Bridge Run Sets Records

With the temperature hovering around 76 degrees with a brisk wind, Sunday’s Bridge Run half marathon and 5K left the Publix parking lot and headed toward the Goodland Bridge Sunday morning. It’s a good bet it felt pretty warm to the competitors who have gotten used to training in the cool winter temperatures for the past couple of months. But the warmer than usual temperatures didn’t seem to affect overall winner Ben Szuhaj, who covered the 13.1-mile course in 1:20:26 to edge Tyler Culver of Marion, Iowa who finished in 1:20:46.  Kaitlyn Minchella of Naples was the overall female winner and finished sixth overall with a time of 1:34:58.

Race organizer CAT Burke was happy with the turnout.

“Last year, we made over $10,000 that went to our local schools here on Marco, Lely, Manatee Middle School, and Our Daily Bread Food Pantry,” Burke said. “And that's what we're doing this for, to give back to the community. Last year, I think we had 300 finishers. This year, we have 480 registered runners. So, it was a big difference this year. And it's exciting because it's our second year. So, we're really excited about having all these runners. 

Nick Pohl was this year’s race director. He was stationed at the foot of the Goodland Bridge.

"It looked like people got up and over the bridge pretty well,” Pohl said. "San Marco Road is the stressful part for me with traffic and stuff. But you know, the Marco police do a great job. We appreciate their support and their diligence and vigilance.”

Like Burke, Pohl is happy to see the increased numbers for this year’s Bridge Run, which seems to be as attractive to the 5K runners as it is to the long-distance runners.

"The race has grown this year,” Pohl said. "It's about even between the two races.”

Alcides De Quesada of Hollywood was the overall winner of the 5K with a time of 17:10.  Audrie Gilin of Goodrich, Michigan, was the top female finisher and overall third place finisher at 20:56. Craig Swope of Findlay, Ohio, was the top finisher in the Master’s category at 23:31. Swope finished sixth overall.

Burke thanked race sponsors Mighty Fine Roofing, Tropical Smoothie, Truvidity, Flow IV, Midwest Island Computers, Snook Inn, Marco Island Brewery, Mr. Bentley’s, Marco Island Academy, Rose Marina, Publix, La Mes, and Cav’s Kitchen.