Woodstock 5K to Host RRCA National Championship

July 27, 2023

Over 900 runners from 11 states are set to run on August 5 in Anniston, AL

/ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) has chosen a local road race in Anniston, Alabama, as its National 5K Championship event this year. The Woodstock 5K will take place on August 5, 2023.

The Woodstock 5K, held annually at Anniston High School along Woodstock Avenue, is in its 42nd year and is hosting the RRCA’s 5K national championship for the first time since 2018, and the sixth time overall in the race’s history. The race is organized by the Anniston Runners Club, a local non-profit organization, and all proceeds go towards benefitting the communities of northeast Alabama. Local schools, organizations, and the Arc of Calhoun & Cleburne Counties all receive profits of the Woodstock 5K.

As of July 25, over 900 runners from 11 different U.S. states, as well as Kenya, are coming to Anniston, Alabama, for the Woodstock 5K, surpassing last year’s numbers. Local runners make up most of the race’s entrants, but there are also many elite runners participating in the Woodstock 5K, some of whom are returning from last year, all of whom have a potential to break the course record. This includes the previous two winners of the race, William Brown and Ethan Mines, as well as many runners from the Cahaba Distance Project and Alabama Kenyan Runners. Other elites participating include Noah George, who placed third last year, as well as Josh Whitehead, a Master Elite from Madison, and Ashley Walker from Montevallo’s cross-country team.

The first place winners (male and female) of the Woodstock 5K will receive a $500 reward; if the course record is broken in doing so, the reward is increased to $1000. Other cash prizes are also given for second and third place overall males and females, as well as master, grandmaster, and senior grandmaster winners. Patrick Cheptoek holds the male record with a time of 14:13, while Risper Gesabwa holds the female record with 16:06, both of which were set in 2012.

“We are honored this year to be hosting the RRCA National 5K Championship. It’s been a few years, and we are excited to be bringing it back to the city of Anniston. We thank the community and our sponsors for all the support that they have given,” said Hayley Long, 2022-2023 race director. RRCA CEO Jean Knaack will be attending the race, alongside other RRCA regional and state representatives.

The Woodstock 5K comes to Anniston on August 5, 2023. The price of entry is $35. The race starts at 7:30 A.M. For more information about the race, follow Woodstock5k on Facebook and visit the Anniston Runners Club website at http://www.annistonrunners.com/. The event also has its own official podcast, “Woodstock 5K – The Bird’s Word,” on Spotify.

About the RRCA: The Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) is the oldest and largest national association of running organizations and runners dedicated to growing the sport since 1958. The RRCA champions the development of community-based running clubs and events that serve runners of all ages and abilities in pursuit of health and competition. The RRCA’s vision is to see an organized running club established in every community in the U.S. To learn more, visit: www.RRCA.org

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CONTACT:

Andy Smith, RRCA Programs Coordinator

703-525-3890

programs@rrca.org