20,000 Runners Participate in 48th Crescent City Classic

Colombia native Rolando Ortiz wins the 10K race, while New Orleans' Annie LeHardy takes the women's title.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 8:20pm

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The 48th annual Crescent City Classic 10K race in New Orleans drew a record 20,000 participants, with Colombia native Rolando Ortiz crossing the finish line first with a time of 31 minutes and 4 seconds. Local runner Annie LeHardy won the women's division, finishing the 6.2-mile course in 33 minutes and 52 seconds.

Why it matters

The Crescent City Classic is a beloved annual tradition in New Orleans, drawing runners from across the region and showcasing the city's vibrant running community. After a dip in participation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's record turnout demonstrates the event's enduring popularity and the community's enthusiasm for the race.

The details

The 48th Crescent City Classic took runners on the traditional route starting near the Superdome and ending in City Park. Rolando Ortiz, a Colombia native who now lives in the U.S., won the men's division with a time of 31:04, followed by New Orleans native Bryant White, Jr. at 31:42. In the women's race, Annie LeHardy of New Orleans finished first with a time of 33:52, over three minutes faster than any other female competitor.

  • The 48th Crescent City Classic took place on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
  • The race has been an annual tradition in New Orleans for the past 48 years, typically held the Saturday before Easter.

The players

Rolando Ortiz

A Colombia native who won the men's division of the 48th Crescent City Classic with a time of 31 minutes and 4 seconds. Ortiz came to the United States four years ago for college and ran track at the Division I level.

Bryant White, Jr.

A New Orleans native who finished second in the men's division of the Crescent City Classic with a time of 31 minutes and 42 seconds. White was representing the Power Milers, a local running club.

Annie LeHardy

A Roanoke, Virginia native who won the women's division of the Crescent City Classic with a time of 33 minutes and 52 seconds. LeHardy is a former distance runner at the University of North Carolina who now lives in New Orleans with her husband and two children.

Kristen Stuart

The operations director for the Crescent City Classic, who expressed gratitude for the event's record turnout of 20,000 participants after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Flow Tribe

A New Orleans-based band that performed at the post-race festival in City Park.

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What they’re saying

“I enjoyed the course. I stayed with the last two (kilometers) and then pushed a little bit more. The finish was very fast. There was a little inclination, and then I pushed on to victory.”

— Rolando Ortiz

“After mile five, the heat got to me. I was there, and then I wasn't, but I'm fine with the second place (finish). I didn't have it at the end, but I was able to make the moves that I wanted to make.”

— Bryant White, Jr.

“This year I trained a little bit harder, so I was excited to come put my training to the test. I was really trying to focus on my pace those middle two miles. (The end) was tough. It got pretty hot pretty quickly, but the crowd was amazing.”

— Annie LeHardy

“(New Orleans) is amazing. (My husband and I) call it home now, our children love it here.”

— Annie LeHardy

“It feels pretty surreal to look around and see this many people having a good time. We weren't sure we'd ever get back to (20,000 people) after COVID, so we're just really thankful for the community.”

— Kristen Stuart, Crescent City Classic operations director

What’s next

The Crescent City Classic will return next year on the Saturday before Easter, continuing the long-standing tradition in New Orleans.

The takeaway

The record-breaking turnout for the 48th Crescent City Classic demonstrates the enduring appeal of this iconic New Orleans running event, which brings together the city's vibrant running community and showcases the resilience of the local sports culture in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.