By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

NORCO – Hundreds of adrenaline-hungry runners recently braved some rather treacherous race conditions as part of the second annual St. Charles Trail Run through the Bonnet Carre Spillway earlier this month.

Chuck George, who serves as the race director as a member of New Orleans Running Systems, said he started the run in an effort to bring a true “trail run” to the region.

He said the race differs from the upcoming Spillway Classic Trail run, a race he founded when he was part of the New Orleans Track Club.

“This course is pure trail for the entire three miles,” George said.

“It doesn’t go on the levee. The course offers a mostly sandy surface, and there is a lot of heavy forest canopy,” he added

George said all who finished the 3-mile trail run received awards. The first overall male and female received $100, while second place finishers earned $75. Third-place male and female runners received $50.

Overall division winners were as follows:

Open Male:

1st: Nick Accardo, 29, with a time of 17:14

2nd: Brendan Minihan Jr., 36, with a time of 17:25

3rd: Brock Moreaux, 20, with a time of 17:55

Open Female:

1st: Stacy Roberts, 47, with a time of 22:28

2nd: Marcelle Rousseau, 33, with a time of 23:54

3rd: Amanda Reeves, 29, with a time of 24:29

Male Masters Division:

Gary Marshall, 43, with a time of 21:18

Female Masters Division:

Lisa Wilkerson, 47, with a time of 24:55

Male Grand Masters Division:

Kenny Mire, 63, with a time of 21:32

Female Grand Masters Division:

Lisa Rustemeyer, 55, with a time of 26:05

Male Seniors Division:

Earle Pope, 67, with a time of 26:40

Female Seniors Division:

Marcia Finkelstein, 61, with a time of 39:56