By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

NORCO – More than 1,000 runners braved overcast skies and an excessively muddy track Sunday morning for the 25th annual Spillway Classic Trail Run.

Participants trudged through the three-mile course, which, at race time, had a 9 out of 10 sloppiness rating according to Billy Sloss, executive director of the New Orleans Track Club, host of the event.

“The downpours throughout the week and weekend really helped us get a muddy track,” Sloss said. “Many of the not-so-serious participants came out of the trail muddy from head to toe.”

The top three male finishers were Nick Accardo, 29, with a time of 16:39; Brendan Minihan, 36, with a time of 16:57; and Richard Bouckaert, 27, with a time of 17:17. Top three female finishers were Carmen Carlos, 17, with a time of 19:37, Emmi Aguillard, 20, with a time of 19:49; and Kate Accardo, 27, with a time of 20:18.

In the Masters, or 40 and over division, the top male finisher was Tom Sawyer, 45, with a time of 20:03. The top female Master was Lisa Rustemeyer, 55, with a time of 25:44.

In the Grand Masters, or 50 and over division, the top male finisher was Daryl Blink, 50, with a time of 21:10. The top female Grand Master was Kathy Kliebat, 56, with a time of 29:41.

In the Senior, or 60 and over division, the top male finisher was Anthony Clemente, 65, with a time of 30:49. The top female Senior was Brenda Malone, 71, with a time of 45:05.

Complete results can be found at the New Orleans Track Club website, www.runnotc. org/results/2012/spillway.html.