ANNISTON, AL – The 44th annual Woodstock 5K took place on Saturday, August 2, drawing 1,090 runners to the historic neighborhoods of Woodstock Avenue in Anniston. This year’s event held special significance as it was designated the National 5K Championship by the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA), a title that brought increased tourism and attention to Calhoun County.
Hosted annually since 1981 by the Anniston Runners Club, the Woodstock 5K has previously served as host for 18 RRCA championship races, including seven national championships. Proceeds from the race benefit local school athletic programs and community organizations, including the Arc of Calhoun & Cleburne Counties. This year’s event raised over $31,000, the highest total in race history.
The race was won by Jack Lowe of Pell City, AL, a senior cross-country runner at Jacksonville State University, who crossed the finish line in 15:26.5—less than a second ahead of Munford native Dakota Frank. Huntsville’s Jay Day finished third. On the women’s side, Laney Barnes of Cypress, TX, claimed the top spot with a time of 17:59. Her grandparents reside in nearby Jacksonville. Rounding out the top three women were Carmen Hussar of Homewood, AL, and Macie Pfeuffer of Birmingham, AL.
In addition to athletic achievements, the event featured strong community participation. Anniston Mayor Smith joined the race as a first-time walker and shared lighthearted lessons learned on social media. The Anniston Fire Department completed the course in full 70-pound gear, while Anniston Police Department had six officers run in uniform with full gear.
This year also marked the final race directed by Hayley Long, who has served as race director since 2022. Landon Delozier, an Oxford High School coach and teacher, has joined as co-director and will help lead future events. New corporate sponsor Publix supported the 2025 race with on-site catering provided by its Oxford, AL, location.
The 2026 Woodstock 5K will open registration on August 4 with a one-week early bird pricing period at $30. Regular registration will resume in December. More details can be found at www.annistonrunners.com or by following Woodstock5k on Facebook.
