Locals make strong showing in grueling trail race
Local athletes figured prominently in the top places for the Naturalist Epic 25K/50K race held Oct. 8, a grueling undertaking that routed athletes through downtown Franklin and along the Bartram Trail for a total 7,000 feet of climbing in the 25K race and 10,500 feet of climbing in the 50K race.
While Chattanooga resident Daniel Hamilton, 28, took first place in the 50K with a time of 4:50:49, Franklin resident Canyon Woodward, 23, took second with 5:45:01 and Cherokee resident Seth Holling, 36, took third with 5:59:41. Chad Hallyburton, 47, of Cullowhee, took sixth place; Jeffrey Vickery, 49, of Cullowhee, took seventh; William Meyers, 38, of Franklin, took eighth; Thomas Howell, 46, of Waynesville, took ninth and Chelsea Zacher, 23, of Lake Junaluska, took tenth. The field included 28 people from North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia.
The 25K drew 38 competitors from six states, and Otto resident Charlie Ledford, 32, took first place with 2:24:58. James Oocumma, 42, of Cherokee, took fourth, and Chad Cooper, 44, of Cherokee took seventh.
