JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Thousands of runners have taken the streets of downtown Jacksonville for the 47th Gate River Run which started at 8 a.m.
News4JAX live coverage begins at 7:30 a.m. and will end at 11 a.m.
Press play above to watch our live coverage of the 47th Gate River Run.
It’s one of the biggest sporting events in Jacksonville all year.
The 47th Gate River Run on Saturday will look familiar, but, probably for the last time -- as changes downtown continue to evolve and push Jacksonville’s downtown sports and entertainment district into a new era.
What does that mean for one of the area’s most iconic sporting events, which viewers can watch live on WJXT and News4JAX.com beginning at 7:30 Saturday morning?
Change. Change. Change.
Perpetual adapting has been common for the River Run and race director Doug Alred, from the pandemic-capped 2021 event to making alterations due to the demolition of the Hart Bridge ramps. But one thing remains true after nearly half a century.
Runners love the River Run. And they show up in force every year, be it at the festive expo at the fairgrounds to the one-mile fun run on Saturday.
For the elite running field, the River Run serves as a USATF 15K national championship with some serious prize money ($12,000 to the male and female winners) and prestige at stake. There’s also the equalizer bonus.
The elite women get a five-minute head start over the elite men. The first person to cross the finish line, male or female, pockets a $5,000 bonus. There are also bonuses ranging from $3,00 to $10,000 for the course and American records (both 42:22 for the men and 47 flat for the women) and the world record (41:05 men, 44:20 women).
Fans and runners just seeing the area for the first time since Jaguars season should be prepared for changes, so plan accordingly.
There’s normal congestion associated with an event that will host more than 13,000 runners and thousands of friends, family and supporters. But streets that would normally be open are blocked off due to the demolition of the RISE Doro complex that was destroyed in a January fire.
In the near future, the fairgrounds, the hub of events like the River Run expo, will be moved from its current location to Jacksonville’s Westside. There’s now the new Jaguars’ Miller Electric Center, and nearly $32 million in changes coming to the Jumbo Shrimp’s 121 Financial Ballpark. And the Jaguars’ stadium deal, whenever that happens, will likely shift the course for 18 to 24 months.
Related River Run coverage
Need to knows about Saturday’s race | Follow the race and see results | Check out photos from the race | Look for your starting location | Sold out: Gate River Run announces no more spots available for Saturday’s race | River Run streakers carry on proud tradition | Neptune Beach Run Crew has large contingent in River Run
This year, the event is sold out for just the second time in race history. The Streakers (runners who have competed in all previous races) are back, albeit only 18 this year, down from 20 in 2023.
Who are the contenders
Elite men notables: Hillary Bor, Diego Estrada, Teshome Mekonen, Biya Simbassa, Jacob Thomson
Elite women notables: Keira D’Amato, Emily Durgin, Annie Frisbie, Emma Grace Hurley, Nell Rojas.
Local men notables: Jordan Garmon, Jonathan Hulzebos, Matthew Taddeo.
Local women notables: Amelia Bjornson, Hayleigh Haid, Lydia McRae.
Will the race records fall?
It’s unlikely this year.
Todd Williams’ mark of 42 minutes, 22 seconds in 1995 has withstood few serious challenges through the years. Only five times have runners cracked the sub-43 minute range — Meb Keflezighi, Gidamis Shahanga and Mo Trafeh twice. As strong as three-time defending women’s champion Emily Sisson ran the last three years (48:09, 47:28 and 48:26) she was still almost 30 seconds off from Shalane Flanagan’s race record of 47 flat. Sisson won’t be back to defend her title. Sisson finished as runner-up in the marathon at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Orlando and qualified for the 2024 Olympics. Last year’s men’s champ, Hillary Bor, is in the field and will be a favorite to defend his title.