Up and over! That’s where 425 runners and walkers went Saturday morning — 65 feet above the turquoise waters of Florida Bay — as they tackled the 15th annual First State Bank Key Largo Bridge Run.
The race sent competitors streaming across the first major bridge travelers cross when entering the Florida Keys…the iconic Jewfish Creek Bridge. From that height, runners enjoyed sweeping, panoramic views of Lake Surprise, Blackwater Sound, and the vast expanse of the eastern Everglades stretching toward the horizon.
The course is flat and fast at both ends, but the real challenge hits in the middle. The 65-foot climb up and over the bridge tests even the most seasoned runners. This year’s field competed in both 5k and 10k divisions, all starting at 7:30 a.m. from the access road to Anchorage Resort and Yacht Club at mile marker 107.8.
The bridge sits on the 18-Mile Stretch, considered the official gateway to the Florida Keys, from the mainland — making this one of the most scenic footraces in South Florida.
Racers as young as 4 and as old as 80 ran the course, traveling from 10 U.S. states, including Florida, Texas, New York, Ohio, Michigan, Massachusetts, Virginia, Connecticut, Minnesota, and Oklahoma, to do so.
5K RESULTS:
Key Largo resident Holly Smith, 40, won the overall women’s 5k with a time of 20 minutes, 23.80 seconds. Julian Costa, 34, of Orlando took the overall men’s 5k division in 20:47.46.
Miami’s Lee Wilkinson-Brown, 42, won the men’s 5k masters division with a time of 23:29.22. Women’s 5k Masters winner Elizabeth Souto, 47, of Key Largo, posted a time of 29:11.05.
10K RESULTS:
Giorgio Leone, 39, of Coral Gables, won the overall 10k with a time of 44:46.94. Key Largo’s Lucy Wiedmar, 25, took the overall women’s 10k division in 52:01.18.
Women’s 10k Masters winner Marilyn Zuniga, 41, of Miami, posted a time of 58:58.60.
The race’s oldest finisher was Bob James, 80, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, while the youngest was 4-year-old J. Bastron of Tavernier. Tavernier’s Bob Arnold, 64, turned in an impressive performance, winning the men’s 60-64 age division with a time of 24:17.70.
Brothers Camden and Carson Pake of Key Largo finished just seconds apart in the 5k, crossing the line at 26:35.34 and 26:35.33, respectively.
Disclaimer
Artificial Intelligence Disclosure & Legal Disclaimer
AI Content Policy.
To provide our readers with timely and comprehensive coverage, South Florida Reporter uses artificial intelligence (AI) to assist in producing certain articles and visual content.
Articles: AI may be used to assist in research, structural drafting, or data analysis. All AI-assisted text is reviewed and edited by our team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our editorial standards.
Images: Any imagery generated or significantly altered by AI is clearly marked with a disclaimer or watermark to distinguish it from traditional photography or editorial illustrations.
General Disclaimer
The information contained in South Florida Reporter is for general information purposes only.
South Florida Reporter assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in the contents of the Service. In no event shall South Florida Reporter be liable for any special, direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages or any damages whatsoever, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other tort, arising out of or in connection with the use of the Service or the contents of the Service.
The Company reserves the right to make additions, deletions, or modifications to the contents of the Service at any time without prior notice. The Company does not warrant that the Service is free of viruses or other harmful components.
