Boys 14-and-Under: Gaines Penney Owns the Field

• Solo finisher, solo champion: Gaines Penney, 13, was the only competitor in the M0-14 age group — and he got the job done.
• Distance covered: A full 10K in Huntsville, Alabama, on a humid December morning — 60°F, 85% humidity, and a 75:55/mile average pace.

Gaines Penney didn't need a rival to make his effort real. The 13-year-old from Huntsville was the only finisher in the boys 14-and-under age group at the 2022 Rocket City Marathon 10K, crossing the line in 7:51:46 — a time that stands as the definitive mark for his age group on this day.

At 75:55 per mile, this was a long morning on the legs for a young teenager, set against sticky December humidity that made the conditions feel heavier than the mild 60°F temperature might suggest. Gaines toed the line, ran every step, and finished. That's the whole story — and it's a good one.