Every July 4th, runners from all over Northwest Louisiana-and even some from East Texas and Southern Arkansas-make their way to Shreveport's Mall St. Vincent parking lot for the Sportspectrum Firecracker 5K.
The race is a mid-summer celebration of America, celebrated by thousands of runners-and family and friends of runners who show up to watch the spectacle which draws thousands. Among the throng of runners, there are a handful of high school runners who use the race as fun break from summer training to gauge their fitness.
For Parkway head coach Kent Falting, it's the most wonderful time of the year as former runners join the runners in the program who will make up the 2026 Parkway cross country team.
Those worlds--and friends--collided at the finish line as former Parkway star Gabriel Falting finished ahead of senior Brennan Robin by a hair. The unofficial time for both was 15:44.
C.E. Byrd junior Emmy Banker, who is coming off an appearance at Adidas Nationals, was the fastest high school girl at Saturday's Firecracker 5K. Banker ran a 20:37.
Banker was just one of several Yellow Jacket teammates who took part in the race. Byrd's No. 1 boys, John Ferguson, who ran a personal 16:10 at last year's Division 1 Region 1 Cross Country Meet finished No. 18 with a time to 18:07.
Although Benton High School is losing some senior leadership, like Brody Hutchison, there are several young talented runners in the program--including junior Samuel Ivins, who finished No. 31 on Saturday with a time of 18:38.
Caddo Magnet lost Jack Pattillo to graduation, but younger brother Dean Pattillo returns to lead the Mustangs in 2026. Pattillo ran 19:38 on Saturday.
Every July 4th, runners from all over Northwest Louisiana-and even some from East Texas and Southern Arkansas-make their way to Shreveport's Mall St. Vincent parking lot for the Sportspectrum Firecracker 5K.
The race is a mid-summer celebration of America, celebrated by thousands of runners-and family and friends of runners who show up to watch the spectacle which draws thousands. Among the throng of runners, there are a handful of high school runners who use the race as fun break from summer training to gauge their fitness.