Event showcases Caney Lakes and Kisatchie National Forest trails
The first-ever Kisatchie Crusher Gravel & Run took place Saturday morning, September 6, at Caney Lakes Park, drawing a large crowd of participants from Louisiana and surrounding states.
Runners and cyclists from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Mississippi joined locals for the event, which featured gravel bike races of 15, 30, and 60 miles, along with 5K and 10K runs. Clubs represented included the Minden Run Club, Glenbrook School’s cross country team, and Team LaS’port racing club. Vendors such as Flugers and the Adventure Provision Company were also on hand.
Heavy rain early Saturday morning gave way to cooler weather and misty views over the Kisatchie National Forest by the time the races began. Organizers said the conditions highlighted the scenic routes, which included paved roads, gravel climbs, wooded trails, and views of Caney Lake.
“We are so thankful for all the runners and cyclists for showing up and supporting us,” race director Devin Martin said following the event. “I think we accomplished our goal of showing off the park and its beautiful amenities. It was a lot of hard work for all of us volunteers, but we did it and we’re glad to do it. Tentatively planning for next year around the same time.”
According to Strava, the 60-mile gravel route covered 59.09 miles. The course included a mix of climbs, rolling hills, and long stretches of gravel.
Top finishers by event were as follows:
- 60-mile gravel: Randy Wells, 53, first place, 3:19:14; Cody Fruge, 50, second place, 3:23:02; Steven Barraza, 40, third place, 3:23:01.
- 30-mile gravel: Jenny Lee, 35, first place, 1:51:08; Keith Pitman, 52, second place, 1:55:07; Scott McMickens, 53, third place, 1:55:39.
- 15-mile gravel: Kenny Chainshaw, 36, first place, 50:42; Braley Raborn, 38, second place, 51:59; Bowen Meshell, 13, third place, 52:43.
- 10K run: Trent Clemons, 14, first place, 41:18; Charles Chandler, 43, second place, 46:13; Karah Bradshaw, 31, third place, 46:41.
- 5K run: Emerson McLelland, 15, first place, 26:44; Marta Sramkova, 30, second place, 27:10; Emma Garner, 16, third place, 28:01.
Proceeds from the Kisatchie Crusher will go toward trail maintenance and expansion, along with the development of a youth mountain bike team.
