There was great weather and great participation Saturday morning for the Hoptown Half Marathon and 5K.
Hopkinsville Parks and Recreation Superintendent Tab Brockman says over 400 runners lined up for the races.
Kentaro Yamada, from Newburgh, Indiana was the top finisher in the half marathon with a time of 1:15:40 for an average mile pace of 5:46. Hopkinsville native Will Owen posted the top time in the 5K event with a 19:47 effort that averaged 6:22 per mile. The top female finisher in the half marathon was Ashley Brown, from Clay, who posted a 1:47:46. Clarksville’s Alexandra Peifer ran a 22:36 for top female honors in the 5K.
The race included a new “Ruck” division this year that challenges runners to take on either course with a minimum 20 extra pounds on their back for participants over 150 pounds, or 10 pounds minimum if the runner is under 150 pounds.
The overall winner in the Half Marathon Ruck Division was Savannah Crittenden from Southaven, Mississippi who ran the course with the extra weight in 2:00:41. The overall 5K Ruck Division champ was Jimmy Lancaster from Hopkinsville, who attacked the course in 33:54.
Individual medals were also presented for the top three male and female finishers in each five-year age increment.
Brockman also paid special tribute to special volunteer Korey Nunley, who announced this year as her last as race director.
Photo from Facebook