Chris Mutai took the Selma City Schools 5K run with a time of 16:32 on Saturday at Bloch Park.

After crossing the finish line, the former University of Alabama track star disappeared in the blink of an eye.

“He had a good race,” said runner-up Matt Storie.

Storie finished almost two minutes behind Mutai and more than four minutes ahead of third place finisher Bryant Ewing. “As I was slowing down that second or third mile, he was keeping his pace.”

Iad Hammad won the one-mile fun run/walk. John Robinson took third, and 12-year-old Jonathan Hwyni took third.

“That’s great for a 44-year-old man,” said Hammad. “I run once a week, but have not run in the last two months.”

Hwyni was equally excited with his finish. He didn’t join to win a medal, though he left with one dangling from his neck.

“I wanted to get more exercise and be with my friends and all that,” said Hwyni.

The event was a fundraiser for the Selma High athletic department. Most proceeds are earmarked for sports with low participation rates such as volleyball, softball and baseball.

“I think the event went off well,” said Selma athletic director Patrick Evans. “We exceeded the amount (of participants) we were expecting.”

The 5K had a field of 37, and the one-mile fun run/walk had a field of 30.

Bill Potter, another race organizer, echoed Evans’ sentiments.

“For a first-time event, I think it went well for us,” said Potter. “There were some things we know we’ve got to do better — we need to be more organized at the finish line and mark the course better — but other than that, it was good.”