ANSONIA – The Ansonia Firecracker 5K, held by the Ansonia Fire Department, saw a large number of runners competing in the annual event Friday morning, July Fourth, 2025.
“We have a lot of things going on, especially out at the ballpark,” said Ansonia Fire Department Captain Cory Meadows. “The American Legion has a chicken barbeque, the ballpark has softball, music, and a lot of fun stuff out there, and fireworks. They’re going to make it big, loud, and proud.”
Ansonia incoming junior, Bennett Lehman, took first place with a time of 16:41.2. Ansonia class of 2024 graduate, and current Wright State University runner, Matthew Lee, placed second with a time of 17:07.1, and Owen Marker crossed the line at 17:14.1.
“Feels good,” Lehman said of winning his hometown 5K race. “Just got back into summer training, not doing a lot of specific work, just putting in miles on my feet right now. It was a good race with good competition. I’m glad everybody came out and ran, especially considering the heat. It was a good turnout.”
“It was good competition out here,” Lee said. “Last year, the time that won it was like 17:30, and now we’re at 16:41, so we’re developing a running culture at Ansonia. It’s great competition for everyone.”
Top 10 finishers:
1 Bennett Lehman 16, Ansonia, 16:41.2
2 Matthew Lee 19, Greenville, 17:07.1
3 Own Marker 18, Greenville, 17:14.0
4 Ethan Sparks 18, Greenville, 17:58.4
5 Beck Wilson 18, Covington, 18.02.3
6 Dominic Buschelman 18, 18:09.9
7 Grant Beasley 21, Versailles 18:10.4
8 AJ Burroughs 18, Piqua 18:19.2
9 Luken Longenecker 17, Greenville 18:22.9
10 Wyatt Unrast 17, New Weston 18:40.1
Top 3 Female finishers:
18 Anna Heomans 14, Arcanum 20:11.1
29 Corynn Goubeaux 16, Versailles 22:29.9
33 K. Fiora 12, Greenville 22:53.1
Veteran Ansonia Cross Country head coach Jason Wright was pleased with his XC team’s participation, the Tigers’ track and field team, and the turnout of alumni XC runners for the 5K race.
“Fourth of July weekend for our town, this is our big weekend with the Firecracker Run,” said Wright. “This has been going on ever since I can remember.”
Wright began teaching Biology, Environmental Science, Anatomy and Physiology in the fall of 2001 at Ansonia Local Schools.
“We have fireworks and a big softball tournament with many of our alumni,” Wright stated. “Every part of this weekend is like a homecoming for a lot of people. They get to see folks who come home from all parts of the states just to be here for the weekend.”
“It’s a special weekend for our town,” he continued. “It’s a real cool homecoming time because I taught most of those kids. For all of these people to come back and connect with one another in Ansonia, it is a real fun way for everybody to do that.”
“Our kids do a great job, and it starts with their work ethic and putting in the work in the offseason, then coming in during the regular season and continuing to work hard, racing smart,” said Ansonia Track & Field Coach Alan Newbauer. “Its success has been contagious here at Ansonia. What started in 2021 with Matthew Lee has carried over to Bennett Lehman, Ethan Sparks, and some of the younger ones coming up. Now we have some junior high running. They represent their community well, they represent their families well, and they represent Ansonia very well and all of Darke County.”
