ANSONIA — As communities across the nation marked the 250th anniversary of American independence Saturday, hundreds of runners, families, and returning alumni gathered in Ansonia for a Fourth of July tradition that has become as much a homecoming as a road race.
The annual Ansonia Firecracker 5K, hosted by the Ansonia Fire Department, once again filled the village streets with competitors from across the region while raising money to support the volunteer fire department. The event, held for more than four decades, remains one of the signature attractions of Ansonia’s Independence Day celebration, which also includes fireworks and a longtime softball tournament that draws alumni home from across the country.
This year’s race featured a dominant performance by hometown standout Bennett Lehman, who successfully defended his Firecracker 5K title and capped off one of the finest running seasons in Ohio high school history.
Lehman crossed the finish line in 15 minutes, 34.7 seconds, improving on his winning 2025 time of 16:41.2 by more than a minute. His winning margin of 1 minute, 7.2 seconds over runner-up Dash Thacker highlighted his commanding performance.
For Jason Wright, Ansonia High School’s biology teacher and head cross country coach, the race represents far more than competition.
“I can remember back to when I was a kid — I grew up in Ansonia and the Firecracker 5K has always been kind of the staple of our community,” Wright said. “This is a really cool environment. It’s homecoming for a lot of folks. People here today come to run no matter where they now live. A lot of folks come back home for this holiday weekend. This race is a big draw for a lot of people.”
This year’s celebration carried added significance as communities nationwide observed the nation’s semiquincentennial, commemorating 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
“To everyone who has served our country to preserve these freedoms shows the appreciation I know a lot of us have, so a big thank you to all of our servicemen and women, past and present, who allow us to enjoy weekends like this,” Wright said. “It’s really special.”
Wright also reflected on the connection between faith, freedom, and community.
“As Christians, we are called to stand up and live out our faith,” he said. “This is a great representation of that, that we can both as Christians and as communities celebrate the freedom that we have, not just in this country, but the freedom we have in Christ as well. It is really exciting that we can do that together.”
Lehman’s victory came on the heels of an extraordinary junior season in which he captured the coveted Ohio High School Athletic Association distance-running “Triple Crown” by winning state championships in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track.
“Looking back over this whole season, Bennett had a year,” Wright said. “He was a Triple Crown winner when you look at cross country, indoor, and outdoor. He couldn’t have had a better season, but obviously, those races weren’t won on race day. It’s the work he puts in in the offseason, on Monday, on Tuesday, all throughout the week. His commitment and determination are unparalleled.”
Wright said Lehman’s leadership extends well beyond race results.
“Bennett really is the catalyst for our whole team,” Wright said. “A lot of the kids can look to his work ethic and follow in his footsteps. People like Matthew Lee, who came before him, have really been the spark that has pulled our whole team toward having a lot of great memories and success.”
He believes even bigger goals lie ahead.
“Bennett is a tremendous young man,” Wright said. “We’re looking forward to next season. He has huge aspirations again to continue that level of success and carry him into a future career of running at the next level.”
Although Lehman ran much of Saturday’s race alone after building an early lead, he said the effort still provided valuable training.
“Running by myself with the sun to my back was a little rough finishing,” Lehman said. “There was still some left if there was competition. We’ve been training pretty hard throughout the summer, so there are a lot of miles on my legs so far, but we’re going to keep grinding for cross country season.”
The reigning state champion takes little time away from training.
“I take a week off after the state meet and then we start getting back into it,” Lehman said. “I will not get a break until around Christmas.”
As he enters his senior season as one of Ohio’s top distance runners, Lehman knows competitors will be chasing him.
“I have a big target on my back, but the goal doesn’t change at all,” he said. “We set the standard, and I strive off competition. I love it. I love being able to compete with others and seeing others strive, get better, and compete as well. Just the atmosphere of running in general is awesome. To have a bullseye on my back is definitely something I’ve always dreamed of, but we have to do our thing, and we’re going to do that throughout the summer.”
Beyond the competition, Coach Wright said the event remains centered on community.
“Our big thing today is to come together and have fun,” he said. “There are a lot of alumni who are here today. Today is just about getting together and enjoying our time out on the course while supporting our local volunteer fire department. This is a big fundraiser for them.”
Ansonia Fire Department Capt. Cory Meadows said the race has become one of the department’s most important annual fundraisers.
“This is one of the many fundraisers we hold throughout the year for the fire department,” Meadows said. “This is one of our bigger ones. We have been doing this Firecracker 5K for over 40 years in Ansonia.”
The race has grown into one of western Ohio’s best-known Independence Day running events.
“It has been going on for a long time,” Meadows said. “It’s been a great fundraiser for us, and it’s been a big push to keep people healthy in our community.”
Meadows thanked the event’s sponsors — Greenville National Bank, Premiere Crop, Cal-Maine Foods, Spirit Medical Services, Sunset Awards, Ansonia Lumber, and The Whistle Stop — along with the volunteers, firefighters, and participants who continue to make the annual tradition possible.
Top 10 Overall Finishers
- Bennett Lehman — 15:34.7
- Dash Thacker — 16:43.5
- Matthew Lee — 16:52.6
- Owen Marker — 17:09.5
- Calen Bruner — 19:45.3
- Timothy Harless — 20:10.3
- Connor Price — 20:14.0
- Luke Longenecker — 20:15.3
- Blaze Burton — 20:21.3
- Tate Gelhaus — 20:22.9
Top Three Female Finishers
19. Kinsey Fiora — 22:22.2
21. Erin Frederick — 22:28.4
22. Callie Marker — 22:46.4
