A hometown girl welcomed back one of the more unique experiences in American running on Saturday.

Kristi Hall, a 29-year-old Vicksburg native, finished first in just her fourth race back after two years away from competitive running, winning the women’s division of the 20th annual Over the River Run. Hall crossed the finish line in 34 minutes, 44 seconds, 14 seconds ahead of runner-up Keri Frazier.

“It was great. I so loved being back on the river,” said Hall, who took the time off from running to have children. “Two years ago, I had my first child and last year, I was just scared to run. This year, I’ve been training and this was my fourth race of the year.”

Hall won the Courthouse Run in Jackson but finished second in the two others.

“Today, I had a girl right behind me and all I could think about  was how I lost my last two races by just 15 seconds,” she said.

The overall winner was 26-year-old Flowood resident Caleb Hammons. He dusted the field with a winning time of 27:44, 21 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Dale Griffin of Pearl.

David Smalley was the overall winner of the 5-mile race walk with a time of 43:41, and Elizabeth Howard won the women’s division in 53:09.

Chris Luke of Vicksburg won the 1-mile fun run in 6:16, and Liberty’s Brittany Harrell was second in 6:56.

Hammons normally competes in marathons and half-marathon. He’s training for the Blues Marathon in Jackson in January and also plans to run in the Bass Pro Shops half-marathon in Missouri.

“It’s the first time I’ve run it. It was good competition. I knew several of the guys chasing me and there was even one from Germany,” Hammons said. “It was a pretty cool course. I wish I could’ve enjoyed the view more. It was a nice, flat run.”

The OTRR returned to the Old Mississippi River Bridge after a one-year hiatus because of construction. Last year’s route went along Iowa Boulevard. Attendance was up with the return to the more scenic route over the bridge, with 411 people participating in the 5-mile run and walk and 1-mile fun run compared to 356 in 2007.

In 2006, the last time the OTRR was held on the bridge, 577 people participated.

Mack Varner, one of the Mississippi Track Club’s long-time members and a Vicksburg resident, was elated to see the race back in its traditional spot.

“Our numbers were really down last year without the bridge, but this year the numbers were nearly tripled. You can’t beat the beauty, the scenery of running across the Mississippi River. It’s a unique experience. They don’t do it in New Orleans or Memphis,” Varner said. “We really have to thank the Mississippi River Bridge Commission for working on the bridge to get it back.”

One runner came farther than anyone. Jenz Kissell of Kiel, Germany is in town for a one month business assignment with ERDC. He saw a flyer and decided it would be a fun thing to do.

“I saw a leaflet at McAllister’s while dining with a couple of my co-workers. We decided to join as a team. I’ve run races before in Hamburg and Berlin but never across a river. I think the only run in Germany that crosses the Rhine is the Colonge Marathon,” said Kissell, who finished second in his 25-29 age group.

