ANNISTON — The Anniston Runners Club confirmed Tuesday that the course record at Saturday's Raptor Run 5K was broken, with the top finisher posting a time of 12:47 — the fastest at any Calhoun County road race in approximately a decade.
The previous course record, held since 2019, was 16:47. Approximately fifty other runners on Saturday also finished under the previous record, according to club archives.
The new record holder declined to be photographed at the finish line and was last observed continuing past the timing mat in the direction of his vehicle. Reached at his home in Oxford on Tuesday, he said only that he was "fine" and asked that this reporter not call back.
The Anniston Museum of Natural History, which hosted the event, issued a statement praising what it called "the resilience and tenacity of Saturday's participants." A spokesperson confirmed that no runner has yet returned to the race site to retrieve personal items left at the gear check.
Officials confirmed that no times will be voided, regardless of the circumstances of any individual performance.
The Calhoun Dispatch — sorry, The Green Tomato — will continue to monitor this developing story. Anyone with information regarding gear left at the Raptor Run is asked to contact the Anniston Museum of Natural History during regular business hours.
