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HUNTSVILLE, AL -
The shotgun fired, and thousands of pairs of feet hit downtown Huntsville streets Memorial Day morning to the sounds of "Start Me Up" by the Rolling Stones.
The rain held off for Huntsville's 30th Annual Cotton Row Run, but the air was muggy as runners pounded the pavement toward the finish line.
"Oh man, that hill is rough," said David Riddle, of Huntsville. "And the weather too. It's humid today, it may not feel that warm to most people, but it's really humid out there, and the leaders really took it out fast this year, so it was a tough one."
Riddle, 27, was the top local finisher, a title he's held for the last five years. He finished 11th overall. Ernest Kebenei of Las Cruces, New Mexico won the 10K, finishing in 29 minutes and 19 seconds.
Check the 2009 Results here.
Janet Cherobon of Rome, Georgia was the top women's finisher. Originally from Kenya, Cherobon now lives in Rome, Georgia. This is her third Cotton Row Run.
"Seems you get the hill just right in the middle, you know? I don't know what to say... it's downhill the last half of it, so that helps a little bit, you know, when you get over the hill, you know you are there," said Cherobon.
Cherobon says she loves the support from the crowd.
"Oh, it's lovely, that's why I keep coming back," Cherobon said. "I did a marathon last weekend on Sunday, and I couldn't pass this one up, because of the crowd."
Cherobon finished 21st overall, with a time of 34 minutes, 35 seconds.
Emily Hardin of Madison was the top local female finisher, coming in at 36 minutes, 58 seconds -- placing her 36th overall.
"Coming over the finish line, you're exhausted and sweaty, but the crowd's great - there's alot of energy, alot of support," Hardin said.
Lucas Sieb, 16, of Scottsboro, recently won a state championship for the 3200 meter run. He says Monday's Cotton Row Run was unforgettable, running with athletes from all over the world.
"It's pretty fun, it's a hard course, but it's worth it to come here for the competition and everything, because you have runners from Kenya, Ethiopia, and Russia coming here," Sieb said. "It kind of makes you better to run with these people from the other countries, who train in their extreme conditions of like heat, elevation and everything."
Claudis Hawkins drove in from Rainbow City to run. He is 91 years old and served in World War II. Hawkins told WHNT NEWS 19 how he stays in shape.
"I just run two or three days a week -- go to dance on Friday night and Saturday night," Hawkins said.
The rain held off for Huntsville's 30th Annual Cotton Row Run, but the air was muggy as runners pounded the pavement toward the finish line.
"Oh man, that hill is rough," said David Riddle, of Huntsville. "And the weather too. It's humid today, it may not feel that warm to most people, but it's really humid out there, and the leaders really took it out fast this year, so it was a tough one."
Riddle, 27, was the top local finisher, a title he's held for the last five years. He finished 11th overall. Ernest Kebenei of Las Cruces, New Mexico won the 10K, finishing in 29 minutes and 19 seconds.
Check the 2009 Results here.
Janet Cherobon of Rome, Georgia was the top women's finisher. Originally from Kenya, Cherobon now lives in Rome, Georgia. This is her third Cotton Row Run.
"Seems you get the hill just right in the middle, you know? I don't know what to say... it's downhill the last half of it, so that helps a little bit, you know, when you get over the hill, you know you are there," said Cherobon.
Cherobon says she loves the support from the crowd.
"Oh, it's lovely, that's why I keep coming back," Cherobon said. "I did a marathon last weekend on Sunday, and I couldn't pass this one up, because of the crowd."
Cherobon finished 21st overall, with a time of 34 minutes, 35 seconds.
Emily Hardin of Madison was the top local female finisher, coming in at 36 minutes, 58 seconds -- placing her 36th overall.
"Coming over the finish line, you're exhausted and sweaty, but the crowd's great - there's alot of energy, alot of support," Hardin said.
Lucas Sieb, 16, of Scottsboro, recently won a state championship for the 3200 meter run. He says Monday's Cotton Row Run was unforgettable, running with athletes from all over the world.
"It's pretty fun, it's a hard course, but it's worth it to come here for the competition and everything, because you have runners from Kenya, Ethiopia, and Russia coming here," Sieb said. "It kind of makes you better to run with these people from the other countries, who train in their extreme conditions of like heat, elevation and everything."
Claudis Hawkins drove in from Rainbow City to run. He is 91 years old and served in World War II. Hawkins told WHNT NEWS 19 how he stays in shape.
"I just run two or three days a week -- go to dance on Friday night and Saturday night," Hawkins said.
