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It was a beautiful morning as 517 runners and walkers took off down Broad Street on a 13.1 mile race through both Cities of Texarkana.  Texas Mayor Pro Tem Bob Bruggeman and Arkansas Mayor Wayne Smith fired the starting guns at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 19th for the 5th annual Run the Line Half Marathon.

The race is a unique opportunity to run in one race in two states. The USA Track & Field certified course included Nix Creek Trail, Phillip McDougal Trail in Spring Lake Park and city streets with cars blocked off by cones.  The 3rd and Wood Street finish line included a post-race awards presentation at the historic Roy D. Hopkins Ice House.

The 517 participants included 31 two-person relay teams.  The runners ranged in age from 12 to 80 years.  Almost 350 of the runners came from out of the Texarkana area including runners from Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, and California.  All runners received t-shirts and finishing medals.  Awards were presented to the top three female and male finishers in Overall, Masters, Grand Masters, and Senior divisions.  Plus, the top three places for female and male runners in 5-year age increments.

The race attracted top-notch runners, especially from the Four States area.  The top three overall winners were Max Sawyer from Conway, AR winning first place at 1:15:56, second place was Kyle Clawson from Tyler, TX at 1:18:17, and third place went to Gordon Huff from Tyler, TX at 1:18:40. Texarkana’s own Stacey Sewell was the top female runner with a finish of 1:32:28 and Tiffany Gaulke, also from Texarkana, came in second place at 1:34:10. This was the third year for the race to be included in the prestigious Arkansas Grand Prix Series and the second year for the Arkansas vs. Texas Challenge. The Challenge was won by Arkansas.

The race was a collaborative effort that involved both Texarkana cities including their Police and Street Departments plus sponsors, volunteers at street intersections and water stations, Team Texarkana Running Club, Texarkana Bicycle Club, and Partnership for the Pathway.  The race proceeds benefit the Partnership for the Pathway.  The Partnership is a non-profit, all volunteer organization working to build a safe pedestrian and bicycle trail system in the Texarkana area.

Race results are available on the race results page.

The professional race photographer’s website is http://www.photofinish.zenfolio.com.