GLADSTONE — Out-of-town runners with area ties were pacesetters in the Gladstone-Rapid River Kiwanis Fran Cannon Annual Firecracker Run here Friday.

Blake Salbilla of Lindenhurst, Ill., became the overall winner in the 42nd running of the five-mile race at a personal-best 27:44.06 on this sunny and mild morning.

“We have a lot of family up here and a cottage near Stonington,” he said. “I had a chance to train over there and think it helped me out. I just wanted to run and hung with the leaders for a mile, then started to make my move. This is a good course and it wasn’t too hot.”

Gladstone graduate Adam Bruce, who lives in Appleton, Wis., was runner-up (27:59.81) with Brendan Williams IV of Howell, Mich. third (28:00.26).

“It felt really good to see everybody,” Bruce said. “It was the perfect temperature for a race and I’m very happy with the way everything went. At the end of the day it’s all about enjoying the sport. It had been four years since I’ve been here for the fourth. I was able to run with people I ran with in high school.”

Gianna and Marielle Chaignot of Grand Rapids, Mich., granddaughters of Gary and Mary Whitmer of Gladstone, were the leaders of the women’s race.

Sixteen-year-old Gianna was clocked in a personal-best 31:37.22, followed by 14-year-old Marielle (32:08.33) and Alisha Mabie of Escanaba (32:17.39), also a PR.

“I felt surprisingly good during the race,” Gianna said. “I think hearing the cannon go off at the start is what got me going. That got my adrenaline flowing and I was running with my sister and Alisha. The competition here was really good. The course was very good, too. We had perfect weather conditions for the race.”

Nine-year-old Ben Takkunen of Rapid River, the youngest participant in the five-mile, finished in 50:20.12.

Bryce Dannile won the kids’ one-mile at 6:23.44 and Adelaide Chaignot of Grand Rapids was the girls’ champion in 6:30.85.

Temperatures hovered in the mid 60s for the event, which drew more than 250 runners and walkers.

Five-mile

Male

10 & under — Ben Takkunen, Rapid River, 50:20.12; 11-13 — Elias Takkunen, Rapid River, 35:33.74; 14-16 — Brendan Williams IV, Howell, Mich., 28:00.26; 17-19 — Blake Salbilla, Lindenhurst, Ill., 27:44.06; 20-29 — Adam Bruce, Appleton, Wis., 27:59.81; 30-39 — Michael Mueller, Columbia, Mo., 33:44.4; 40-49 — Jeff Derkos, Escanaba, 32:49.76; 50-59 — Dave DeVet, Gladstone, 38:59.36; 60-69 — Greg Kulas, Iron Mountain, 39:11.69; 70 & over — Francis Grisner, 42:24.95.

Female

11-13 — Grace Zakowski, Lexington, Ky., 35:34.88; 14-16 — Gianna Chaignot, Grand Rapids, Mich., 31:37.22; 17-19 — Alisha Mabie, Escanaba, 32:17.39; 20-29 — Estacia Martinez, Rapid River, 35:32.75; 30-39– Amanda Jasso, 34:04.94; 40-49 — Sara Rohde, DePere, Wis., 32:34.1; 50-59 — Cheryl-Marie Nanson, 57:51.47; 60-69 — Laurie Alworden, Gladstone, 45:16.82.

One-mile

Male

5 & under — Asa Praay, 12:18.91; 6-7 — Pierson Faust, Gladstone, 8:35.68; 8-9 — Charlie Zakowski, Lexington, Ky., 8:11.99; 10-12 — Bryce Dannile, 6:23.44.

Female

5 & under — Holly Bauman, 11:34.96; 6-7 — Ella Anderson, 8:15.38; 8-9 — Madelaine Chaignot, Grand Rapids, Mich., 6:54.02; 10-12 — Adelaide Chaignot, Grand Rapids, Mich. 6:30.85.