio.
Hardman, 27, of Huntsville, finished fourth overall and was the female champ in 29:06. That smashed by 45 seconds the 8K age record set in 1991 by Mary Comeaux of Daphne.
Whitehead, 45, of Madison, took off at the start in his usual style and hit a 5:17 pace to finish in 26:12. That crushed the record — by 37 seconds — set in 1990 by Don Wright of Mobile.
The annual spring race is put on by the Huntsville Track Club. This year saw 233 finishers ranging from ages 5 to 81 on a gloriously beautiful afternoon. And if you’re curious, 8K is about 4.97 miles.
The annual event is fast and usually has a handful of age records set, including in 2023 by Kathy Harper and John Glidewell. Both obliterated their age group records by minutes.
See all the UAH Spring 8K results here and the age group results here.
Watch the start of the race here:
