Record turnout makes run into history books
DECATUR — The day began on Saturday with a beautiful sunrise that greeted one of the largest turnouts for any single event except the concerts in barbecue history. The 68th Decatur Barbecue kicked off with the 5K/ Fun Run which started in the parking lot at the Edmiston Ball Park concession stand in Decatur.
This year’s event was put on and sponsored by Thrive Athletics from Bentonville.
The lineup for the Fun Run started at the Frisbee Golf Course parking lot at 7:30 a.m. About 20 youths and adults gathered at the start line for the onemile course around the Veterans Park Walking Trail.
“Runners, take your mark,” said Ladale Clayton, event coordinator. “GO!”
Most of the runners sped away from the start line. But a few were there to enjoy a casual walk around the nearly onemile course.
Ten minutes later, the first two kids crossed the finish line for first and second place. Within ten minutes, the 2022 Fun Run was over. Now it was time to start the big race.
This 5K was just a little different this year. The race originated in the same place that has served as the starting line for this event over the past several years. At least 30 runners from Arkansas, eastern Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri took their marks. By far the largest contingent of runners came from the Gravette Cross Country team and Coach Jana Hardgrave who helped Clayton with this event.
The course was a little tricky, so Clayton was in a four-wheeler to lead the racers around the course.
Once the race was on, the runners turned left onto Austin Street, then right on Arkansas Highway 102. The group maneuvered around the old Simmons processing plant, eventually circling Old City Park (the original venue of the barbecue). From there, the runners backtracked over part of the same route and reentered Veterans Park where they made a complete circuit of the walking trail and crossed the finish line near the Frisbee Golf Course hole number two.
Thirty minutes later, the largest turnout in 5K/Fun Run history concluded with an awards ceremony at the concession stand at Edmiston Park. The 68th Decatur Barbecue was off and running.
Winners of the 5K and Fun Run included:
Overall — 1 Mikey, 2 Gretchen, 3 Breightyn.
Men’s Division — 1 Will Pittman, 2 Even Owens, 3 Ted Kedrowski.
High School Girls — 1 Julia, 2 Anna, 3 Litzy.
High School Boys — 1 Nick, 2 Gabe, 3 Isaac.