JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Rachel Schneider Smith won the women’s title in Saturday’s Gate River Run. But this year’s equalizer bonus went to 28-year-old Teshome Mekonen -- the first runner to cross the finish line on Saturday.
This year’s Gate River Run was sold out and over 14,000 runners flooded the streets of Jacksonville for the race.
RESULTS | Look for runners you know in the Gate River Run results
For many local runners, the race is a yearly tradition. But for the elite running field, the River Run serves as the 15K national championship with some serious prize money on the line.
Mekonen had the lead on the Hart Bridge, but last year’s winner Hillary Bor was close behind.
Mekonen was able to hold on for the win -- taking home a total of $17,000.
“I’m so happy, I like it,” Mekonen told News4JAX.
RELATED | History for Sisson, but bonus for Bor at Gate River Run
Mekonen had a lot to be happy about after finishing the race in 42 minutes and 51 seconds.
Watch Mekonen’s post-race interview below:
On the women’s side, Schneider Smith won the women’s title.
“Very tired but very happy,” Schneider Smith told News4JAX.
Schneider Smith ran the 15K in 48 minutes and 26 seconds. She was playing catchup going up the Hart Bridge and made her move into the lead on the way down.
She said she understands why it is called the “green monster.”
“It is a monster. It is a monster for sure I just kept focusing on the athlete in front of me and slow but steady slow but steady and that helped the hill go by,” Schneider Smith said.
Watch Smith’s post-race interview below:
Hayleigh Haid, 24 won the First Coast Cup women’s title. Jonathan Hulzebos, 28, won the First Coast Cup men’s title.
“It’s really emotional i felt myself choking up, to see all the city supportive, all the signs people have, it’s really, really nice,” Haid said after crossing the finish line.
Hulzebos said that while humidity was a little rough, like a good Floridian -- it wasn’t anything that he couldn’t handle.
“I actually live really close to the race course. To see my wife and little girl cheering me on was really cool,” Hulzebos said.
On the other hand, slow and steady was the mantra for many of the River Run participants this year, as finishing a 15K is something to be proud of no matter what the clock says at the finish.
It’s one of the biggest sporting events in Jacksonville all year.
The 47th Gate River Run on Saturday looked familiar, but, probably for the last time -- as changes downtown continue to evolve and push Jacksonville’s downtown sports and entertainment district into a new era.
Perpetual adapting has been common for the River Run and race director Doug Alred, from the pandemic-capped 2021 event to making alterations due to the demolition of the Hart Bridge ramps. But one thing remains true after nearly half a century.
Runners love the River Run. And they show up in force every year, be it at the festive expo at the fairgrounds to the one-mile fun run on Saturday.
For the elite running field, the River Run serves as a USATF 15K national championship with some serious prize money ($12,000 to the male and female winners) and prestige at stake. There’s also the equalizer bonus.
The elite women get a five-minute head start over the elite men. The first person to cross the finish line, male or female, pockets a $5,000 bonus. There are also bonuses ranging from $3,00 to $10,000 for the course and American records (both 42:22 for the men and 47 flat for the women) and the world record (41:05 men, 44:20 women).
In the near future, the fairgrounds, the hub of events like the River Run expo, will be moved from its current location to Jacksonville’s Westside. There’s now the new Jaguars’ Miller Electric Center, and nearly $32 million in changes coming to the Jumbo Shrimp’s 121 Financial Ballpark. And the Jaguars’ stadium deal, whenever that happens, will likely shift the course for 18 to 24 months.
Related River Run coverage
Need to knows about Saturday’s race | Follow the race and see results | Check out photos from the race | Look for your starting location | Sold out: Gate River Run announces no more spots available for Saturday’s race | River Run streakers carry on proud tradition | Neptune Beach Run Crew has large contingent in River Run
This year, the event is sold out for just the second time in race history. The Streakers (runners who have competed in all previous races) are back, albeit only 18 this year, down from 20 in 2023.
The contenders
Elite men notables: Hillary Bor, Diego Estrada, Teshome Mekonen, Biya Simbassa, Jacob Thomson
Elite women notables: Keira D’Amato, Emily Durgin, Annie Frisbie, Emma Grace Hurley, Nell Rojas.
Local men notables: Jordan Garmon, Jonathan Hulzebos, Matthew Taddeo.
Local women notables: Amelia Bjornson, Hayleigh Haid, Lydia McRae.
Will the race records fall?
It’s unlikely this year.
Todd Williams’ mark of 42 minutes, 22 seconds in 1995 has withstood few serious challenges through the years. Only five times have runners cracked the sub-43 minute range — Meb Keflezighi, Gidamis Shahanga and Mo Trafeh twice. As strong as three-time defending women’s champion Emily Sisson ran the last three years (48:09, 47:28 and 48:26) she was still almost 30 seconds off from Shalane Flanagan’s race record of 47 flat. Sisson won’t be back to defend her title. Sisson finished as runner-up in the marathon at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Orlando and qualified for the 2024 Olympics. Last year’s men’s champ, Hillary Bor, is in the field and will be a favorite to defend his title.