Asheville’s own Meghan Gilmore was the first woman to cross the Bele Chere 5K finish line, clocking in at 18:48. A few minutes earlier, Julius Tiptoo, who trains in Durham, set a blistering pace for the men, finishing with a time of 16:01 (pictured).
About three minutes later, the first Mountain Xpress staffers started crossing the line — Stefan Colosimo, Sammy Cox, Alli Marshall, Mackensy Lunsford and Lisa Watters.
An hour into the race, the last competitor crossed the line, getting just as many cheers as the No. 1. That’s how the Bele Chere 5K rolls.
Here are a few more photos from the morning race:
