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Race begins 7:30 a.m. Sunday downtown

Special to the Gazette

Overall winners in the male and female divisions last year return to defend their titles in the 12th annual Run the Line half-marathon Sunday morning.

The race begins at 7:30 a.m. in downtown Texarkana, in front of the Bi-State Justice Building, and runs on both sides of the state line.

Tia Stone, 40, Searcy, Ark., will try to set a record with a fourth straight victory. Her winning time last year was 1:25.46 over the 13.1mile course.

Nathan Hall, 34, of Monroe, La., won the men’s title in 1:17.45.

Runners-up last year in both the male and female divisions are not expected to return.

As of Friday morning, there were 646 registered runners.

“We should set a record,” said race director Julie-Ray Harrison. “Our previous record was 656, and we usually have about 10-15 that register on the last day.”

Late registration is 6:15 a.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday.

Two-time winners of the two-person relay, Grant Jarvis and Tyler Braswell, have not registered to defend their title.

Hall’s challenger for the overall title likely will be Matt Cochran, 25, of San Antonio. Cochran was an outstanding area runner in high school.

Back again for his ninth straight year is 79-year-old Greg Bourns of Mena, Ark.

The field represents 14 states, with the farthest from Washington and Connecticut.

The race is a key fundraiser for Partnership for the Pathway, whose mission is to construct walking and bicycle trails around Texarkana.