Kalib Wilkinson opened a big lead in the first 500 yards on the Southeast Greenway at the end of South Street. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Former North Mecklenburg standout Kalib Wilkinson opened up a 500-yard lead in the first mile and never looked back, winning Saturday’s Run for Green half marathon by 12 minutes, in 1 hour 10 minutes 6 seconds. Winston-Salem’s Molly Nunn pulled off a similar feat in the women’s race, winning by near six minutes and finishing fourth overall in 1:22:40.

See a story and photos from Green Day, which followed the race on the Davidson Village Green.

The two elite runners were among a total of 776 who registered for the half-marathon (13.1 miles) as well as 5K and 10K races along Davidson’s streets and greenways. The Run for Green is an annual fund-raiser for Davidson Lands Conservancy, a nonprofit group that works with land owners to preserve open space.

Members of Davidson Area Running Team early in the half-marathon. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

The races were part of the conservancy’s Green Day Festival on the Davidson Village Green. This year’s races offered prize money to top finishers in the 10K and half-marathon -  $75 each for first place, $50 for second place, and $25 for first-place masters.

Wilkinson finished 12 minutes ahead of Justin Shanks of Blacksburg, Va., who ran 1:22:29. Travis Tarbet of Greer, S.C., was third overall in 1:22:30.

Among women, second place went to Meghan Mitchell of Mint Hill, in 1:28:33, while Kathy Rink of Davidson finished third in 1:29:36.

The races began and ended at the Davidson Village Green. This year’s half-marathon route featured more greenway than ever, incorporating a 1.5 mile out-and-back section along the newly completed West Branch Greenway in the River Run neighborhood.

Following the awards, Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse on South Main Street served free to race finishers.

Wilkinson was a champion runner at North Mecklenburg High School and now competes at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. During his high school cross country years, he  won four conference, three regional, and two state championships, earned a No. 3 national ranking and won a 4-mile national championship.

Nunn, a native North Carolinan, grew up in Winston-Salem and graduated from Wake Forest University (WFU) in 2006. She completed her Master’s of Business Administration at WFU this August and works full-time for the Investment Group at Allegacy Federal Credit Union in Winston-Salem.

Justin WIlkes (right, 208) and Parker Whitley (204) finished 1-2 in the 5K. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

10K AND 5K WINNERS

Chris Jones, 35, of Cornelius won the 10K race, in a time of 35:33, almost two minutes ahead of second place finisher Mason Leach, 16 (37:24). Jack Workman of Huntersville was third in 37:38.

Amy Krakauer of Davidson, 25, of Davidson, won the women’s 10K, in a time of 41:49, while Cathryn Westra, 23, of Davidson, was second in 44:48. Third place went to Annalee Kiwochka, 18, of Asheville, in 45:44.

Younger runners dominated the 5k. Justin Wilkes, 17, was the overall winner in 17:24, while Parker Whitley of Stanley, just 14, and Tony Waldrup, 20, finished second and third, respectively, both in 17:58.

In the women’s 5K, Clare Naisby, 21, was the top finisher (20:29), followed by Jade Loendorf, 16 (21:15), and Elizabth Sisk, 14 (22:09).

FULL RESULTS

See full results for all three races, including age-group winners, at QueenCityTiming.com.

Chris Jones (549) of Cornelius opened up an early lead in the 10K and went on to win (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)