(February 17, 2023) Family and friends from across Florida gathered this past Saturday to celebrate the sport of endurance racing in the most authentic way possible: by running! Ave Maria locals and visitors alike came together to race a total of five distances in the Ave Maria Marathon on February 11, 2023. The event featured a Friends and Family Mile, 5K, 10K, Half, and Full Marathon, with the courses finishing right in the heart of the Ave Maria community in Annunciation Circle.
Julia Webb was among the athletes who raced with family this weekend. Julia (pictured right with her daughters Joanie and Gabby) currently holds the world record for the stroller half marathon with a time of 1:21:34. She competed in the 5K on Saturday while pushing her third daughter Gabby, finishing with a time of 23:51. Running is throughout the family, as Julia is the wife of the American record holder in the Mile, Alan Webb. Racing alongside her were her other two daughters, Joanie and Paula, who came in at 23:49 and 29:17, respectively. Joanie took first for her age group this weekend, and she was the Donahue Running Club’s top finisher at the middle school Cross Country state meet this past fall.
Joining the lineup of families who competed this weekend were the McLachlins, who competed across multiple distances and all won age group awards. 12-year-old Sophie and her father, Andrew, raced the 5K, and both placed 3rd in their respective age groups. Sophie’s mother, Joanna, completed the Half Marathon with a time of 2:13:02, securing her a 3rd place age group award, while her brother William was the 2nd overall male in the 1 Mile run.
Also among those participating, was one inspiring and incredible athlete in particular: Caryn Lubetsky. Caryn (pictured left with Kerry at another event) is a three-time Guinness world record holder for duo racing, having set the record in 2019 at the New York City Marathon. With a time of 3:54:25, she ran the fastest marathon by a woman pushing another woman in a wheelchair. Together with her rider, Kerry Gruson, they created the non-profit organization ThumbsUp International, with the goal to “Expand attitudes about life’s possibilities by connecting people across all abilities to conquer athletic challenges together.” In Ave Maria this past Saturday, Caryn ran solo, and came in first overall for the women in the Marathon, finishing with a time of 03:52:54.
Overall winners in each distance are listed below. Congratulations to all those who placed overall and in their age group. View the full list of results on Race Results at my.raceresult.com/231657/.
To register for the 2024 Ave Maria Marathon, visit alpha.win/event/ave-maria-fl/, or to check out our other races, visit us at www.Alpha.Win.
Marathon – First Overall Female – Caryn Lubetsky – Time: 3:52:54
Marathon – First Overall Male – Jeff Grabosky – Time: 3:42:11
Half Marathon – First Overall Female – Sarah Williams – Time: 1:27:47
Half Marathon – First Overall Male – Andrew Graham – Time: 1:27:47
10K – First Overall Female – Cassie Graham – Time: 51:29
10K – First Overall Male – Matthew Graham – Time: 48:26
5K – First Overall Female – Lori Robbins – Time: 21:07
5K – First Overall Male – Joseph Perreault – Time: 17:39
1 Mile – First Overall Female – Luciana Grabosky – Time: 8:28
1 Mile – First Overall Male – Charlie Grabosky – Time: 8:14
About Alpha Win
Alpha Win is a triathlon and running event operator based in Saugerties, New York. Since its founding in 2011, Alpha Win has produced more than 135 triathlons and running races all over the United States. Alpha Win’s Vision is simply reflected in their motto since 2011, “A Distance for Everyone” and is achieved by producing multiple race distances in desirable destinations that are geared to each participant’s unique level of training, endurance capacity and personal goals. Alpha Win is dedicated to providing the professional quality of a national event producer while delivering the personalized service of a local race organizer. Visit www.Alpha.Win for more information.
