Malia Gill and Josh Whitehead swept top honors in the Winter Winds 2- and 4-mile races Sunday afternoon, with Whitehead setting state age records in both.
Whitehead, 45, of Madison, finished the 2-mile race in 10:07 and 4-miler in 21:21 to establish the Alabama 45-year-old men’s records. Don Wright of Mobile had the previous 2-mile record of 10:19 for 33 years, setting it in August 1990. Whitehead’s 4-mile record eclipsed the one set in February 2023 by Kevin Betts of Lacey Spring (23:22) in the Winter Winds race.
“It’s great to come to Winter Winds because there aren’t many 2- and 4- mile races like this, especially on a certified course,” Whitehead said. “It’s a good course, a bit challenging, and fun. Today was a good day to run.”
Gill, 26, of Madison, claimed the women’s titles in both races. She won the 2-mile in 12:10 (10th overall) and 4-mile in 26:14 (8th overall).
Betts, 46, won the Male Masters title in 23:09 for the 4-mile. Perla Nunez, 42, of Huntsville, won the Women’s Masters 4-mile title in 31:55.
Betts and Nunez also won the 2-mile Masters honors. Betts finished in 10:53 (6th overall) and Nunez finished in 15:21 (55th overall).
Huntsville Track Club put on the race, with sponsorship from Fleet Feet, Huntsville Police Department, Huntsville Parks & Recreation, and HEMSI. Winter Winds was the first race Fleet Feet sponsored 20 years ago.
The event was based at the Sandra Moon Community Center in south Huntsville.
State Records
A handful of Alabama age group records were set in both races. We will update with any new ones other than these:
2-MILE
— Jean McCrady, 90, Brownsboro, 30:13
— Brooklyn Wood, 6, Hazel Green, 15:32
— Logan Wood, 8, Hazel Green, 12:18
— Josh Whitehead, 10:07, 45-year-old
— Lowell Smalligan, 89, Huntsville, 32:04
— Frances Allan, 2, Huntsville, 38:40
4-MILE
— Jay Hillis, 64, Florence, 26:40
— Brooklyn Wood, 6, Hazel Green, 35:47
— Josh Whitehead, 45, Huntsville, 21:21
See all of the results of the 2- and 4-mile Winter Winds races here.
