Along with sticking to the plan and staying patient, runners in the 49th Rocket City Marathon had to stay mentally focused Sunday thanks to the brutally cold temperatures and wind.
Mission accomplished for Vladimir Zander-Velloso of Georgia and Megan Allan of Huntsville, who won the overall and women’s division. Temperatures were in the high 20s at the 7 a.m. start at the Von Braun Center. Consistent winds from 15-30 mph made things challenging, to say the least.
Allan flashed her huge smile as she crossed the finish line to a raucous reception. She is the third Huntsvillian to win the women’s title since 2012, joining Emma Hardman (2024) and Alana Scarano (2018). Allan was fourth last year in 2:54. She is no stranger to the podium, winning the Pill Hill 10K this year along with other top honors.
Zander-Velloso, 25, of Newnan, flew to the VBC finish line in 2:28:24 in his marathon debut. He won by more than a minute. That time is about on par for the last three winners, a pace of about 5:40 per mile. He hit his first 10K in 35:27, the halfway point in 1:12 and 20 miles in 1:49. He increased his pace by about 13 seconds per mile. The course took runners through northeast Huntsville, out to the Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville Botanical Garden, and by Big Spring Park back to the VBC.
Zander-Velloso received medical attention after finishing but walked out of the first aid station under his own power. The station was busy throughout the day with runners needing attention for cramps and other issues.
Top Finishers
Erick Kigen, 37, of Huntsville, was the top area finisher. He was third, in 2:33, about a minute ahead of David Too of Tallahassee, Fla. Fuji Anday, 25, of Billings, Mont., was fifth in 2:35.
North Alabama finishers in the Top 50 included Josh Whitehead of Madison (15th), Michael Volz of Madison (16th), Dylan Glass of Gurley (31st), Michael Crouch of Madison (35th), Christian Schrandt of Madison (39th), Tay Cavett of Huntsville (42nd), Andrew Hodges of Huntsville (45th) and Christopher Kitson of Huntsville (48th).
Cavett grabbed the third-place spot in the women’s division, finishing in 2:51.
Hisato Suetsugu, 40, of Peachtree City, Ga., won the Men’s Masters title in 2:41. Megan Allan was the Women’s Masters winner.
Crouch Wins Half Marathon
Sarah Crouch, 36, of Madison, defended her women’s title and was 8th overall in the half marathon.
She finished in 1:18:55, about two minutes faster than her fourth-place time in 2024.
Roberto Fajardo Strnad, 25, of Ooltewah, Tenn., won the half marathon in 1:12:57, clipping runner-up Dalton Graves by a smidge. Graves, 21, of Mooresville, N.C., was second in 1:13:06.
Mark Porter, 22, of Huntsville, was third in 1:14:50.
See the streaming results here for the marathon and half, and Saturday’s 10K and 5K.
The Huntsville Track Club partnered this year with Huntsville Hospital Foundation, with proceeds benefitting the new children’s therapy playground at the Women & Children’s Pediatric Therapy and Audiology Department. Read more about this here. The Rocket City Marathon and races are produced by the club and presented by the Huntsville Sports Commission.
Vladimir Zander-Velloso of Georgia wins the 49th Rocket City Marathon on Sunday in Huntsville. It was his first marathon. He finished in 2:28 and won by more than a minute. (Photo: Alan Clemons/TVO)
