Ave Maria, FL (February 16, 2022) The inaugural Ave Maria Marathon, presented by Alpha Win, took place this weekend on February 12th, 2022. The event featured 5 distances of running: Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k, 5k, and 1 Mile. The Marathon and Half Marathon began at 7am, followed by the 5K at 9:30am, the 10K at 10am, and the Friends and Family Mile at 11am. Runners traveled from near and far to sunny Ave Maria, Florida to participate in the race, with 22 states and three countries represented!
The first finishers of the day were in the Half Marathon. It was a close race, with the top three men all finishing within 60 seconds of each other. The top spot was won by 17-year-old Ave Maria local, Winston Fairchild in a time of 1:23:47. Heather Catlin of Naples, FL won the Overall Women’s race in a time of 1:40:01.
As Half and Full Marathoners continued their race, the 5K began. The race was showcased by a friendly competition between many Ave Maria University student athletes. Adam Paga, an AMU runner, won the race in 16:28. The First Overall Female finisher was a fellow AMU runner, Theresa Long, in a time of 18:43.
The Marathon saw its first finisher just before 10:30am. Kevin McDermott of Naples, FL crossed the line in 3:29:13. The First Overall Female in the Marathon was Sarah Anderson from Superior, WI, with a time of 3:45:12.
The 10K was won by AMU runner Joseph Perrault in 37:27. The First Overall Female in the 10K was Kara Andersson from Manchester, NH with a time of 48:42.
It was a day of firsts for many participants. Traveling all the way from St. Lewis, Ryan McCoy ran his first ever marathon in a time of 4:59:49, a great race for a first time marathoner! Another inspiring feat was Isaac Hernandez, age 88, competing in his first ever 5K race.
The Ave Maria Marathon was a great success thanks to support from the Donahue Running Club, the Ave Maria University Mother Teresa Project, and the AMU Cross Country team. The event would not have been possible without the support from the local community and the many volunteers. Registration is already open for the 2023 Ave Maria Marathon taking place February 11th, 2023. Sign up early for the lowest prices of the year!
The Alpha Win team is now getting ready for our next event in Ocala, FL. Join us on April 2nd for the Alpha Win – Ocala Triathlon! Carney Island State Park is home to this great race, featuring a 70.3 as well as Olympic and Sprint races. You won’t want to miss it! Other upcoming events include triathlons in California and New York. Check out https://alpha.win to learn more.
