WRAL's Carlson wins Grandfather Mountain marathon

WRAL's Kelcey Carlson was the first female finisher Saturday in the Grandfather Mountain Marathon.

The race, billed as "one of America's toughest marathons," begins in Boone at Kidd Brewer Stadium on the campus of Appalachian State University, and runners climb along the Blue Ridge Parkway to McRae Meadows on the mountain.

Carlson completed the 26.2 miles in just over 3 1/2 hours. The top male finisher was Tim Meigs. The race was run by about 400 people in all. 

WRAL anchor Bill Leslie was the emcee for Grandfather Mountain's Highland Games.