Archived Outdoors

Assault on BlackRock crosses the finish line

Saturday dawned chilly and foggy at Pinnacle Park in Sylva, but that didn’t stop 73 people from completing the strenuous Assault on BlackRock, an annual race that covers 7 miles and more than 2,000 feet of elevation gain.

Josh Marcus, 29, of Mill Spring, took first in the men’s category with a time of 1:16:43, followed by Elliot Morgan, 23, of Black Mountain with 1:17:10 and Eli White, 24, of Cullowhee, with 1:17:26. On the women’s side, Sarah Briggs, 42, of Asheville took first with 1:29:40, followed by Jennifer Watkins, 39, of Asheville with 1:36:01 and Alexa Lampasona, 26, of Atlanta, with 1:40:28. 

Twenty-five people finished under the 101-minute cutoff to earn a belt buckle. 

The annual race benefited Jackson Neighbors in Need and Clean Slate Coalition, Sylva-based organizations to help people in crisis get back on their feet. More than $2,100 was raised. 

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