Thousands compete in 19th annual Charlotte marathon on Saturday. Here are the winners.
A Georgia man won Saturday’s Novant Health Charlotte Marathon, and a Charlotte newcomer finished first among women in the 26.2-mile race across the Queen City.
Under ideal running weather, nearly 7,300 athletes from 45 states and eight countries competed in the 19th rendition of the run, organizers said.
“It really was a great day overall,” Tim Rhodes, RunCharlotte president and marathon race director, said in a statement. “It was really an exciting day, too, with so many first-timers. We just want to continue to improve this experience for runners leading into next year and our 20th anniversary event.”
The near-perfect running weather made for slightly faster finish times, race officials said.
The winners
Sean Rager of Alpharetta, Georgia, finished first in 2 hours, 31 minutes, 17 seconds, according to the marathon.
Lauren Fulcher was the top woman finisher with a time of 3 hours, 9 minutes, race results showed.
“It was a great course, first time running it,” Rager said in a marathon news release. “Great spectators, great competition, great pacers, great everything across the board.”
Fulcher moved to Charlotte about four months ago.
“I ran the full marathon and ended up getting first, somehow,” she said. “I feel absolutely exhausted, but so thankful to be able to run.”
In the Saturday half marathon, Brad Mish from Hadley, Massachusetts, was the top men’s finisher with a time of 1:10:10.
Charlottean Lucy Rogers was the top women’s half marathon finisher, clocking a time of 1:22:20, according to the race results.
Charlottean Dan Kerr topped the men’s field in Saturday’s Chick-fil-A 5K, with a time of 16 minutes, 36 seconds.
Levis resident Anabelle Saindon was the top women’s finisher with a time of 18 minutes, 26 seconds.
Complete results are available on AthLinks.com.
Race benefits children’s hospital
Skies were clear when the first race started at 7:20 a.m.
The temperature stood just above freezing at 34 degrees, meteorologist Ashley Rehnberg of the National Weather Service office in Greer, South Carolina, told The Charlotte Observer. Winds out of the northwest clocked in at 5 mph, she said.
Races started on Graham Street between 3rd and 4th streets and finished on 4th Street near Mint Street.
The routes went into the NoDa, Eastover, Plaza Midwood and South End neighborhoods.
The event raises money for Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital.
Event organizers said they expect contributions from runners, sponsors, partners and donors to top last year’s $102,000.
“Every year, it is an incredible honor to see the support for Hemby Children’s Hospital through the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon,” said Betsy Zarzour, Team Hemby coordinator for the marathon.
