The Azalea Trail Run is an annual road running event held in late March in Mobile, Alabama which is considered one of the United States' premier road races. Runners, walkers, and wheelchair athletes from around the world and at all levels turn out for the event. The 10-kilometer race is known for its fast, flat course along Mobile's oak shaded streets and has seen blistering records set by runners since its inception.[1] The 2023 race will be the 45th annual running.[2]

Azalea Trail Run
Azalea Trail Run logo
Datelate March
LocationMobile, Alabama United States
Event typeRoad
Distance10 kilometers (6.2 mi)
Established1978
Course recordsM: 27:26 (2001)
Kenya Abraham Chebii
F: 31:29 (1997)
South Africa Colleen De Reuck
Official sitewww.pcpacers.org/atr/

In 2001, Joseph Kimani of Kenya finished within two seconds of setting a new world record in the men's open division in 27:41. John Campbell of New Zealand established a world’s best time for a male masters athlete (over 50 years of age) in 1999 with his time of 31:02. In 1994, Martin Mondragon of Mexico set the current world record for men masters, at 28:56.[1]

The two-day, family-friendly event was founded in 1978 and includes a world class 10K race, a 5K race, a fun run, and a Health and Fitness Expo.[3] The ATR is produced by the Port City Pacers, a local nonprofit organization with the mission of promoting health and fitness through running and walking.[1] 2,000 participants attended the 2015 race.[2]

Past winners

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Key:   Course record

 
Joan Benoit was the 1984 winner of the race.
 
Moroccan Ridouane Harroufi won the 2009 men's race.
Edition Year Men's winner Time (m:s) Women's winner Time (m:s)
1st 1978   Bill Rodgers (USA) 30:26   Lisa Savell (USA) 40:15
2nd 1979   Marty Liquori (USA) 30:39   Gayle Barron (USA) 37:31
3rd 1980   Ken Misner (USA) 29:34   Dolly Harrison (USA) 37:38
4th 1981   Bill Rodgers (USA) 29:01   Patti Catalano (USA) 32:32
5th 1982   Bill Rodgers (USA) 28:59   Brenda Webb (USA) 33:01
6th 1983   Bill Rodgers (USA) 28:37   Linda McLennan (USA) 33:18
7th 1984   Simon Kigen (KEN) 27:57   Joan Benoit (USA) 31:57
8th 1985   Ken Martin (USA) 28:30   Priscilla Welch (ENG) 32:14
9th 1986   Peter Koech (KEN) 28:03   Liz Lynch (SCO) 32:24
10th 1987   Paul Rugut (KEN) 28:19   Lisa Martin (AUS) 32:10
11th 1988   Mauricio González (MEX) 28:04   Teresa Ornduff (USA) 32:27
12th 1989   John Treacy (IRL) 28:17   Wendy Sly (ENG) 32:15
13th 1990   Martín Pitayo (MEX) 28:25   Francie Larrieu Smith (USA) 32:01
14th 1991   Mauricio González (MEX) 29:03   Francie Larrieu Smith (USA) 32:05
15th 1992   William Sigei (KEN) 27:45   Jill Hunter (ENG) 31:52
16th 1993   William Koech (KEN) 28:06   Wilma van Onna (NED) 32:07
17th 1994   Luketz Swartbooi (NAM) 27:51   Karolina Szabó (HUN) 32:55
18th 1995   Joseph Kimani (KEN) 27:41   Delilah Asiago (KEN) 32:07
19th 1996   Lazarus Nyakeraka (KEN) 27:44   Judi St. Hilaire (USA) 32:24
20th 1997   Joseph Kimani (KEN) 27:54   Colleen De Reuck (RSA) 31:29
21st 1998   Simon Rono (KEN) 27:55   Catherina McKiernan (IRL) 32:10
22nd 1999   Joseph Kimani (KEN) 28:01   Colleen De Reuck (RSA) 32:36
23rd 2000   Dominic Kirui (KEN) 27:49   Jane Omoro (KEN) 32:39
24th 2001   Abraham Chebii (KEN) 27:26   Gladys Asiba (KEN) 32:42
25th 2002   John Itati (KEN) 27:58   Gladys Asiba (KEN) 32:08
26th 2003   Linus Maiyo (KEN) 27:36   Edna Kiplagat (KEN) 32:12
27th 2004   John Itati (KEN) 28:55   Olga Romanova (RUS) 32:45
28th 2005   Luke Kipkosgei (KEN) 28:37   Sally Barsosio (KEN) 32:28
29th 2006   Samuel Ndereba (KEN) 28:35   Sally Barsosio (KEN) 32:19
30th 2007   Samuel Ndereba (KEN) 28:01   Rehima Kedir (ETH) 32:02
31st 2008   Moses Kigen (KEN) 28:15   Genoveva Kigen (KEN) 32:11
32nd 2009   Ridouane Harroufi (MAR) 28:14   Genoveva Kigen (KEN) 32:49
33rd 2010   John Cheruiyot (KEN) 27:59   Belaynesh Zemedkun (ETH) 32:24
34th 2011   Richard Kandie (KEN) 29:15   Janet Cherobon-Bawcom (USA) 33:22
35th 2012   Shadrack Kosgei (KEN) 28:19   Janet Cherobon-Bawcom (USA) 32:41
36th 2013   Elly Sang (KEN) 28:58   Ogla Kimaiyo (KEN) 32:33
37th 2014   Julius Kogo (KEN) 27:58   Janet Cherobon-Bawcom (USA) 32:03
38th 2015   John Muritu (KEN) 28:34   Susan Jerotich (KEN) 33:43
39th 2016   Dominic Ondoro (KEN) 28:25   Caroline Chepkoech (KEN) 31:58
40th 2017   Dominic Ondoro (KEN) 28:04   Nancy Nzisa (KEN) 32:49
41st 2018   Bernard Ngeno (KEN) 27:45   Monicah Ngige (KEN) 32:18
42nd 2019   Dominic Korir (KEN) 28:34   Paige Fisher (USA) 35:55
2020 Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic
43rd 2021   Zachary Anderson (USA) 32:57   Kir Selert Faraud (USA) 35:22
44th 2022   Tyler Mayforth (USA) 32:24   Kir Selert Faraud (USA) 35:24
45th 2023   Agustin Echazarreta (ARG) 34:42   Amy Lyon Echazarreta (USA) 41:29

Wins by country

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Country Men's race Women's race Total
  Kenya 29 14 43
  United States 9 18 27
  England 0 3 3
  Mexico 3 0 3
  Ethiopia 0 2 2
  Ireland 1 1 2
  South Africa 0 2 2
  Australia 0 1 1
  Hungary 0 1 1
  Namibia 1 0 1
  Netherlands 0 1 1
  Morocco 1 0 1
  Russia 0 1 1
  Scotland 0 1 1
  Argentina 1 0 1

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Azalea Trail Run Celebrates 30th Anniversary" (PDF). MdiDrive.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-05-01.
  2. ^ a b Levins, Angela (March 15, 2015). "Azalea Trail Run races its 38th year through Mobile, what you need to know". AL.com. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  3. ^ "Event Calendar". CityOfMObile.org. Retrieved 2007-04-30.
List of winners
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