Runners hit the pavement just as the sun was rising last Saturday for the third annual Bainbridge Half Marathon.
More than 100 participants ran in the event to support Memorial Hospital.
The 13.1-mile race took participants down Shotwell Street and through downtown.
The overall winner was Kevin Sweeney, 44, of St. Augustine, Fla., with a time of 1:19:24.61.
The overall female winner was Alicia Hudelson of Marietta with a time of 1:31:40.66.
Three Bainbridge residents were in the top 10: Greg Waddell, who came in second, with a time of 1:27:22.60, Ridge Harper with a time of 1:32:29.73 and 14-year-old Colby Nix with a time of 1:39:13.44.
The course is designed to showcase some of Bainbridge’s classic neighborhoods, including the beautiful oak tree-lined streets and other local points of interest.  The run started and finished in front of Memorial Hospital. Runners traveled as far west as the Chamber of Commerce and as far east as the Bainbridge State College campus.
“We are excited about the opportunity to continue putting on a top notch distance running event in Bainbridge. Running and walking will have many positive effects on the city,” race director Andy Payne said. “We are committed to growing the Bainbridge Half Marathon year-after-year and promoting healthy living in Southwest Georgia.”
The Bainbridge Half Marathon along with the Third Annual “Derby Night”; a Kentucky Derby-themed event being held May 3, were created as fundraisers for the Memorial Hospital Foundation.
The money raised supports the Foundation’s mission to help Memorial Hospital with special projects outside its normal budget, advancing health care in Southwest Georgia.
The money raised by this year’s Half Marathon and Derby Night are going towards providing critical Auto Defibrillators to vital areas of Memorial Hospital and the Amelia Medical Plaza.
After the half marathon was a children’s race. Students of Decatur County elementary schools completed a total of 12 miles leading up to Saturday’s race. Saturday morning, they ran their final 1.1 mile on the course.