ORANGE PARK - Nearly 800 runners attended the Grace Episcopal Day School's annual Superhero 5K/8K and one mile fun run on Saturday and the day was filled with colorful costumes and fairly fast times with the likes of Spiderman and Superman, plus the Expendables taking top billing on the road to glory.
In the 8K race, a 4.97 mile jaunt around the school's Kingsley Avenue setting and River Road, it was two high schoolers, Suwannee High's Logan Haley, a state cross country athlete as a freshman last year, and Fleming Island's Ryder Muyres taking an early lead to go first and second; 29:06 and 31:11, as Haley took out from the start to win the race. In third was John Webb, 54, in 31:26.
For the women, Maddie Guevera, 30, won with a ninth overall finish and a 35:13 split ahead of Liv Ade, 27, who was 14th in 37:32. Third went to St. Johns Country Day School runner Kate Staten, 13, in 18th at 38:20.
For the 5K race, 3.1 miles, Richard Sollee, 24, won in 18:22 in front of Pornchai Chantha, 27, in 19:55 with David Morales, 36, third in 20:55.
For the women, Varinka Barbina Ensminger, 44, overtook former Fleming Island cross country standout Mei Chiang, 20, with a 21:01 to 21:24 gap. Orange Park's Britta Fortson, 52, was third at 22:47.
Area runners will start to prepare for the 48th annual Gate River Run 15K championship race on Saturday, March 1 starting in downtown Jacksonville. According to River Run race director Doug Alred of 1st Place Sports, the Gate River Run 15K in 2025 will feature an international field as the race is the season opening race for the Professional Road Running Organization (PRRO) Circuit, as one of America's Classic Road Race.
The Gate River Run 15K has been the USATF 15K American championship race since 1994 and now will be part of a world class field open to both U.S. and international athletes.
According to the Gate River Run website, United State runners will still be able to earn prize money in the Open race as well as specific "American Cup" prize money for U.S. athletes.
U.S. athletes that finish in the top 10 of the Open race will also have the opportunity to Double Dip and receive prize money from both the Open race and the American Cup prize pool.
The Gate River Run will also offer the traditional Equalizer Bonus plus bonuses for any 15K course records.