Houston’s racing scene was buzzing over the weekend of November 15–16 as runners of all ages and backgrounds turned out for a packed slate of events across the city.
One of the biggest celebrations came from Autism Speaks, which marked the 10th anniversary of its annual 5K/8K. The milestone edition drew strong fields and enthusiastic crowds, with standout performances across both distances. In the men’s 5K, Bob Cottrell broke the tape in 22:41, followed closely by Alejandro Garcia in 22:46 and Jorge Carreon in 23:37. On the women’s side, Laura Contreras claimed first in 27:46, edging out Amparo Lopez Gimenez at 27:52 and Jenna Esnard in 28:15. The 8K delivered its own excitement, with Sam Hulse winning the men’s race in 30:02, followed by Mark Speets (30:37) and Michael Rawls (36:11). Kim Lowry dominated the women’s 8K in 31:20, with Lindsay McClelland (37:49) and Cara Caldwell (38:34) rounding out the podium.
Bel Inizio also hosted its annual Giving Thanks 5K/10K, offering another strong race-day showing for local athletes. Jack Adams had an impressive performance in the men’s 5K, finishing first in 17:27, with Kota Fuchiwaki following in 22:12 and Marcus Lewis in 22:38. The women’s 5K brought a tight race, with Natalie Trevino winning in 21:23 and Fatima Yusuf just ten seconds behind in 21:33. Nathan Fuentes claimed third in 23:15. The men’s 10K saw Chris Cholewa take the top spot in 44:39, followed by Isaiah Chavira (44:53) and Tetsuya Numakami (45:20). In the women’s 10K, Elise Roth earned the win in 47:45 ahead of Lena Grabherr’s 49:53.
Rounding out the weekend, the La Porte Half Marathon concluded the popular Bridge Series with a fast and competitive field. Chris Robbins came away with the men’s victory in 1:23:55, narrowly ahead of Makoto Suwa at 1:24:09 and Jorge Ramirez in 1:26:34. On the women’s side, Kelsey Ramirez posted a strong 1:26:04 to take first place, followed by Tory Robertson in 1:33:36 and Gladis Melendez in 1:42:33.
Also on November 15, Girls on the Run Houston held its end-of-season 5K, bringing together girls, families, coaches, and community supporters for a morning full of energy and encouragement. The event celebrated confidence, teamwork, and joy, adding to a memorable weekend of racing across the region.
