The 2020 Kenai River Marathon featured actual same-day, head-to-head racing and provide a competitive atmosphere for for the most serious runners; while providing a much-needed social running event for many.
The full marathon, 26.2 miles through the streets of Kenai and Soldotna, featured a two-time women’s champion posting the fastest overall time for the 2020 Kenai River Marathon.
Marathon Results
Homer’s Stacey Bukelew posted a time of 3:37:39 to win the women’s full marathon event and to claim the fastest overall time for the event. Kenai’s Emily Heale finished second (3:41:05) and Kenai’s Cheyanne Eisenmann finished third (3:41:50).
Carsten Giessman, from Irvine, California, recorded the fastest time in the men’s competition with a 3:40:28. Michael Cummings from Sandy, Utah posted the second fastest men’s time in 3:45:11. Bryan Hesse of Anchorage finished third (3:48:22).
Half Marathon Results
Soldotna’s Jason Parks ran away from the field early and posted a time of 1:10:37 in the men’s half marathon for a victory by nearly fifteen minutes over second place Orrin Burton of Anchorage (1:25:58). Matt Gibiec from Houston, Texas placed third (1:31:51) and Lee Frey of Soldotna, fourth (1:32:35).
The women’s half marathon was won by Anchorage’s Samantha Wilson in 1:34:47. Other top five finishers included: 2. Kristie Cotroneo, Sterling, 1:43:50; 3. Jill Franchino, Soldotna, 1:46:10; 4. Frieda Tuttle, Nikiski, 1:48:46; 5. Jessica Lloyd, Soldotna, 1:48:56.
Relay Marathon
Kicking Asphalt won the relay marathon in 2:59:57, narrowly missing the event record time. Team members included: Sean Goff, Rustin Hitchcock, Alex Bergholtz and Dan Serventi.
2020 Kenai River Marathon
Womens Full Marathon (26.2 miles)
1. Stacey Buckelew, Homer, 3:37:39; 2. Emily Heale, Ken, 3:41:05; 3. Cheyanne Eisenmann, Kenai, 3:41:50; 4. Liz Raines, Willow, 3:47:06; 5. Mikie Pylilo, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, 3:48:03; 6. Deborah Jensen, Wasilla, 3:48:42; 7. Teal Hall, Moose Pass, 3:58:27; 8. Amy Wendt, Houston, Texas, 4:33:47; 9. Susan Craig, Soldotna, 4:38:23; 10. Laura Hudson, Evansville, Indiana, 4:38:33; 11. Natalie Bickers, Palmer, 4:39:03; 12. Jen Metcalf, Newburgh, Indiana, 4:40:07; 13. Mary Elise Klueh, Evansville, Indiana, 4:41:59; 14. Jen Novobilski, Anchorage, 4:45:31; 15. Chiasto Johnson, n/a, 4:50:15; 16. Mike Fields, Newburgh, Indiana, 5:02:47; 17. Martha Klueh, Evansville, Indiana, 5:04:35; 18. Jessica Jaroma, Anchorage, 5:06:54; 19. Meghan Barker, Anchorage, 5:07:41; 20. Tessa Barker, Fort Collins, Colorado, 5:07:41; 21. Bethany Amarone, Fort Greely, 5:11:27; 22. Carol Scott, Kodiak, 5:23:06; 23. Amie Condon, Anchorage, 6:47:02.
Mens Full Marathon (26.2 miles)
1. Carsten Giessmann, Irvine, California, 3:40:28; 2. Michael Cummings, Sandy, Utah, 3:45:11; 3. Bryan Hesse, Anchorage, 3:48:22; 4. Michael Minchaca, Anchorage, 3:48:46; 5. Vance Foster, Anchorage, 3:49:54; 6. Christopher Bielinski, Littleton, Colorado, 3:52:32; 7. Robert Cassidy, Anchorage, 3:53:48; 8. Derek Williams, Fairbanks, 3:56:16; 9. Michael Smith, Coppell, Texas, 4:05:49; 10. Sankalp Shiva, Columbia, Missouri, 4:07:45; 11. Christopher Johnson, Denton, Texas, 4:07:45; 12. Jesse Johnson, Anchorage, 4:10:32; 13. Mikel Salzetti, Kenai, 4:11:42; 14. Dean Denter, n/a, 4:16:37; 15. Frank Glynn, El Segundo, California, 4:27:46; 16. Michael Fee, Anchorage, 4:37:54; 17. Darron Scott, Kodiak, 4:52:29; 18. Rick Early, Littleton, Colorado, 5:01:46; 19. Paul Bielinski, Franklin, Wisconsin, 5:19:57; 20. William Day, Eagle River, 5:44:50; 21. Paul Hanson, Anchorage, 5:47:45; 22. Austin Martin, Clam Gulch, 7:09:25.
