Race Updates

ShamRock & Run 5K Race Update

Mar 20, 2023

Post race update

ShamRock & Run 5K was held in Downtown Statesville on March 17, 2023 - a VERY cold morning! The team came together very well and set up the venue much faster than expected and had the course prepared and ready to go for the runners by 6:45am. With an 8:00am start we expected runners to show up around 7am but by 7:30am when only a handful of athletes showed up my thought was “oh crap... it’s too cold and everyone will be a DNS (did not show)”


That is an irrational fear all race promoters feel. Usually before the athletes show up in force.


Which they did.

The hosts of the event was Downtown Statesville Development Corporation and their incredibly professional and proficient staff. Without their dedication and hard work the event could not have been as successful as it way.


So here’s the deal with the course... it was BRUTAL! There were 2 sections to beware of.


The first one came at mile 0.85 - that’s when the runners had to run up a 2.9% average grade for 2,145 feet - during that climb the maximum grade was 4.4%.


But it was the second climb that was the deal killer! It came out of nowhere at mile 2.4 and the runners had to run a 1.9% average grade for 3,247 feet - during that climb the maximum grade was 4.5%!


Can you feel your quads screaming?????


But because this was a race and not a random training run, the runners came to race and turned in some amazing efforts.


The Mens Overall champions were:

  1. #410 - Kevin Marin from Mooresville, NC who did a 19:36 with a pace of 6:18
  2. #694 - Steven Vargas from Greenville, SC who did a 19:45 with a pace of 6:21
  3. #699 - Pacer Sheets from Yadkinville, NC who did a 20:43 with a pace of 6:40


The Females Overall champions were:

  1. #695 - Helena Franco from Mooresville, NC who did a 25:25 with a pace of 8:10
  2. #254 - Sissel Olson from Statesville, NC who did a 29:57 with a pace of 9:38
  3. #159 - Morgan Coley from Statesville, NC who did a 30:46 with a pace of 9:54


You can click here for the full results.


Overall men’s 1st Kevin Marin and 2nd Steven Vargas share some thoughts.


Overall men’s 3rd Pacer Sheets shares some thoughts.


Overall female champion Helena Franco shares some thoughts.


Overall female 2nd Sissel Olson shares some thoughts.

Overall female 3rd Morgan Coley shares some thoughts.

Thank you to all the athletes who came out and enjoyed the day.