Fincastle’s Fall Run around town

By Matt de Simone

The First Bank Fall Run sped through the streets of Fincastle Saturday morning seeing over 600 runners participate in the annual 5K/10K event– the most from any Fall Run since 2019.

As a part of this year’s field of entrants, all seven Botetourt elementary schools and both middle schools saw representatives throw on their running shoes for a romp through the county seat.

Mark Voight, a 15-year-old runner from Fincastle, earned the fastest time in the men’s 5K division in a little over 18 minutes. Fincastle’s Matt Linkenauger earned the fastest 10K time completing the race in just under 44 minutes.

Todd Ross, Roanoke Valley Market President for First Bank, said, “We are thrilled to have had the largest number of runners participate since the pandemic. Thank you to our runners, sponsors, volunteers, first responders, Botetourt County schools, and the Town of Fincastle for supporting the 38^th annual First Bank Fall Run.”

2024 First Bank Fall Run race results:

Top five finishing times: 5K – men’s division

1. Mark Voight of Fincastle – 18:02.3
2. Aiden Bartulis of Buchanan – 18:21.6
3. Andrew Schaefer of Winchester – 20:35.1
4. Judah Groth of Troutville – 21:25.0
5. James Knox of Troutville – 21:45.0

Top five finishing times: 5K – women’s division

1. Cline of Fincastle – 22:46.8
2. Emily Staples of Roanoke – 23:43.9
3. Katelyn Wiley of Buchanan – 23:58.9
4. Williams of Daleville – 25:07.4
5. Yates of Roanoke – 26:35.3

Top five finishing times: 10K – men’s division

1. Matt Linkenauger of Fincastle – 43:54.3
2. Scot Harrison of Roanoke – 45:53.9
3. Cole Bandy of Fincastle – 47:19.7
4. Richard Caywood of Roanoke – 50:31.3
5. Kevin Painchaud of Bedford – 56:30.0

Top five finishing times: 10K – women’s division

1. Kristi Bowman of Blue Ridge – 47:07.0
2. Maggie Hoover of Daleville – 55:44.8
3. Kayla Waters of Christiansburg – 1:01:15.6
4. Katie Earnest of Troutville – 1:02.34.3
5. Karley Burks of Roanoke – 1:02.58.2

Fastest Team per Elementary Team

1. Troutville – Gold medal
2. Breckinridge – Silver medal
3. Buchanan – Bronze medal

Fastest Team Middle School Team

1. Read Mountain Middle School – Gold Medal
2. Central Academy Middle School – Silver medal

Fastest Open Team

1. Greenfield parents – Gold medal
2. Colonial parents – Silver medal
3. Troutville parents – Bronze medal

For the full list of race results, visit runsignup.com/Race/Results/129069.