Rainy skies cleared in time to welcome a sold-out field of 850 runners and walkers for the first Century 21 Topsail Realty Mt. Hope Bridge 5K Saturday morning. The race began promptly at 7:30 a.m., with one lane of the two-lane span closed to motor vehicles.

Buddy Croft, executive director of the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority, was relieved to see that Mother Nature didn’t disrupt the race, which had been in the planning stages for quite some time.

“This went perfectly,” Mr. Croft said from atop the span as he watched runners — and a few walkers — pass him by on their way to Bristol. “This was two and a half years in the making.”

Participants ranged in age from 6 to 80, with a few babies wheeled over the bridge as well.

The overall winner was 19-year-old Bryce O’Brien of Bristol, who completed the distance in 16 minutes, 38 seconds. He was followed by 16-year-old Nick Januario of Bristol (16:45) and 15-year-old Ben Chase of Portsmouth (17:07). 

The top female runner was 33-year-old Kristen Legendre of Uxbridge, Mass., who finished ninth overall in a time of 20:30. 

There were many young runners with respectable showings on the course. 

A 12-year-old boy, Finn Myatt of Barrington, came in 19th overall with a time of 22:08. Fourteen-year-old Abby Gilpin of Portsmouth was a couple of minutes behind, coming in 52nd with a time of 24:08.

Some older participants stood out as well. Dave Schaad of East Greenwich, 55, came in 10th place with a time of 20:40. He was followed closely behind by 58-year-old Jacqueline Shakar of Sutton, Mass., who ran the course in 20:55.

Gray Matter Marketing, based in Portsmouth, promoted the event.

For complete race results, go here.

Scroll through our slideshow of photos from the race at top. Race results will be posted later today.