Womens Half Marathon (13.1 miles)
1. Samantha Wilson, Anchorage, 1:34:47; 2. Kristie Cotroneo, Sterling, 1:43:50; 3. Jill Franchino, Soldotna, 1:46:10; 4. Frieda Tuttle, Nikiski, 1:48:46; 5. Jessica Lloyd, Soldotna, 1:48:56; 6. Anna Cantrell, n/a, 1:53:37; 7. Jennifer Booz, Homer, 1:54:25; 8. Jenna Brown, Kenai, 1:55:52; 9. Christine Jones, Sutton, 2:00:57; 10. Antonya Hall, Kenai, 2:02:19; 11. Joell Restad, Homer, 2:03:47; 12. Michelle Harris, Anchorage, 2:04:03; 13. Nadia Anders, Kenai, 2:04:15; 14. Sarah Pribbenow, Kenai, 2:04:40; 15. Lindsay Hallam, Kenai, 2:05:51; 16. Danielle Seramur, Kenai, 2:06:17; 17. Erika Fitzgerald, Fritz Creek, 2:07:48; 18. Teslin Hacklin, Soldotna, 2:08:03; 19. Cynthia McMillin, Napa, California, 2:07:50; 20. Deann Denter, n/a, 2:08:41; 21. Sachiko Kwon, Anchorage, 2:08:21; 22. Kathy Trinh, Soldotna, 2:10:38; 23. Kali Glosser, San Gabriel, 2:11:19; 24. Kelly Murray, Edinburg, Virginia, 2:16:12; 25. Alane Hughes, Soldotna, 2:17:23. 26. Mary Crann, Kasilof, 2:20:09; 27. June Stuckey, Soldotna, 2:20:39; 28. Amy Donaldson-Brass, Taylorsville, 2:25:06; 29. Dawn Renken, Houston, Texas, 2:26:14; 30. Judy Gilliland, Cooper Landing, 2:27:15; 31. Tamara Hibberd, Kenai, 2:27:57; 32. Courtney Abel, Soldotna, 2:28:52; 33. Josie Lloyd, Soldotna, 2:29:57; 34. April Erhardt, Soldotna, 2:29:57; 35. Cathleen Kelly, Eagle River, 2:32:41; 36. Rebecka Schafer, Lincoln, Nebraska, 2:36:54; 37. Pamela McDonald, Lucedale, Mississippi, 2:41:07; 38. Brenda Beesley, Anchorage, 2:39:14; 39. Sharon White, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 2:40:22; 40. Pam Pitts, Lucedale, Mississippi, 2:41:07; 41. Katelyn SumSuden, Nikiski, 2:45:31; 42. Abbie Hall, Kenai, 2:47:23; 43. Madeline Warschak, Anchorage, 2:54:41; 44. Shelby Kaye Farthing, Columbia, South Carolina, 2:57:31; 45. Jolene McDowell, Wasilla, 3:10:55; 46. Shawn Cornelius, Anchorage, 3:25:59; 47. Lila Johnson, n/a, 3:27:50; 48. Julie Kaulgin, n/a, 3:27:51; 49. Teresa Halpin, n/a, 3:27:51; 50. Debra Hart, Soldotna, 3:28:49. 51. Julie Jokinen, Anchorage, 3:28:47; 52. Sara Peebles, Anchorage, 3:28:50.
Mens Half Marathon (13.1 miles)
1. Jason Parks, Soldotna, 1:10:37; 2. Orrin Burton, Anchorage, 1:25:58; 3. Matt Gibiec, Houston, Texas, 1:31:51; 4. Lee Frey, Soldotna, 1:32:35; 5. Dakoda Wholly, n/a, 1:43:19; 6. Don Connelly, n/a, 1:43:03; 7. Sean McClain, Wasilla, 1:49:50; 8. Larry Nickell, Wasilla, 1:50:33; 9. Larry Tews, Soldotna, 1:52:03; 10. Hollis Swan, n/a, 1:52:11; 11. Corey Farthing, Anchorage, 1:53:28; 12. Steve Greenspan, n/a, 1:56:11; 13. Nicholas Chapman, Nikiski, 1:59:15; 14. Matthew Tunseth, n/a, 1:58:53; 15. Samuel Anders, Kenai, 2:01:40; 16. Roy Stuckey, Soldotna, 2:06:15; 17. Eric Meier, Anchorage, 2:06:17; 18. Sean Carroll, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 2:09:05; 19. Michael White, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 2:11:59; 20. Bryan Farthing, Anchorage, 2:13:18; 21. Al Kelly, Eagle River, 2:32:42; 22. Brent Johnson, n/a, 2:44:27; 23. Cooper McCarthy, n/a, 2:48:48.