Cotton Row Run Holds First Ever Labor Day Race Event
The 2021 Bill Penny Toyota Cotton Row Run changed dates due to the pandemic precautions earlier this year and is now set for Labor Day in downtown Huntsville. The perennial race includes a 10K, 5K and 1-mile fun run.
FRONT PAGE FEATURED, Madison, Madison County Record, News, Sports, Z - News Main
 By  Bob Labbe Published 
7:56 pm Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Cotton Row Run Holds First Ever Labor Day Race Event

 HUNTSVILLE- Labor Day 2021 will be like no other among the world of running in the Rocket City. For the first time in the 42-year history of the Bill Penny Toyota Cotton Row Run, the 10K-5K race will not be held on Memorial Day after being moved due to the ongoing pandemic that has gripped the entire country. Instead, the race was moved to Monday, Sept. 6.

The 41st runners’ delight known as “A Southern Classic” will feature participants from from all parts of the country and some foreign countries. Not only is the event a full-packed day for those in the Tennessee Valley, but also a race for the more elite runners vying for prize money and points in the Grand Prix Circuit. The Cotton Row Run will offer a total of $20,000 in race record bonuses along with prizes in each of the male and female, open division, masters division and Alabama resident division.

The annual extravaganza for all ages will again feature the Race Expo on Sunday, Sept 5 at Bill Penney Toyota on University Drive. Race participants can also pick up their Race Packet at the Sunday event.

Current race records include: Open Male- Linus Kiplagat, 2018, 28:39; Open Female- Catherine Syokau Mwan, 2019, 32:51; Master Male- Andrew Masai, 2000, 29:38; Master Female- Ramilia Burangulova, 2003, 33:34.

The race was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19 and the last held Cotton Row Run was in 2019 when Mwan set the new standard for females with her winning time of 32:51. With the return of the event this year, the excited level has return for what is normally an outstanding sporting event for the entire Tennessee Valley.

Entrée numbers total 2,243 of which 402 are from Madison. Here is the breakdown for each of the three scheduled events for Cotton Row Run: 10K- 1,161 (197 from Madison); 5K- 766 (150); Both 10K and 5K- 188 (27); 1-mile Fun Run- 128 (28).

The 10K Cotton Row Run starts at 7:00 a.m. The 5K begins at 9:00 a.m. while the 1-Mile Fun Run hits the course at 10:00 a.m. Fans are encouraged to attend all along the route as the annual event is well known as one of the best to race due to the extraordinary encouragement from spectators.

Also on The Madison Record
Ranae Bartlett ready to step into mayor’s role
A: Main, Madison County Record, News, ...
2025 Madison Election
Bartlett captured over 56% of the vote in three-candidate race
Staff Reports 
September 3, 2025
MADISON - Ranae Bartlett already has an advantage as she prepares to take on her new role as Madison’s new mayor. Serving in both leadership positions...
Wroblewski is only returning city council member as voters reject incumbents
A: Main, Madison County Record, News, ...
Madison voters select new leadership for city
Staff Reports 
September 3, 2025
MADISON - Madison voters rejected the only contested incumbents in city council races last Tuesday, ushering in new leadership for the city. John Seif...
Mayor Finley to offer Madison update at the VBC next Wednesday
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
Gregg Parker 
September 3, 2025
MADISON – Mayor Paul Finley will present “City of Madison Update” as a forum to announce current affairs and future projects for the community. The Ch...
Madison’s voter disengagement: a symptom of a rotten system, a warning and a call to action
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
Letter to the editor
By HANU KARLAPALEM 
September 3, 2025
The turnout in Madison’s recent municipal elections was shockingly low. Out of more than 46,000 registered voters, only 17% cast a ballot. The winner ...
Madison Chamber of Commerce members to consider board nominees
Business, Madison County Record, News, ...
Gregg Parker 
September 3, 2025
MADISON – Members of Madison Chamber of Commerce are considering the slate of nominees for the 2025-2026 Board of Directors. “We have reached our 10da...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *