 James Quattlebaum winning the 10K. photo: Stephen Moore The forecasted thunderstorm passed over Greenville between 5:00 am and 6:45 am on Saturday morning as the race staff worked in the rain to set up and prepare for the 45th running of this historic race. Race officials closely monitored the unfavorable conditions with consideration of delaying the start of the 10K. However, the thunder and lightning subsided and by 6:45 am it was a "GO" decision. Once the starter's horn sounded, three-time defending champion James Quattlebaum and twice-runnerup Jason Weitzel (Greenville Track Club-ELITE) bolted to the lead as the runners ran up S. Main Street. Those two passed the first mile in a quick 4:39 and were at 9:17 at two miles. They passed 5K in 14:30 after entering Cleveland Park. Quattlebaum, who is ranked number one in the South Carolina Road Race Rankings, gradually gapped Weitzel ( who is ranked second) as they wound their way through the roads, paved paths and foot bridges in the park. James became the only four-time winner of this event, now in its fifth decade. His winning time of 29:22 was only two seconds off his course record of 29:20, set last year. Weitzel ran alone to finish second once again, this time in 30:15. He was followed by Ricky Flynn (31:27), who placed third for the third consecutive year.  Women's winner Joanna Stephens. photo: Stephen Moore The women's race saw a new winner as the Atlanta Track Club Elite's Joanna Stephens ran 35:31 to best Simpsonville's Alyssa Bloomquist's 36:07. Greenville's Shelby Jaramillo replicated her third place finish from last year, with a 37:19 time. Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Mackenzie Lowe was fourth in 37:22 and defending champion Victoria Hammersmith was fifth with a time of 38:23. This year's event had just under 2,000 registrations (1987) between the signature 10K and the accompanying 5K. Due to the threatening weather conditions at 5:00 am, many of those decided not to participate resulting in a total of 1436 finishers. The 5K was won by Pablo Lozano of Simpsonville with a time of 18:57 and the women's winner was Greenville's Olivia Esselman in 20:01. Race results are available at: RACE RESULTS. Our 46th edition of the United Community Bank Reedy River Run is scheduled for April 20, 2024.
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45th Edition / april 22, 2023
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