By Tim Gearhart

Special To The Tribune

 

RUSSELL, Ky. – Four generations of the Kuhner family made Saturday’s 40th running of the Kiwanis Run By The River a special day for all the participants.

In all, five members of the family completed the 5K portion of the race, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of East Greenup County, Ky. The family was led by Wayne Kuhner, who at 85, has participated in nearly all of the Run By The River races held over the last 40 years.

Joining him were his daughter, Deiadra Reel, 53, of Cape Coral, Fla., granddaughters Pamela Gust, 28, of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., and Sarah Browning, 30, of Lake Mary, Fla., and 2-year-old River Bowden, Pamela and Sarah’s nephew, who made the 3.1-mile trip in a stroller.

“This was very special for our family,” Gust said.

In regular competition, Parker Ball of Greenup and Haley Fielding of Ashland were the men’s and women’s 5K winners, while Alex Morris of Wheelersburg, Ohio, and A.J. Bryant of Huntington, W.Va., captured the top trophies in the 10K men’s and women’s races.

Ball, 17, a senior track member at Raceland High School, turned in a 5K time of 19:03. Runner-up was Kevin England, 27, of Kenner, La., with a time of 19:25.

Fielding, 13, had a time of 24:06 in the women’s 5K. She placed 16^th overall. Runner-up was Krista Miller, 31, of Huntington with a time of 24:30.

In the men’s 10K, Morris, 19, crossed the finish line with a time of 40:57. Runner-up was Shannon Slash, 40, of Huntington, at 41:19.

Bryant, 41, had a time of 40:44 to win the women’s 10K. Alicia Bowling, 35, of Ashland, was runner-up with a time of 48:55.

Winners of special events in the 5K race were:

Top Dog (runner and canine): Winner Chris Griffith, 43, of Ashland; runner-up Tracy Mineer, 29, of Ironton.

Stroller: Kuhner Family and River Bowden, 2.

Father/Daughter: James Boyd and Abigail Boyd.

Father/Son: Kevin England and Jeff England; runner-up Lanny Fraley and Anthony Fraley.

Mother/Daughter: Stefany Stephenson and Kaelyn Howard; runner-up Sarah Ervin and Lily Ervin.

Mother/Son: C.D. Mayhew and Carolyn Mayhew; runner-up Labe Griffith II and Stacy Griffith.