Despite steady rain showers on Saturday morning, more than 150 runners laced up their sneakers to take part in Schuylkill County's oldest and toughest foot race – the 43rd Annual Coal Cracker 10K.
The 6.2-mile course, known for its challenging hills and rugged backroads, began in downtown Shenandoah before heading south on Route 924 along the Goldstar Highway to Gilberton. From there, runners looped through Boston Run and Mahanoy Township before climbing the demanding incline of Suffolk Road to return to Shenandoah for the finish.
Crossing the line first overall was 27-year-old Dylan Gearinger, who claimed the men’s title with an impressive time of 33 minutes and 26 seconds.
The top ten finishers in this year's race were:
- Dylan Gearinger, 27
- Ciaran Fisher, 29
- Robert Espinal Guzman, 18
- Nate Skurtski, 28
- Justin Skavery, 31
- Tyler Ruff, 37
- Bradley Clemson, 25
- Marquis Cox, 30
- Randy Hoats, 24
- Mike Criglitto, 49
Before the main event, children had the opportunity to race in the traditional 1.5-mile Fun Run, bringing families and young runners into the spirit of the Coal Cracker race day.
Bernie's Race Timing assisted with the operations of the event.