GLADSTONE — An Illinois resident earned top honors in the Gladstone-Rapid River Kiwanis Francis Cannon Firecracker five-mile run here Saturday morning.

Blake Salbilla of Lake Villa led the way in 27 minutes, 28.68 seconds, followed by Derek Douglas at 28:41.41 and Luke LaFave (28:56.4), both of Escanaba.

They were followed by women’s champion Caroline Randall of Hastings, Mich. at 29:55.63.

“I wanted to get a good workout and I thought it would be fun to do it on the Fourth of July,” she said. “As a senior I would like to do well in the (Division 2) state meet. I was fourth last year. My grandfather (Gladstone coach Gary Whitmer) taught me the mechanics and how to run.”

Becky Cozzi of Villa Park, Ill. was the women’s runner-up (34:57.34) and Hanna Salbilla of Lake Villa placed third (35:58.72).

Charlie Blair of Gladstone won the 2½-mile race in a personal-best 15:39.4. He was followed by the top women’s finisher, Kara Miller of Libertyville, Ill. (15:53.61) and Nick Moulds (16:05.13) and Simon Moore (17:05.33), both of Gladstone.

“I just kept a steady pace,” Blair said. “It felt pretty good to get that time. It was nice and warm out here. I was glad to see that the humidity went down from the last few days. I used this as conditioning for cross country.”

Elonna-Sherae LaCosse of Rapid River placed second among the women at 18:01.26 and Reese Lovell of Gladstone took third (19:05.13).

In the kids’ one-mile run, Fischer Drabenstadt was the overall winner at 6:19.36 and Ella Branam of Manitowoc, Wis. was the girls’ pacesetter in 6:22.54.

The races, held under sunny and mild conditions with temperatures in the 60s, drew more than 300 runners and walkers.

Five-mile

Male

10 & under — Ben Takkunen, Perkins, 41:32.17; 11-13 — Landon Kangas, Rapid River, 34:54.85; 14-16 — Lucas Houy, Spokane Valley, Wash, 30:35.65; 17-19 — Blake Salbilla, Lake Villa, Ill., 27:28.68; 20-29 — Derek Douglas, Escanaba, 28:41.41; 30-39 — L.J. Caron, Cornell, 32:14.71; 40-49 — Jeff Derkos, Escanaba, 32:18.29; 50-59 — Gregory Randall, Hastings, Mich., 32:50.71; 60-69 — Pat Alworden, Gladstone, 42:34.64; 70 & over — Glenn Lundin, 46:27.07.

Female

11-13 – Ava Richey, Woodstock, Ill., 40:35.23; 14-16 — Evonna LaCosse, Rapid River, 37:28.38; 17-19 — Caroline Randall, Hastings, Mich. 29:55.63; 20-29 — Estacia Martinez, 36:17.08; 30-39 — Amanda Jasso, Escanaba, 36:38.79; 40-49 — Becky Cozzi, 34:57.34; 50-59 — Kate Johnson, Lansing, Mich. 41:15.85; 60-69 — Laurie Alworden, Gladstone, 43:04.09.

2½-mile

Male

11-13 — Matt Lopez, Gladstone, 18:08.1; 14-16 — Charlie Blair, Gladstone, 15:39.4; 17-19 — James Blair, Gladstone, 19:19.96; 20-29 — Braylin Kleikamp, Escanaba, 23:06.93; 30-39 — Jim Anderson, Rapid River, 25:10.74; 40-49 — Bryan Selinger, Elizabethtown, Ky., 25:16.92; 50-59 — Todd LaFave, Escanaba, 18:30.9; 60-69 — Joe Valen, 27:37.78; 70 & over — Bob Bosk, 27:38.73.

Female

10 & under — Lillian Short, Rapid River, 33:26.56; 14-16 — Elonna-Sherae LaCosse, Rapid River, 18:01.26; 17-19 — Lauren Johnson, Lansing, Mich., 21:37.33; 20-29 — Kara Miller, Libertyville, Ill, 15:53.61; 30-39 — Katey Huber, Gladstone, 23:28.6; 40-49 — Alicia Hughes, Gladstone, 21:56.46; 50-59 — Jackie Benson, 21:02.86.

One-mile

Male

5 & under — Asa Praay, West Layfette, Ind., 8:56.51; 6-7 — Roran Kuehl, Escanaba, 8:36.04; 8-9 — Alex Poma, Rapid River, 7:18.24; 10-12 — Fischer Drebenstadt, 6:19.36.

Female

5 & under — Vera Rhodes, Rapid River, 9:25.65; 6-7 — Gwen Poma, Rapid River, 7:37.05; 8-9 — Averi Williams, Howell, Mich., 7:01.72; 10-12 — Ella Branam, Manitowoc, Wis., 6:22.54.