Annual Watermelon Festival 5K big hit
HOPE, Ark. — There were a few surprises among the 482 runners and walkers that competed in the 48th annual Watermelon Festival 5K race Saturday morning.
One surprise was 15-yearold Brendal Brunet, who was the overall female winner, and the other was 75-year-old Steve Hughes as he crossed the finish line in his hand cycle.
But, the overall top three went to runners in their early 20’s.
Thomas Cain, 24, was the overall winner of the 3.1-mile race with a time of 15.44. Not far behind were Sam Morales 20, 16.00, and Avery Bryant, 24, 16.11.
Cain, originally from Yuma, Arizona, is a recent graduate from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas.
While at UCA, he received three Master degrees during his six years.
Cain’s best time for a 5K was a 14.34 in Gainesville, Florida, in February 2024.
Morales of Benton, Arkansas, is a junior majoring in biology. He and Cain have been training together recently. Bryant is a gradute of Virginia Tech University, and lives in Little Rock.
Brunet will be a sophomore at Lakeside High School in Hot Springs, Ark. She has been a regular participant in this race since 9 years old. Her best time was a 19.30 earlier this year.
Brunet would someday like to do a marathon, but would wait until in her 20’s. In the meantime, she will probably win several more 5K races.
Runnerup in the female division was Madeline Fiesher, 29, in 20.22, and third went to Lennon Bates, 34, 20.30.
The 75-year-old Hughes of Little Rock has been competing the last five years with a spin cycle after receiving an injury. He finished in a time of 18.50.
Before that he was a long-distance runner having participating in many marathons. He claims to have competed in about 400 marathons.
In addition to the overall winners, runners competed in numerous age-division categories.