by Jim Matheny
The 2024 Cades Cove Loop Lope netted more than $90,000 to benefit Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Friends of the Smokies, the official nonprofit partner of the national park, hosts the annual 5K and 10-mile race. It is the only organized footrace held inside the national park.
This year’s event attracted 750 runners and walkers from 27 states to Cades Cove on the morning of Nov. 10, 2024. Through registration fees and sponsorships, the event’s proceeds protect wildlife, preserve historic structures, fund search and rescue efforts, and assist educational programs for school children in the Smokies.
Several professional photographers and enthusiasts helped capture images of the scenic event held in the most visited section of the most visited national park in the country. Visit the Loop Lope Photos page to find links to galleries from each photographer. Above is a video recap of the event posted to the Friends of the Smokies YouTube channel.
Race Day Events timed both the 5K race and the USATF certified 10-mile race. Full race results can be found on the Cades Cove Loop Lope website.
Alex Widmer of Knoxville, Tennessee, was the overall winner of the 10-mile race while Ashlyn Vanlandingham of Hebron, Kentucky, placed first overall in the 5K race.
10-mile men’s division best chip times:
- Alex Widmer of Knoxville, TN, 1:02:05.06
- Jayson Rigsby, Indianapolis, IN, 1:10:51.29
- Joseph Westbrook, Knoxville, TN, 1:11:11.56
10-mile women’s division best chip times:
- Jessica Reynolds, Belleville, MI, 1:13:44.58
- Stacey Hagenson, Knoxville, TN, 1:20:23.81
- Megan Gale, Nashville, TN, 1:21:26.22
5K men’s division best chip times:
- Nicolas Murray, Knoxville, TN, 23:42.98
- Dave Roberts, Cincinnati, OH, 24:30.02
- Edward Martin, Maryville, TN, 24:50.32
5K women’s division best chip times:
- Ashlyn Vanlandingham, Hebron, KY, 23:11.92
- Avery Vanlandingham, Hebron, KY, 23:15.61
- Sara Scalf, Seymour, TN, 25:58.00
Sponsors for the 2024 Cades Cove Loop Lope include RT Lodge, Ole Smoky Distillery, PCS, River Sports Outfitters, Buddy’s Bar-B-Q Sevierville, Blount Partnership, IHOP Sevierville-Pigeon Forge, Axle Logistics, and Denso. Additional support was provided by Townsend Gateway Inn, Eddie’s Health Shoppe, ZenEvo Chocolate, English Mountain Spring Water, and 21st Mortgage Corporation.
This was the eighth annual Cades Cove Loop Lope. There was, however, a ninth Cades Cove Loop Lope held as a “one-time-only” event in April 2010 to celebrate the reopening of the scenic loop after the first major repaving project since 1978. In 2017, the park approved the highly acclaimed foot race as an annual event each November.
For more information on the race and Friends of the Smokies, visit friendsofthesmokies.org/looplope.
