43rd Annual Bluegrass 10K brings out thousands

LEXINGTON, Ky (LEX 18) — This Fourth of July morning, more than 3,500 took to the streets of downtown Lexington for the 43rd Annual Bluegrass 10K.

Racers were from 25 Kentucky counties, 35 states, and three countries. The race is for everyone, no matter their athletic goals. For 5-year-old runner Amelia Batton, the race was the beginning of a family rivalry.

"Well, I beat my uncle," Batton told LEX 18.

To beat her uncle, who is a Marine, it took a creative game plan. She told LEX 18 her strategy, "I made my uncle give me a piggy back ride the whole way, and then when I saw the finish line, I got down and runned because I got so close!"

For former UK athlete Zack Beavin, the stakes were different.

"I'm kind of running the Olympic trials next spring, so I'm taking this time in my life to see how fast I can make myself," he said.

Beavin won the whole Bluegrass 10K, for the third year in a row.

For Craig Clark, 66, the Bluegrass 10K is a 40 year tradition.

"My family, our friends. They all know. 'What you doing on the fourth?' They know I go running. They don't mess with me. You know, 'What you doing on the fourth?' I'm going running. So, it's a great gift," he said.

The Bluegrass 10K women's winner is an Eastern Kentucky University Grad Student from Australia, Charlotte Imer.

"I've actually never been in America on the 4th of July. I've always been in Australia during this holiday period, so it's a good start to my first 4th of July!" Imer said.