Runners and cyclists converged on Caney Lakes Recreation Area over the weekend for the second annual Kisatchie Crusher, a two-day event featuring gravel racing, running, road cycling, and mountain biking amid the scenery of Caney Lakes and Kisatchie National Forest.
Held September 12-13, this year’s event expanded the Kisatchie Crusher into a full weekend, with 5K and 10K races and three gravel cycling distances Saturday, followed by Fondo road rides and mountain bike races Sunday.
Saturday’s gravel races drew 66 finishers across the three distances. Benson Hall of Ruston won the 66-mile Gravel Crusher in 3:12:28, followed by Kane Lacombe of Calhoun in 3:16:29 and Hayden Slack of Bossier City in 3:31:56.
Ryan Stoa of Baton Rouge topped the 43-mile race in 2:34:31. Thomas Douthat of Baton Rouge finished second in 2:54:37, followed by George Rangel of Shreveport in 2:57:17.
The 18-mile Gravel Crusher drew 25 finishers, with Everett McKeller of McKinney, Texas, taking first in 1:09:20. Kade Stephens, also of McKinney, followed just three seconds later at 1:09:23, while Matthew Masterson of Gonzales finished third in 1:10:50.
Another 38 participants finished the running events. Jordin Miller led the 15 finishers in the 10K with a time of 45:16. Jason Engle of Haughton finished second in 46:29, and Minden’s Charlie Chandler placed third in 47:07.
Kevin Deiber took first among 23 finishers in the 5K with a time of 19:37. Gigi Garcia of Barksdale Air Force Base recorded a time of 27:26, and Minden’s TJ Hughes finished in 27:29.
Mountain bikers took to the trails Sunday, competing in beginner and Category 1-3 divisions. Richard Muller of Shreveport won the beginner race in 30:23, followed by Ryan Farmer of Marshall, Texas, in 31:06 and Miller in 31:40.
McKeller followed his Saturday gravel victory with another win Sunday, taking the Category 3 mountain bike race in 40:41. Trent Humphrey of Haughton was second at 41:51, and Jeffrey Juneau of Harvey finished third in 1:00:09.
Kyle Coke won the Category 2 race in 1:15:32. Slack finished second in 1:21:49, just one second ahead of Carlos Gutierrez at 1:21:50.
Hall also added a second victory for the weekend, winning the Category 1 mountain bike race in 1:39:00 after taking the 66-mile gravel title the previous day. Justin Miller of Shreveport placed second in 1:56:02, and Buddy Caskey of Bossier City was third in 2:08:10.
The Kisatchie Crusher is organized by Bike Minden and Active Minden as both a recreational event and a fundraiser for trail improvements. Proceeds are used to maintain and expand trails, including construction of bridges, for hiking, running, and cycling at Caney Lakes and in Kisatchie National Forest.
The event also serves to introduce visiting cyclists and runners to Caney Lakes and the extensive network of gravel roads surrounding Minden, which organizers have promoted as a destination for cycling in North Louisiana.
