More than 20,000 participants filled the streets of New Orleans for the 48th annual Crescent City Classic, held on the Saturday before Easter. The race, which started near the Caesars Superdome and finished in City Park, marked its second consecutive sold-out year, showing strong growth from last year’s 18,000 participants.
Rolando Ortiz Takes First Place in Men’s Race
Rolando Ortiz claimed victory with a time of 31 minutes and 4 seconds in his first-ever Crescent City Classic appearance. Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, Ortiz moved to the United States four years ago for college, where he competed in Division I track. He later graduated from McNeese State University. Ortiz said he held his pace through most of the race before pushing ahead in the final stretch to secure the win.
Bryant White Finishes Strong Again
Bryant White Jr. finished second with a time of 31:42, marking his second consecutive runner-up finish in the event. A member of the Power Milers running club, White stayed close to Ortiz for most of the race but said the heat affected him in the final mile.
Annie LeHardy Dominates Women’s Race
In the women’s category, Annie LeHardy delivered a standout performance, finishing in 33:52 and beating the next competitor by more than three minutes. Originally from Virginia and a former University of North Carolina runner, LeHardy said her improved training this year helped her achieve a stronger result despite the challenging heat.
Other Top Finishers
Alicia Stamey of Baton Rouge placed second among women with a time of 37:16, followed by Courtney Cobb, Emmi Aguilard, and Maxey Hebert. In the men’s race, Augustin Juneau, Jacob Plocher, and Carlos Zervigon rounded out the top finishers behind Ortiz and White.
Celebration Continues in City Park
After crossing the finish line, runners joined a lively post-race festival in City Park. The event featured live music from Flow Tribe and the popular costume contest, which was won by a group dressed as characters from Stranger Things.
Community Spirit on Full Display
Event organisers expressed excitement over the turnout, especially after uncertainty in recent years. Officials said it was encouraging to see the race return to full strength, with thousands of participants enjoying both the competition and the celebration.
