07/08/2024
As we bid farewell to a beloved tradition, it's with great pride and a touch of nostalgia that we celebrate the 20th and final annual Firecracker Run. This year's event was a testament to the enduring spirit of our community and the passion of our runners.
Congratulations to all participants, especially our top performers! In the 1 Mile Run, Hayden Walden blazed through with an impressive time of 6:33 for the males, while Molly Morris led the females with a strong 8:12 finish. The 5K saw Jason Grimes clinch the overall male title with a time of 19:51, and Kayelyn Redecker took the female crown at 23:57.
Our age group winners demonstrated remarkable skill and determination across all categories. From our youngest runners in the 10 & under group to our most experienced in the 70 & up category, every participant showed true grit and sportsmanship.
This event wouldn't have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors. A heartfelt thank you goes out to our Mile Marker Sponsors: Harps Food Store, Andy's Garage Service LLC, and Domino's Pizza. We're grateful to Josh Browning State Farm for sponsoring our Early Bird Prize.
Our T-Shirt Sponsors deserve special recognition for their support: Mineral Area Office Supply, Inc., Pharmax Pharmacy, Trinity Lutheran Church, Sweetheart Chocolates, SERVPRO of Farmington, Parkland RV Center LLC, Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health, Unico Bank, Pettus Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM Farmington, New Era Bank, ODACS Inc., Belgrade State Bank, C.Z. Boyer & Son Funeral Homes, Inc., Prairie Farms Dairy, Kary Buckley Towing & Recovery, Inc., Home Pools & Spas, Park Hills Chevrolet, Leadbelt Properties, Brickhouse Social, LLC, and Kevin Ball Auto Body & Sales, Inc.
We're also indebted to Proffer Wholesale Produce, Inc., Culligan Water, Desloge Walmart, Save-A-Lot, & Midwest Cajun Company for keeping our runners refreshed, Mineral Area College for providing cooling towels, and Busenbark Granite, LLC for their marketing support.
An extra special thanks goes to our Premier Sponsors, Parkland Pharmacy and Jerry's Fireworks, for their massive support and contributions, including Jerry's Fireworks' generous fireworks donation.
We'd be remiss not to acknowledge the Founding Five: Mary Lee Faircloth, Debbie Bunch, Era Gibson, Glenda Straughn, and Anne Strangmeier. These visionaries were honored at the event with special recognition and gifts for their instrumental role in establishing this cherished tradition.
This year's event ran smoother than ever, thanks to our numerous volunteers. A special shout-out goes to 2024 Scholarship recipient Lillian Thorn for her assistance, Larry Joseph for his excellent emceeing, and Isabelle Hovis for her beautiful rendition of the National Anthem. We're also grateful to Mayor Easter for stepping in to light the final boom!
Our gratitude extends to the City Officials, Park Hills Police Department, Street Department, Parks Department, and Fire Department for their invaluable support.
To anyone we may have inadvertently overlooked, please know that your contribution was crucial in making this final Firecracker Run an unforgettable success.
As we close this chapter, we reflect on 20 years of community spirit, athletic achievement, and shared memories. While this may be the last Firecracker Run, the impact it has had on our community will continue to resonate for years to come. Thank you all for being part of this incredible journey.
1 Mile Run Best Overall
Male: Hayden Walden - 6:33
Female: Molly Morris - 8:12
Age Group Winners
Male / Age 10 & Under
Tommy Sampson - 10:10
Ely Miller - 17:06
Female / Age 10 & Under
Piper Hulsey - 10:00
Cora Abney - 11:10
Male / Age 11-14
Hayden Walden - 6:33
Dax Kennard - 8:11
Sebastian Baer - 8:42
Female / Age 11-14
Molly Morris - 8:12
Hallie Abney - 8:14
Katie Wilson - 8:35
Male / Age 15-19
Tim Wilson - 6:52
Aaron Koehn - 9:07
Female / Age 15-19
Anna Baer - 9:36
Gracie Rich – 14:57:07
Male / Age 40-49
Mathew Koehn - 9:06
Female / Age 40-49
Mei Jiang - 13:24
Female / Age 60-69
Teresa Stricklin - 11:11
5K Runners Best Overall
Male: Jason Grimes - 19:51
Female: Kayelyn Redecker - 23:57
Age Group Winners
Male Age 11-14:
Jaxon Miller - 22:06
Jase Miller - 22:25
Sawyer Wampler - 22:26
Female Age 11-14:
Kayelyn Redecker - 23:57
Keena Dicus - 25:05
Claire Amato - 35:37
Male Age 15-19:
Jaxson Grimes - 19:51
Cole Barnes - 22:40
Female Age 15-19:
Faith Willis - 27:11
Female Age 20-29:
Kara Hovick - 25:33
Megan Lin - 33:07
Hong Yan Chen - 37:22
Male Age 30-39:
Benjamin Stenger - 23:02
Joe Cox - 25:42
Sean Sellers - 27:16
Female Age 30-39:
Ashtian Wampler - 24:37
Amanda Sampson - 26:13
Cassandra Soltys - 35:06
Male Age 40-49:
Andy Inman - 20:23
Derrick Hulsey - 23:11
Aaron Grimes - 23:23
Female Age 40-49:
Stephanie Nobles - 25:03
Sarah Absheer - 29:54
Abby Inman - 33:19
Male Age 50-59:
Jeff Lin - 26:11
Rusty Halton - 27:03
Wes Young - 29:01
Female Age 50-59:
Kristie Gray - 25:40
Lisa Hammack - 26:34
Julie Herr - 28:44
Male Age 60-69:
Calvin Mallory - 25:06
Randy Eckhoff - 25:16
David Gray - 28:08
Female Age 60-69:
Lisa La Plante - 29:14
Male Age 70 & Up:
Cecil Spetter - 42:00
