Frostbite 5K concludes series

Run in snowy and bitterly cold conditions at Cherokee Park this morning, with temperatures hovering around 20 degrees, the Frostbite 5K was almost too aptly named.

But it could not have been too unpleasant for Andrew Danner, Jen Alessandro and the other 433 runners and walkers who finished the race, which concluded Fleet Feet Sports Louisville’s annual Polar Bear Grand Prix.

The 24-year-old Danner, who had placed second in both the Reindeer Romp 4K on Dec. 17 and the Snowman Shuffle 4 Mile on Jan. 21, finally took first today to claim the men's overall series title. He completed the five-kilometer course in 16:09.27 - a little more than three seconds ahead of Alan Tobin, 28, who placed second in 16:12.79. Justin Banks, 25, was third in 16:32.73.

Alessandro, 25, won the women’s series title with another first in her division and her highest overall finish (12th) in the three races, posting a time of 18:27.71. She also was the top female (16th overall) in the Reindeer Romp and was second (15th overall) in the Snowman Shuffle.

Katie Braekkan, 27, was second (17th overall) behind Alessandro in 19:15.63 and also finished second in the series standings. Kim Shore, 26, was third (19th overall) in 19:24.06.

Chuck Crowley, 47, and Francine Hagg, 44, won the men’s and women’s masters titles, respectively, and Lance Strange, 52, and Pam Kincaid, 54, won the men’s and women’s grandmasters titles, respectively.

Full results can be found here.

All of the races in the series were certified and sanctioned by USA Track and Field, and 978 people participated in at least one race.