GRAND RAPIDS — First impressions were winning impressions Saturday morning in the Fifth Third River Bank Run 10K race.
Matt Logan, of Grand Rapids, and Taryn Gibson, of Louisville, won the 6.2-mile event in their first attempts. Logan, 23, who recently completed his running career at Calvin College, won the men’s race with a time of 33 minutes, 57.01 seconds. Gibson, 24, who just finished a master’s degree program at the University of Louisville, won the women’s 10K in 34:53.10 seconds. While the 10K started under overcast skies, rain and wind arrived about midway through the race. “It started to come down good at about three or four miles,” Logan said. “It was fine though. The rain wasn’t bad but the wind made it tougher. It was kind of exhilarating, actually.” Logan won by 37 seconds over Dan VandenAkker of Grand Rapids. “I ran with (VandenAkker) for about four miles, or even a little longer,” Logan said. “I opened up a gap between four and five miles.” Logan ran as a member of Partners Worldwide, “a charity organization that partners with business owners in developing countries,” he said. “We are trying to raise money to create business opportunities and help people in developing countries.” A native of Pittsburgh, Gibson ran as a fifth-year senior for Louisville in the NCAA 10K Championships. “It was great out there. This is an awesome race,” she said. “There are so many spectators out there. It was a great showing.”
Gibson’s time set a new women’s 10K record, but the Fifth Third River Bank Run has included a 10K race for only the past two years. Suzanne Larsen won last year’s 10K in 36:47.