Alabama Scenic Trail
Top Photo: Trey Reaves
FORT MORGAN, ALABAMA — We have an overall winner of the Great Alabama 650! Trey Reaves (Time: 6 days, 1 hour, and 39 minutes) crossed the finish line at Ft. Morgan at 3:30 PM on Friday, October 6th, taking the Overall Winner title and the male solo first-place prize. Trey from Florence, Alabama, is the first Alabamian to win the title and was welcomed by family, crew, and racing staff yesterday at the finish line. He was closely followed by Bobby Johnson (Time: 6 days, 5 hours, and 50 minutes), last year’s winner, and Salli O’Donnell (Time: 6 days, 6 hours, and 40 minutes), who came less than an hour later to claim the female-solo first first-place title.
Bobby Johnson and Salli O’Donnell were the first five-time finishers of the Great Alabama 650 and received the 3250 Achievement Award. This award pays tribute to the 3250 miles each racer has paddled in the AL650 over the years and commemorates the achievement through an alligator sculpture made of Coosa River clay.
Race Update: All twelve racers passed through Check Point 2: Millers Ferry (Mile 417/650) just North of Camden, AL, well before the cutoff time. The final race section typically takes racers the longest from Spanish Fort down past Fairhope and on to Ft. Morgan, primarily due to the changing bay conditions and open water environment. Matt Taylor & Myles Sumerlin, the next team headed for the finish are at mile 642.0 mile. As of October 7, at noon, the next individual racer, Mirko Pruefer, was near mile 580.5. There are still nine boats left in the race, and they have until October 10th to make it to the finish line.
Racers compete in one of three divisions– male solo, female solo, and two-person team. Participants can use kayaks, canoes, or stand-up paddleboards interchangeably throughout the event. Race staff and volunteers closely monitor the racers’ progress to share the latest information. Fans can see live updates and photos on our Facebook and Instagram (@GreatAlabama650). Spectators who spot racers can post their pictures under the hashtag #AL650, and up-to-the-minute information is located online at AL650.com.
Event Details
Who: 3 boats have completed the course, and 9 boats are still competing
What: The Great Alabama 650: 5th Edition of a 650 Mile Alabama Professional Paddle Race
When: September 30, 2023 – October 10, 2023
Where: Weiss Lake to Fort Morgan, On the Alabama Scenic River Trail
Website: AL650.com
Social Media: @GreatAlabama650 and #AL650
Trey Reaves
Overall Winner of the Great Alabama 650
Male Solo- 1st Place
Time: 6 days 1 hours 31 mins
Bobby Johnson
Male Solo- 2nd Place
5 Time Finisher- 3250 Achievement Award
Time: 6 days, 5 hours, and 50 minutes
Salli O’Donnell
Female Solo- 1st Place
5 Time Finisher- 3250 Achievement Award
Time: 6 days, 6 hours, and 40 minutes