Over The River Run Winners

5 Mile Run – Men

Overall: Caleb Hammons 27:44

Masters: David Shumate 32:10

Grand Masters: Jeff Hathorn 29:03

10 & Under: Max Burdine 43:42

11-14: Camden Perez 34;22, Dixon Stone 48:54

15-19: Darius Harrell 43:26, Ronald Bell 57:54

20-24: Je’Kel Smith 32:03, Reuben Oates 35:42, Mark Melton 46:25

25-29: Dale Griffin 28:05, Jen Kiesel 30:25, Patrick Free 37:07

30-34: Miles Martin 28:42, Nathan Hall 29:30, William Morris 34:11

35-39: Bryan Register 34:41, Alex George 35:13, Robert Perez 37:03

40-44: Bryan Lagg 32:59, Phil Allen 35:40, Alfred McClodden 36:31

45-49: Terry Waller 37:50, Jamie Tillotson 38:52, Gerald Finley 39:55

50-54: Armando Marquez 30:18, Mark Lipking 32:46, Jose Llopis 37:15

55-59: Robert Sadler 40:44, Edward Hill 40:48, Mac Ferris 43:04

60-64: Mack Varner 39:31, Ike Henry 40:50, Tom Leggett 43:56

65-69: Tad Jurgens 34;57, David Hankins 35:19, Frank Pattersonj 49:422

70 & Over: Jim Pinnix 47:36, Jerry Parker 48:45, Bob Singletary 55:43

5 Mile Run – Women

Overall: Kristi Hall 34:44

Masters: Teresa Crothers 36:13

Grand Masters: Mary Lohrenz 39:42

15-19: Ashley Carrillo 38:26

20-24: Lyndsey Freeny 49:14, Mary Haskins 50:42, Marie Visser 52:59

25-29: Keri Frqazier 34:58, Bethany Barker 37:07, Megan deJong 43:45

30-34: Bridgett Jolly 40:38, Jaime Parsons 41:35, Kesha Funches 42:29

35-39: Amy Macon 36:00, Rachel Cowan 38:47, Amy Haygood 41:05

40-44: Francine Johnson 38:07, Jewel Hollings 42:54, Lee Johnson 43:13

45-49: Miriam Allred 40:23, Chantay Steen 41:40, Laura Callaway 44:17

50-54: Luann Ainsworth 44:00, Chris Carmichael 44:29, Jan Clark 53:01

55-59: Monica Baldwin 43:57, Carol Winterstein 1:07:49

65-69: Martha Reed 53:07

70 & Over: Patsy Lee 1:06:17

5 Mile Walk – Men

Overall: David Smalley 43:41

Masters: Lance Cooper 51:28

Grand Masters: Charlie Montague 55:22

11-14: Sam Aberle 1:11:21, Logan Beard 1:30:14

15-19: Travis Joyner 57:38, Avery Galtney 1:37:07

20-24: Ryan Williamson 1:02:22

25-29: Jesse Tilley 59:24, Trae Wells 1:32:15

30-34: Lamond Perkins 1:09:17, Jereme Strickland 1:22:32

35-39: Fred Hart 58:15, Philip Pardue 1:11:23, Brady Clark 1:11:26

40-44: Michael Dunehew 1:03:26, Glyn Trigg 1:04:46, Garrett Miles 1:06:22

45-49: Wayne Gordon 1:00:12, Tony Rucker 1:04:20, Rob carney 1:09:21

50-54: William Stoltzfus 57:19, Caesar Hamilton 57:50, Charles Atkins 1:01:216

55-59: Gary Walker 58:02, Ron Branan 59:32, David Chaney 1:00:33

60-64: Charlie Minor 55:26, Bill Seabergh 56:14, Brad Heisler 1:00:30

65-69: Harold Lee 55:41, Eugene Buglewicz 1:03:05, Joe Mellon 1:12:22

70 & Over: Jim Myrick 59:43, David Spayerer 1:00:57, Bill Corpus 1:11:19

5 Mile Walk – Women

Overall: Elizabeth Howard 53:09

Masters: Carolyn Graham 55:27

Grand Masters: Tina Branan 55:19

10 & Under: Carly Stribling 1:20:17, Baily Arnold 1:21:10, Ralyn Lynch 1:21:11

11-14: Samantha Clark 1:28:24

15-19: Courtney Black 1:13:29, Kayaalee Williams 1:14:34, Lauren Whitton 1:15:40

20-24: Candy Walley 1:05:15, Rea Williamson 1:16:35, Ashley Simms 1:22:01

25-29: Olivia McCrory 1:06:03, Dawn Strevenson 1:13:49, Rachel Blackmon 1:22:10

30-34: Chonzie Holt 59:22, Angela Wright 1:06:55, Jody Pruitt 1:08:47

35-39: Monica Thompson 54:56, Stacy Holden 1:08:48, Sandra Powell 1:15:39

40-44: Carla Loving 58:29, Caroline Ford 58:57, Tracye Prewitt 1:02:39

45-49: Elizabeth Joyner 56:13, Bea Williams 57:57, Martha Smith 1:01:59

50-54: Joyce Beacham 59:06, Sandra Harrelson 1:00:45, Sharon Patterson 1:01:26

55-59: Mary Benson 1:04:08, Ann Herlihy 1:04:25, Carol Horn 1:05:59

60-64: Theresa Vigour 1:03:09, Emily Bonelli 1:04:07, Len Carpenter 1:12:26

65-69: Peggy Powers 1:06:44, Jacqueline Doiron 1:12:50, Marva Anderson 1:36:14

70 & Over: Martha Keenum 1:02:54, Elizabeth Gilcrease 1:04:26, Martha Leese 1:09:37

One Mile – Male

Overall: Chris Luke 6:16

5 & Under: Logan Johnson 11:15

6-7: Lukas Jaeger 7:54, Bry Hart 9:10, Armi Cole 9:23

8-9: Jaydon Cowan 7:07, Fabeon Minor 7:58, Josiah Perez 7:59

10-11: Raylon Cowan 7:45, David Minor 8:04

12-13: Rowdy Bishop 7:39

One Mile – Female

Overall: Brittany Harrell 6:56

5 & Under: Mary Powell 9:40, Kalia Funches 10:53, Frances Thames 10:54

6-7: Karsen Cowan 8:05, Olivia Perez 8:26, Ellen Beard 8:42

8-9: Madison Powell 8:40, Jewel Jolly 9:21, Mattie Derivaux 10:04

10-11: Marissa Perez 7:34

12-13: Trevene Cowan 7:10, Kaylon Dunehew 11:43