The Fiddler 5K and Fun Run had to deal with something this year the event has never dealt with before … rain and a lot of it. With over 10 inches of rain recorded in some parts of the county over the weekend, some runners decided not to brave the elements. But despite the dark skies and the relentless downpours, the race went off without a hitch.
According to Race Director Tecia Puckett Pryor, 349 runners registered for the race, though the inclement weather kept the actual participation down to 275. Runners dealt with unusually cool temperatures and non-stop rain from the beginning to the end of the event, making the usual worries of heat exhaustion and dehydration of much less concern.
Runners at this year’s event came from as far away as Washington State, with some making it a family affair as one entire family from the Baltimore, Maryland area competed in the race.
The top male and overall winner of the 5K race is a familiar name.  With his fifth win, 42-year-old Scott Fanning of Lebanon came in with a time of 17:17.959. The local favorite, 26-year-old Travis Hendrixson of Smithville, came in a close second, only 18 seconds behind with a time of 17:35.664. The top female overall was 35-year-old Kristen VanVranken of Silver Point with a time of 19:57.129 a women’s course record.
The masters in the 5K division were 56-year-old Lee Piccirillo of Murfreesboro as the top male with a time of 19:05.468, and 40-year-old Tracy Burtnett of Lebanon as the top female with a time of 23:04.536.
In the nine-and-under division, nine-year-old Hope Ilias of Lebanon took the top female spot with a time of 23:57.581, while nine-year-old Benjamin Morse of Soddy-Daisy came in as top male with a time of 24:48.027.
Fourteen-year-old John Elrod of Lebanon took top place in the 10-14 division with a time of 19:17.806, while 14-year-old Hannah Whited of Auburntown was the female winner with a time of 22:24.845.
In the 15-19-year-old division, 17-year-old Spencer Morse of Soddy-Daisy came in with a time of 19:04.151, with 17-year-old Megan Roach of Franklin taking the top female rank with a time of 20:51.579.
Twenty-three-year-old Peter Essler of Johnson City had the fastest time in the 20-24-year-old division coming in at 22:44.383. McMinnville’s 20-year-old Caroline Carter had the fastest female time with 26:49.237.
Travis Hendrixson may have placed second in the race, but he took the top spot in his age division. His 17:35.664 time placed him number one in the 25-29-year-old division, while 27-year-old Saerica Root came in with 24:58.361 in the female category. 
In the 30-34-year-old division, 34-year-old Bryan Oliff of Maitland, Floida, took the top male spot with his time of 20:13.576. Thirty-two-year-old Miriam England took the female spot with a time of 27:39.009.
Thirty-nine-year-old Micael Lepley of Cookeville was the top male in the 35-39-year-old division with a time of 20:53.739, while 39-year-old Leah Ingram of Smithville was the top female with a time of 27:18.873.
With 42-year-old Fanning as the overall winner, he was ineligible to win in the 40-44-year-old-division.  That honor went to 40-year-old Brian Elrod of Lebanon who came in with a time of 19:22.737. Kristy Floyd of Chester, Maryland, was the top female with a time of 24:49.424. 
A Franklin man, 46-year-old Randy Roach, took first place in the 45-49 division with a time of  23:51.244. Forty-nine-year-old Allison Brooks was the top female with a time of 25:43.602.
In the 50-54 division, 51-year-old Paul Wills took top honors with a time of 19:36.872.  Fifty-three-year-old Brenda Jones was the top female with a time of 27:32.677.
Two Smithville residents won the 55-59-year-old division with 59-year-old Jim Wall coming in with a time of 26:09.305 in the male category, and 55-year-old Brenda Hooper coming in at 41:59.190 for the females.
In the 60-64 division, 60-year-old Liz Trinkler won the female category with her time of 27:40.354, while 60-year-old David Terrell won the male category with a time of 34:18.017.
Sixty-five-year-old Danny Jenkins of Smithville won the 65-69-year-old division running the race with a time of 28:47.921, while 67-year-old Lynda dePaulis of Hermitage came in at 29:25.673 for the females.
In the 70-74-year-old division, 70-year-old Thomas dePaulis of Hermitage ran a time of 29:26.050 for the males, while 70-year-old Carolyn Ervin of Smithville had a time of 53:33.688 for the females.
For the 75-years-old and up division, 80-year-old Jack Watkins of Clemmons, North Carolina, ran a time of 37:57.850.
This year’s Fun Run also continued on along the rain-soaked roadways with a slew of children participating.
Eleven-year-old Elizabeth Welch of Sparta was the overall and top female winner.  She came in with a time of 6:56.419. The top overall male was 10-year-old Luke Jenkins of Smithville, who came in with a time of 7:00.956.
In the 12-and-under division, nine-year-old Abigail Welch of Sparta came in with a time of 7:07.910 for the females, while seven-year-old Conner Close of Smithville recorded a time of 7:27.235 for the males.
Thirteen-year-old Weslee Burtnett of Lebanon came in with a time of 7:06.458 in the 13-and-up division, while 54-year-old Vicki LeFevre of Huntsville, Alabama, ran a time of 10:37.142 in the female category.