A new champion conquered Braman Hill Sunday morning.
Cason Adams, 18, won the seventh annual Bay to Braman Bolt in 7:12, racing from the Northport Bay Marina to the summit of Braman Hill 45 seconds ahead of runner-up John Zenner, 40.
Adams’ time was the sixthfastest in Bolt history and made him the fourth-fastest individual ever to complete the 1.1-mile course, trailing only record-holder Quenton Buss, Quinn Sanderson and Samuel Elder. He also became the second- youngest champion in race history, behind Sanderson, who won at 13 in 2022. His 45-second margin of victory was the second-largest ever.
Zenner made history of his own. His 7:57 was the fastest time ever recorded by a Bolter age 40 or older and made him the first runner in his 40s to break eight minutes.
Adams and Zenner also earned The Bolt’s under-eightminute bounty, adding $100 each to the Northport Museum donation pool.
Blake Beyer, 29, rounded out the podium in 8:04. After finishing runner-up last year, Beyer became only the fourth runner in Bolt history to reach the overall podium more than once.
Perhaps the day’s most eyeopening performance came from 10-year-old James Kilshaw, who finished fourth overall in 8:17 — the fastest time ever by a Bolter age 10 or younger and second-fastest by a runner age 12 or younger.
Kilshaw was part of an unusually young front pack. Tristan Catanach, 14, finished fifth in 8:40, Declan Draper, 11, was seventh in 8:51 and Dante Eterovic, 11, took 10th in 9:24. Including Adams, five of the top 10 were 18 or younger.
Hayden Scott, 29, winner of the inaugural Bolt in 2018, tied Catanach for fifth in 8:40. Scott remains the only runner to complete all seven editions and has never finished worse than seventh overall.
Erica Harrell, 48, was the first woman to the summit, finishing eighth overall in 8:56.
Race Director Sawyer Scott said wet trail conditions made the performances especially impressive.
“The Nagonaba Footpath was downright swampy in spots, so this wasn’t a day conducive to the world record being broken,” Scott said. “To have five returning Bolters still post PRs in those conditions is pretty remarkable.”
Those five were Isabelle Scott, Janice Beyer, the fatherson duo of Declan and Daniel Draper, and Richard Miller.
Miller, 70, finished in 11:29, setting a PR while becoming the fastest runner age 70 or older in Bolt history — and the first 70-plus Bolter to break 12 minutes.
Daniel Draper posted the day’s largest personal improvement, cutting 2 minutes, 41 seconds from his 2025 time. Isabelle Scott improved by more than 48 seconds, Janice Beyer by 38 seconds and Declan Draper by more than 30.
Forty runners reached the summit, the second-largest field in event history behind the 44 finishers in 2024.
The Bolt 7 raised approximately $1,400 for the Northport Area Heritage Association. Since 2018, 100 percent of race proceeds have supported NAHA and the preservation of Northport history, with lifetime donations now approaching $12,000.
For full race results, visit the Local Riff Raff Co. Facebook page.
