The annual Sportspectrum Firecracker 5K Run for Research has become Taylor Dare’s to lose.
For the third time since 2020, the former Loyola College Prep and TCU runner captured the title Thursday morning in Northwest Louisiana’s highest profile running event each year. The 32-year-old crossed in 16:47.62, short of her 2020 Firecracker record time of 16:43, but well ahead of her 2023 winning time of 17:16.09.
“This is my favorite race. We made some changes because I just can’t miss it,” said Dare, who has run the Firecracker since her freshman year as a Flyer and now lives in Fort Worth, Texas. “This is where I started my love of running and they do such a great job over here. Always hot. Always humid. I’ve been coming here so many years I know what to expect. But it hurts every time.”
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The men’s title in the 40th running of the event went to Lafayette’s Brett Olivier who managed a 15:51.67 time in the sultry conditions. Not far behind was 14-year-old Parkway freshman Brennan Robin, a Shreveport Times All-City performer, who was third in 16:00.71.
“It was good. I was happy with the time,” said Robin, who finished second in the 1600 in the LHSAA state meet. “Out of the outdoor season I went straight into training and training’s been good. I haven’t done a whole lot of quicker stuff yet, but that’s for later in the summer.”
The annual run, which begins and ends in the St. Vincent Mall’s parking lot while winding 3.1 miles through the South Highlands neighborhood, attracted more than 2,000 participants for a third consecutive summer.
“It was a great day for race even though it was extremely hot,” Sportspectrum owner Andrew Gaspard said. “We’re very pleased with how many people showed up to participate and I think things went well.”
Dare and Olivier won $500 apiece, while the second-place finishers took home $250. Jack Gipson finished second for the men in 15:56.27 while Karen Jones was second for the women in 17:19.09. The top 100 women and top 101 men were presented commemorative mugs.
The men’s record is 14:38, set in 2014 by Ben Chesars in a controversial run.
Jimmy Watson covers Louisiana sports him for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at jimwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.
40th Firecracker 5K Results
Men
- Brett Olivier, 15:51.67
- Jack Gipson, 15:56.27
- Brennan Robin, 16:00.71
- Brandon Graham, 16:08.32
- Gary Smith, 16:23.29
- Gabe Falting, 16:35.93
- Jassette Bromfield, 16:48.12
- Grant Sims, 16:56.32
- Aiden Onishea, 16:57.92
- Kevin Gideon, 17:03.83
Women
- Taylor Dare, 16:47.62
- Karen Jones, 17:19.09
- Isabelle Russell, 17:29.08
- Alexandria Hall, 18:43.81
- Jenna Key, 19:29.24
- Ashley Rios, 19:56.74
- Anna Moore, 20:03.55
- Rosy Ibarra, 20:17.37
- Rachel Cating, 20:36.88
- Ember Pierce, 20:40.63
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