Cincinnati is renowned for its deep-rooted love of beer. In fact, dating back to the 1800s, there was a time when Cincinnatians consumed more beer per capita than any other city in the United States. That legacy lives on today, as the city boasts a vibrant scene with countless breweries and bars scattered throughout its neighborhoods. Beyond the bars, Cincinnati celebrates its brewing culture through a variety of festivals and events. The iconic Zinzinnati Oktoberfest takes place every fall, and just last month, the popular Cincy Beerfest. But the festivities are far from over—this weekend marks the 33rd annual Bockfest!
Bockfest originated in 1993 to honor Cincinnati’s rich brewing heritage after Christian Moerlein launched a Bock beer, a special brew traditionally crafted for celebratory occasions. The festival was initially anchored by a parade that started at Arnold's Bar, and over the years, it has grown into one of Cincinnati's best celebrations. The festivities now include a stein-holding competition, the Sausage Queen Pageant, brewery tours, and much more.
Of course, Cincinnati’s passion for beer is mirrored by another local love—running. Bringing these two worlds together can be a perfect match, and that’s exactly what the Bockfest 5K achieves. Launched in 2013, the inaugural race kicked off in spectacular fashion, with local legends Eric Finan and Tommy Kauffmann posting blazing-fast times that still rank in the all-time top 10. Whether you’re a beer enthusiast, a runnner looking for a PR, or both, Bockfest offers something truly special for everyone!
Now that we know it's a fast race, let's take a look at the top 20 times who have ever ran it. In 2024, Brooke Wildermuth and Katarina Smiljanec cemented Bockfest as one of the fastest races in Cincinnati. Brooke broke the 17 minute barrier with Katarina close behind. They hold the top 2 spots all-time for the event.
The last 4 years fill out the rest of the top 10, but the women's side is still much more varied than the men's. Check out the full list below.
Women All-Time Top 20:
Brooke Wildermuth - 16:58 (2024)
Katarina Smiljanec - 17:03 (2024)
Stephanie Pierce - 17:44 (2025)
Lizzie Gleason - 17:59 (2023)
Emily Zimmerman - 18:02 (2023)
Katie Hallahan - 18:07 (2024)
Laura Pahren - 18:20 (2023)
Megan Francus - 18:20 (2025)
Sarah Clark - 18:22 (2022)
Abigail Halsey - 18:27 (2024)
Melanie Pliskin - 18:35 (2024)
Julia Manzano - 18:38 (2023)
Elizabeth Heinbach - 18:44 (2019)
Amy Manning - 18:48 (2020)
Wendy Marshall - 18:50 (2016)
Sofia Afridi - 18:50 (2023)
Kristen Vickery - 18:51 (2023)
Abby Mace - 19:00 (2023)
Sofia Mimendi - 19:02 (2018)
Tricia Brichler - 19:02 (2024)
Super fast! Almost sub 19 minutes to even get into the top 20! On the men's side, Jason Salyer holds the top time with a 14:38 from 2023. That year, much of Ohio's nearby club teams designated Bockfest as a club series race. This set up one of the most stacked men's road 5k's the area has ever seen!
Most of the top 20 list comes from that year, taking 14 of the spots. Check out the full men's list below.
Men All-Time Top 20:
Jason Salyer - 14:38 (2023)
Jackson Siddall - 14:41 (2023)
Zach Kreft - 14:52 (2024)
Eric Finan - 14:53 (2013)
Jersson Pachar - 15:02 (2024)
Alex Gold - 15:03 (2023)
Cris Gutierrez - 15:04 (2023)
Tommy Kauffmann - 15:05 (2013)
Johnathan Allen - 15:06 (2023)
Zachary Holtkamp - 15:07 (2024)
Zachariah Zimmerman - 15:08 (2023)
Tanner Williams - 15:08 (2025)
William Cadwell - 15:09 (2023)
Jack Randall - 15:12 (2023)
Eric Gruenbacher - 15:13 (2023)
Jacob Pitman - 15:13 (2023)
Joey Schlich - 15:15 (2023)
Matt Stump - 15:17 (2023)
Maximilian Hoffman - 15:22 (2023)
Brandon Bauer -15:24 (2015)
*red denotes CE athlete
Breaking into the top 20 on either side is no small feat, and it might be awhile before those top overall records go down. Lastly, let's take a look at the winners year by year of the event.
2025
Tanner Williams - 15:08
Stephanie Pierce - 17:44
2024
Zach Kreft - 14:52
Brooke Wildermuth - 16:58
2023
Jason Salyer - 14:38
Lizzie Gleason - 17:59
2022
Jack Randall - 15:22
Sarah Clark - 18:22
2020
Jack Randall - 15:20
Amy Manning - 18:48
2019
William Doering - 16:18
Elizabeth Heinbach - 18:44
2018
Tommy Kauffmann - 16:06
Sofia Mimendi - 19:02
2017
Tommy Kauffmann - 15:35
Marie Wysong - 19:20
2016
Tommy Kauffmann - 15:21
Wendy Marshall - 18:50
2015
Brandon Bauer - 15:24
Casey Fahrer - 19:37
2014
Tommy Kauffmann - 15:12
Marie Wysong - 19:56
2013
Eric Finan - 14:53
Kayla Camp-Warner - 20:32
What a great morning at Bockfest once again! The new course was blazing and the weather was prime. While running through the hilly terrain of OTR presented a unique challenge in the past, the new course at The Banks offers a flat, fast route that's perfect for personal bests. Looking forward to updating this each year and great job to everyone who raced this morning! Hope you celebrated afterward with a refreshing Bock beer. Cheers to a great race!
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