Rocket City 5K — F65-69: McCandless runs away with it

• Kim McCandless won the F65-69 age group in 33:07 (10:40/mi) — more than five minutes clear of second place.
• Linda Wright took second in 38:17, with Beverly Walker and Julie Albright separated by just 29 seconds in a tight battle for third and fourth.
• At the back of the field, Cindy Moeller and Ann Marie Bond finished just two seconds apart — 55:49 to 55:51 — to close out the eight-woman group.

Kim McCandless made this one a statement. The 68-year-old from Madison ran a 10:40/mi pace to cross in 33:07 — a margin of five minutes and ten seconds over Linda Wright. In a field where the next six finishers were spread across nearly 17 minutes, McCandless was in a race of her own from the sound of the gun.

Wright (38:17) held second comfortably, but the real drama unfolded just behind her. Beverly Walker and Julie Albright — both clocking times in the 40-minute range — fought it out for the final podium spot. Walker took third in 40:19, with Albright just 29 seconds back in 40:48. A close, honest race between two athletes who made each other work.

The middle of the field saw a gap open up before Julie Naylor-Nolas (50:31) and Marsha Kennedy (50:42) arrived together, separated by only 11 seconds after 3.1 miles on a mild December morning in Huntsville. And right at the finish line, Moeller and Bond produced the tightest moment of the day — two seconds between them after nearly 56 minutes of racing. Eight women, one age group, and plenty of competition from front to back.