A Wise Central senior set the pace. A 78-year-old runner kept a cherished tradition going.
Nathan Wallin finished first in 16 minutes, 39 seconds, while Curtis Akard completed his 19th appearance in the event as 51 runners competed in the 26th annual Kiwanis/TruPoint Bank 5K on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Breaks Interstate Park.
The morning began with a chill as runners gathered near Shelter 3 by the pool area for the 10 a.m. start. Temperatures climbed as the day went on, but the park’s scenic surroundings came with a challenge: a demanding course that made competitors earn their finish.
“It’s a hard course. A very, very hard course,” said co-race organizer Jon Rife of Rife’s Furniture. Rife, together with Rickey Owens and Amanda Matney, coordinated the event.
Wallin, a senior at Wise Central, handled that challenge better than anyone and won the overall male title. Asked how it felt to win, he offered a brief answer.
“Pretty good,” Wallin said.
The cool weather did little to slow him.
“Nah, I felt good,” he said when asked whether the cold bothered him.
For Akard, the oldest competitor, Saturday’s race was another chapter in a running career that began in 1978.
The Blountville, Tennessee, constable won the male grandmaster division in 36 minutes, 32 seconds. More remarkable than his finishing time was the number of races that brought him to that moment.
“In fact, this is my 1,071st road race in my career,” Akard said.
His racing history includes five marathons in the 1980s, including the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington and races in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Huntsville, Alabama.
Akard had planned to run elsewhere before learning when this year’s Breaks race would be held. He changed his plans to return to the park.
“I said, I can’t miss my 19th year at the Breaks,” he said.
Fletcher captured the overall female title in 21:09. Billy Mullins won the male masters division in 22:48, and Jessica Horn took the female masters title in 31:22.
Wise Central brought full boys and girls teams for the cross country team competition and received $150 for each team. Southern Gap had boys and girls participating, while Mountain Mission School fielded male runners.
Southern Gap sophomore Bentley Jackson, Wyatt Street and Kyler Lester finished just seconds apart. Jackson completed the course in 18:59, Street followed in 19:05, and Lester finished in 19:14.
Jackson and Street placed second and third in the male 15-19 division behind Ty Arney, who ran 17:43. Fionna Niece (21:50) won the female 15-19 division, followed by Rheagan Sullivan (22:24) and Veronika Silis (23:38).
Molly Taylor (25:03) won the female 14-and-under division, with Sarah Sturgill (26:05) second. Ezra Addis (22:57) and Daniel Mills placed second and third in the male 14-and-under division. Issac Hood (23:57) won the male 25-29 division, and Josh Horn (29:35) took first among men ages 40-44.
Younger competitors took their turn when the middle school races began at 10:30 a.m.
Wesley Tanudjaya won the boys’ fifth and sixth grade division, followed by Easton Stevens and Evan Mullins. Abby Jude finished first in the girls division, ahead of Mary Shelton and Ahleah Daniels.
Eddie Stiltner led the boys’ seventh- and eighth-grade division, with Wilson Tanudjaya second and Peyton Tramell third. Angela Lin won the girls division, followed by Emily Layne and Makailyn Hurley.
After the races, runners, coaches, volunteers and others attending enjoyed a pancake and sausage breakfast prepared by Barbara Rife and Pat Clayburne before gathering for the awards ceremony. Buchanan General Hospital supplied the breakfast ingredients.
The meal was a welcome reward after a morning on the course. When Rife asked whether everyone had enjoyed the pancake breakfast, the crowd responded with an enthusiastic “Yeah!”
Rife also asked runners to recognize the coaches and relatives whose time and encouragement help get them to the starting line.
“And I want you runners to give a round of applause for all those coaches that help you,” he said.
Volunteers from Appalachian School of Law, Appalachian College of Pharmacy, Key Club and Kiwanis helped make the event possible. With runners spread across the course, Rife said their presence was especially valuable.
“This course is so stretched out that if we don’t have people on the course, it’s really tough,” he said.
Park Superintendent Austin Bradley and Ranger Terry Owens helped prepare and mark the course.
The Kiwanis Club of Grundy recognized sponsors Food City, SunCoke Energy, Legacy Bank, Buchanan County Parks and Recreation, Buchanan General Hospital, The Virginia Mountaineer and Rife’s TV.
