With hunting season in full swing, there was one special precaution taken at the Li’l Rhody Runaround 8 mile trail race: no orange, no running. Unlike some bordering states, apparently hunting on Sundays is legal in RI. Does that really surprise you? After all, prostitution was legal in Li’l Rhody for the longest time, as long as it was indoors. Gotta love it!

Safety precautions during hunting season are not to be taken lightly. Just last night the editor/founder of Level Renner (Mr. Balance himself) was “running on trail at dusk & came face to face with a bow hunter. That put a little giddy-up in my step.”

Back to the race action, where the field of nearly 250 runners adorned in safety orange took off into the woods of Charlestown led by Greg Hammett and Bronson Venable. According to ace photographer Scott Mason, Hammett was leading Venable as late as a mile and a half to go. Venable was able to make a move late in the race that Hammett couldn’t cover and ended up breaking the tape in 46:55. Hammett was next in 47:32, followed by Matthew Walker (47:44) and Nike Woznyk (47:50). Those were the only guys to run under 48:00.

Not to be overlooked, Justin Bentley was 5th in 48:08. Just behind him was the top masters runner on the day: Jonny Hammett in 48:10. There was a brief gap before Jeff Walker came in next at 49:10. Jeff was the top senior runner of the day.

Youngster Paige Ethier (URI) was the top women’s runner in 55:58. Paige finished 21st overall and had a nice cushion over Anne Leonard Blake (24th, 56:26).

The top masters and senior women were even closer than the men. Katrina Gustafson finished 46th overall (1:01:10) followed by Marion Ortel in 48th (1:01:35).

For more on the race: results

Photos courtesy of Scott Mason Photo. Additional shots from this race here.