Fifth Season Races registration numbers back over 1,000 for first time since 2019

CEDAR RAPIDS — For the first time since 2019, registration numbers for the annual Fifth Season Races exceeded 1,000.

According to co-race director Jim Dwyer, 1,011 individuals registered for Tuesday’s 37th running of Cedar Rapids’ signature road race.

“I think today went great,” Dwyer said. “The turnout was slightly higher than last year. There was a lot of positive feedback, but we’re always looking at ways we can improve our races for participants. So, with a few tweaks, I think there’s room to grow — both in terms of overall race experience and participation numbers.”

Tuesday’s field was comprised of many competitive in-state runners.

“This race has a big local flavor,” Dwyer said. “A lot of our top finishers are Iowa residents.”

One of those local flavors was the top men’s finisher — Swisher’s Matt Lorenz.

Lorenz, a former runner at the University of Iowa and current cross country and track and field coach at Cedar Rapids Prairie, took home his second straight Fifth Season 8K title with a time of 24 minutes, 31 seconds.

“I really take pride in this race,” Lorenz said. “It’s my hometown race. I went to Cedar Rapids Prairie, so it’s always fun to come out here and have a bunch of people that you know out here racing and in the crowd cheering.”

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Lorenz, 24, shaved nearly a minute off his 2022 winning time of 25:25.

“I just tried to go out a lot faster this year,” Lorenz said. “Last year, my first mile was 5:05, and this year I wanted to get a sub-5 start. And I went out and ran 4:48.”

In addition to taking a more aggressive approach early, Lorenz attributes his faster 2023 time to training for shorter races and sprints, as well as competing with the athletes he coaches.

“This last spring, I ran some shorter races,” Lorenz said. “I got on the track a little bit and ran a 5K and a couple 3,200s, just focusing a little more on the shorter stuff while still keeping fit for the longer races.

“I get to run with some pretty fast kids every day at practice, and they really push me on the shorter stuff that’s a little out of my comfort zone — running sprints and running hills. So, running with them every day, they really push me.”

Lorenz is the first man to win back-to-back Fifth Season 8Ks since Julius Kiptoo did it in 2005-06.

“What an awesome event it is out here,” Lorenz said. “We have a great running community here. I’m really proud to be a part of it.”

Rounding out the top five were Daniel Docherty of St. Paul, Minn. (24:53); Jacob Green of Cedar Rapids (25:16); Luke Guttormson of West Bend, Wis. (25:26); and Jaden Merrick of Cedar Falls (25:33).

Emma Huston wins women’s 8K

Des Moines’ Emma Huston took the crown in the women’s 8K with a time of 27:54.

Typically a marathon runner, Huston used Tuesday’s race as a way to prepare for her upcoming competitions.

“I kind of did this as a tuneup,” Huston said. “I’m going to do the Bix (7) and then the Twins Cities Marathon (Oct. 1) in the fall.”

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Huston, 28, was a runner at Drake University.

While the 8K isn’t her usual distance of choice, she enjoyed the challenge and the atmosphere of the competition.

“I’ve been doing some work on the track and working on some faster stuff and running hills,” Huston said, “which there’s a big hill in this one, so it was definitely good practice.

“It was a great course. It was a great morning — a little hot and humid, but it was great to be in Cedar Rapids.”

Brooke Slayman of Solon came in second with a time of 28:39, followed by Pasca Myers of Ames (28:47); Elaina Biechler of Dubuque (30:10); and Deanna Newhouse of Cedar Rapids (30:31).