Record Number Of Runners For Flotilla Road Race

Runners dash from the starting line to begin the 46th Flotilla Road Race at Lakeside Park in Syracuse. InkFreeNews photos by Keith Knepp.
By Keith Knepp
InkFreeNews
SYRACUSE — The 46th running of the Flotilla Road Race saw a record number of participants take to the streets and roads around the north side of Syracuse Lake on Tuesday morning. Runners had the option of a 3.3-mile or 8-mile course to help kick off the Fourth of July activities in the Lakeland area. Additionally, walkers also were able to participate on the 3.3 path.
According to co-race director McCaylen Croninger, there were 330 runners registered, with runners from as far away as Oregon and Washington state.
The course led away from Lakeside Park and the Syracuse Community Center to the north and took the shorter course runners up and around Maxwelton Golf Club.
Merging along South County Line Road and then later Northshore Drive, runners and walkers got a view of the golf course’s front and back nines as well as glimpses of Syracuse Lake on the back stretch of the race grid.
The 8-milers continued past the 3.3-mile finish and into Syracuse, projecting south into Oakwood Park and back north, eventually rejoining Northshore Drive to hit the finish line back at Lakeside Park.
Awards were handed out at the conclusion of the two races with four men and four women being recognized as the winners in their age divisions: overall, master, grandmaster and senior grandmaster. Additionally, the top three finishers in several age groups, ranging from teenagers to septuagenarians, also were lauded for their efforts. All the winners received a variety of prizes from race director Brian Shepherd.
“Lots of people, over 300,” said Shepherd. “The best race we’ve had since COVID. People are starting to come back out. I love it. IT’s a great community thing!”
- Age category winners for the 3.3-mile Flotilla Road Race included, in the front row from left: Yvette Rojas, female overall winner; and Resia Rinker, female senior grandmasters division. Back row Nick Kirkpatrick, male overall winner; Brian Shepherd, masters; Nancy Kleinrock, female grandmasters; Craig Miller, male grandmasters; and Justin Frericks, male senior grandmasters. Not pictured is Jennifer Davis, senior masters.
- The 8-mile Flotilla Road Race age category winners included, in the front row from left: Amy Kuhn, female masters division; Derek Miller, male overall winner; and Evie Miller, female overall winner. Back row: Rod Cart, male senior grandmasters; Lisa Hurst female grandmasters; Steve Leffers, male grandmasters; and Chris White, male masters. Not pictured is Jenny Isenbarger, female senior grandmasters.
- Nick Kirkpatrick blazes through the finish line of the 3.3 mile Flotilla Road Race. Kirkpatrick’s time was nearly two minutes faster than the second place finisher.
- More than 300 runners from around the country participated in the 2023 Flotilla Road Race.



