In 2024, on the campus of Florida State University at Panama City, Caden Vandermeulen won the third annual Torch Run 5K. In 2025, Mason Brain won FSUPC's fourth annual Torch Run 5K. On Saturday morning, 24 January 2026, both Vandermeulen and Brain were in Panama City for the fifth annual Torch Run. Vandermeulen won the showdown of past champions by 200 meters, posting a winning time of 17:46. Master runner Leah Bear was the first woman in the race, coming in 23rd overall in 23:46.Vandermeulen's winning time was just one second off the event record of 17:45, set by Walter Spangler in 2023. Behind Vandermeulen, Mason Brain, the defending champion and a sophomore on the North Bay Haven cross-country team, finished runner-up in 18:31. Micah Phillips, a frosh on the Mosley High cross-country squad, took third in 19:00. Moses Mwenda was the first master runner in the 5K, placing sixth overall in 19:45.
Master runner Leah Bear was the first woman in the race, placing 23rd overall in 23:46. Adriana Cruz-Betancourth took second in the women's division, finishing 31st overall in 24:51. A cross-country runner at neighboring Gulf Coast State College, Cruz-Betancourth was the 2025 Torch Run women's champ. Aaricia Smits was third in the women's standings and 34th overall in 25:22.
220 athletes finished FSUPC's 2026 Torch Run 5K. International Running Company timed the race.
Top Ten Men, 2026 Torch Run 5K
- 17:46, Caden Vandermeulen (M, 22)
- 18:31, Mason Brain (M, 18)
- 19:00, Micah Phillips (M, 14)
- 19:12, Joseph Vanty (M, 16)
- 19:39, Kyle Arthur (M, 25)
- 19:45, Moses Mwenda (M, 45)
- 20:44, Alex Kinchen (M, 19)
- 20:50, Tristen Becker (M, 17)
- 20:53, Sergio Saucedo (M, 20)
- 20:56, Lincoln Lacourse (M, 17)
Top Ten Women, 2026 Torch Run 5K
- 23:46, Leah Bear (F, 40)
- 24:51, Adriana Cruz-Betancourth (F, 20)
- 25:22, Aaricia Smits (F, 27)
- 26:43, Johanna Thompson (F, 21)
- 27:25, Melissa Fernandez (F, 35)
- 27:36, Emma Wisener (F, 21)
- 28:00, Merissa Hudson (F, 47)
- 28:35, Laura Aburto (F, 40)
- 28:48, Jennifer Worthy (F, 44)
- 29:07, Angela Bigsby (F, 42)
| Florida State University Panama City Torch Run 5K winners, 2022 - 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Men | Women | Finishers |
| 22 January 2022 | 17:57, Matthew Matson | 25:03, Krystin Guirey | 60 |
| 21 January 2023 | 17:45, Walter Spangler | 19:18, Margaret Bartlow | 137 |
| 20 January 2024 | 19:41, Caden Vandermeulen | 18:08, Margaret Bartlow | 135 |
| 25 January 2025 | 20:05, Mason Brain | 22:27, Adriana Cruz Betancourth | 212 |
| 24 January 2026 | 17:46, Caden Vandermeulen | 23:46, Leah Bear | 220 |
Links
- Complete results of Florida State University Panama City's 2026 Torch Run 5K
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRsVevIUhg1g-yP3pikx3xDvTmrzKqZWcFRVxGhw8brWXjAsCTHGKJ0DhorUREA87bEAW7cZuxy5TF1/pubhtml
- 2025 story, “Mason Brain and Adriana Cruz-Betancourth take the Torch Run in Panama City”
https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2025/01/fsupc-torch-run-2025.html
- 2024 story, “Maggie Bartlow was on fire at the Torch Run”
https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2024/01/fsupc-torch-run-2024.html
- Find your next race in the region on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
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