The icy roads and frigid temperatures could not keep Steamboat’s finest away from the annual Steamboat Springs Turkey Trot on Thursday morning. 

Nearly 500 runners packed into the Steamboat Springs High School parking lot at 9:30 a.m. for the 5-kilometer run which took participants to the Strawberry Park area and back. 

Each year, the run acts as a fundraiser for the high school’s cross country and track and field programs. Steamboat senior, Asher Rowan, was so glad to see such a large turnout despite sub-20 degree temperatures. He said the fundraiser is a huge help for the future of the Sailors’ running programs. 

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“It helps a lot because we can not register for certain races and certain events if we don’t have the funding for it,” Rowan said. “It’s great to see the whole community come together to support the cross country team. It means a lot.” 

Joining the active high school runners were a number of Steamboat Springs graduates who like to return to the Trot each year to support their high school alma mater. One of those runners was 18 year old Michael Hagney who ran for the Sailors and is currently a student at the University of Colorado. 

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“I feel like I came out of retirement like Tom Brady, the second time around,” Hagney explained. “It was an excellent time to see everybody get excited, see all these athletes and catch up with them on how their seasons went. We’re going to eat some calories tonight so I think it’s great to burn some of that off. All these people are smiling and the happiness radiates at this place. I’m loving it. I’m a little washed, but that’s OK.”

The snowy road conditions made for a challenging run, leading to a first-place finish that was 25 seconds behind last year’s race winner. 

This year it was 19 year old McCoy Brooks who was first to the finish line, completing the race in 17 minutes, 40 seconds. The first female finisher was 18 year old Abby Malinowski who took ninth overall on a time of 21:46. 

Hagney placed sixth in the Trot, just behind Rowan who took third. 

“I’m not built for the snow at all, so it was awful for the first half,” Rowan explained. “Trying not to slip took a lot of self control and balance. It also took a lot of mindset, so I told Michael when we first got to the line that I’m feeling like 1999 Vince Carter. That really set me up for success for the rest of the race. I feel like I couldn’t fail after that.” 

Following the race, prizes were handed out and the community shared one last embrace before breaking into its smaller groups to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. 

Hagney said the Turkey Trot goes far beyond mile splits and road races. He said It is a reminder of how lucky this community is to live in such a beautiful mountain town with such inspiring human beings. 

“It is great to remember what we’re actually here for on Thanksgiving,” Hagney said. 

For the full Turkey Trot results, visit runsignup.com/Race/Results/25733#resultSetId-513274;perpage:100