HUNTSVILLE- To honor fallen military members on Memorial Day has always been the main focus of the Bill Penney Cotton Row Run. The huge community event has also been a way for thousands to run through the streets of old-town Huntsville for 10K, 5K and One-Mile races.

This year’s 44^th annual community extravaganza again began by paying homage to those who gave the ultimate for the freedom the United States possess, then, watching as 1,429 runners crossed the finish line for the 10K and another 1,254 who competed the 5K distance race.

For Madison, 252 local residents completed the 10K while 230 finished the 5K race.

Top male finisher representing Madison was Garrett Gallagher, 18, with a time of 36-minutes, 32-seconds. He was 25^th overall. Andrew Gohlich, 16, was second at 36:45. First among females to cross the finish line was Malia Gill. The 26-year old completed the 10K distance at 43:41 and was 104 overall. Runner-up among Madison residents was Hannah Stevens, 17, at 45:24.

In the 5K race, tops from Madison were Adam Wallenfelsz, 24, 17:13 as second place went to Owen Lang, 15, with a time of 20:12. Auburn Cohan, 24, was first in females at 25:14 while Christine Westcott, 52, was runner-up finishing at 25:51.

Charles Terrell, who was featured in a special report prior to the races in the Madison Record, walked his 5K race with a time of 1:03.04. The 89-year old was 1,232 overall as he competed the outing with his three daughters along side in the Cotton Row Run he began participating in back in 1985.

The Bill Penney Cotton Row Run was conducted by the Huntsville Track Club.

The 10K race began with cool temperatures and sunny skies at 7:00 a.m. on Memorial Day. Less than a half-hour later, Shadrick Keter, 22, of Chapel Hill, N.C. came across the finish line as the race winner with a finish time of 29:01. He outdueled 30-year old David Bell of Mulot who finished just a few strides behind at 29:05. Top local finisher for the males was Allan Anderson, 22, of Huntsville who finished fifth with a time of 31:46. In the female division, Lydiah Mathathi, 37, of Columbia S.C. made it a Carolina sweep with a race time of 33:55 for the victory. She completed the course just six seconds in front of Joyline Chemutai, 29, of Pacific Palisades, Cal. who posted a time of 34:01. Angel Mobley, 27, of Huntsville posted a time of 28:27 to finish fifth and was the top local finisher.

In the Masters Divisions, Matthias Wilder of Winter Garden, Fla. was the top finisher. The 40-year old posted a winning time of 35:29 as Shawn Tompkins of Madison was fourth. The 41-year old Tompkins posted a time of 37:19. In the female division, Jill Braley-Boyd, 44, of Atlanta was tops at 38:50.

The 5K outing was won by Hunter Nails, 24, of Brownsboro for the males with a time of 16:20 while the female division was won by Samantha Crawford, 33, of Cullman at 21:38.

Here are the Madison residents who won their age divisions in both the 10K and 5K races:

10K- female 11-13: 1. Kaitlyn Powless, 13, 53:30, 2. Sophia Schrandt, 13, 1:01:49; F 17-19: 1. Hannah Stevens, 17, 45:05; F 25-29: 1. Malia Gill, 26, 43:37; F 45-49: 1. Stacy Gagne, 47, 54:14; Male 65-69: 1. David Hergenroeder, 65, 49:49. 5K- M 1-10: 1. William Stewart, 10, 22:32; F 17-19: 1. Emma Bothern, 17, 23:46; F 30-34: 1. Ginny Matarrese, 33, 22:37; F 35-39: 1. Linda Scavarda, 39, 23:30; F 45-49: 1. Tiffany McCauley, 47, 25:40; M 55-59: 1. Andy Hissam, 59, 19:59.