Eckstein’s dominance continues at Lauf Run

OA ATHLETICS PHOTO

Curtis Eckstein, a graduate and former state champion at Oldenburg Academy, won a seventh-straight Twister Lauf Run this past Saturday. Eckstein’s time in those seven years has been cut by nearly two minutes.

Perhaps it was a bit closer than most years but it still took over a minute for a second place finisher to cross the finish line and Oldenburg Academy graduate Curtis Eckstein once again made his presence felt, running away with the 2025 Twister Lauf 5K in Oldenburg.

Eckstein, the current cross country coach at Oldenburg, has now won seven-straight Lauf Run titles and he was 12 seconds better than last year’s winning time.

150 runners took part in the 2025 version of the race and Eckstein clocked in at 15:18.37 while second place went to Bailey McIntire of Berne in 16:32.74. Keane Gleason of Louisville was third in 16:58.78 and fourth place finisher Lani Bloom of Ithaca, Michigan, was the overall female winner in a time of 17:11.43. 16-year-old Carson Hartwell of Batesville rounded out the top five at 19:03.78.

Eckstein’s time was nearly two minutes better than that of his first Lauf Run victory. He finished 2019 with a time of 17:05.

There was plenty of local flavor that finished out the Top 10. Batesville’s Ethan Rahschulte placed sixth in 19:11.32 and Jon Weigel followed at 19:17.87. Mason Graham of Oldenburg ran eighth at 19:57.73, Batesville graduate Jake Chapman sat ninth in 19:59.42 and James Gosmeyer of Oldenburg finished 10th in 20:11.76.

The 150 participants was a Lauf Run record, breaking last year’s mark of 127 runners. Full results from Saturday’s race can be found at stuartroadracing.com.