HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – The Hoptown Half Marathon & 5K brought community members, families and dedicated runners together from around the region for the growing annual event by Hopkinsville Parks and Recreation.
Pumped up and ready from a live DJ on the chilly morning of Oct. 17, runners packed the starting line with families crowded in support to cheer them on. People of all ages participated, with young kids, high schoolers, adults and runners over the age of 70 all pushing themselves to complete the course.
The 5K run launched promptly at 8 a.m., with 19-year-old Tommy Gomez from Murray finishing first at 16 minutes and 27 seconds. Coming in second overall was 16-year-old Cayden Cline and 15-year-old Lucas Coats was third.
The Half Marathon course began at 8:20 a.m. through downtown Hopkinsville and scenic residential areas before returning to finish downtown on the Hopkinsville Greenway/Rail Trail and back to the Justice Center. The Half Marathon course also includes the unique quarter-mile Rail Trail bridge, the longest non-water bridge span in Kentucky.
First place runner Matthew Bartsch from Evansville, Indiana finished the half marathon while the 5K was still in progress, with an impressive time of 1 hour, 21 minutes and 54 seconds. Phil Shepard from Lousville came in soon after, followed by Bradley Henderson from Madison.
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