A handful of happy runners crossed the finish line Sunday morning at the fifth annual Boston or Bust marathon after achieving qualifying times for the 2027 Boston Marathon.
Hudson Hurst, 23, of Franklin, Tenn., led the way with his winning and course record time of 2:26:40. He won by about 17 minutes. His time smashed the 2:29:27 course record set in 2023 by David Too of Tallahassee, Fla. Hurst is a graduate student on the University of Alabama cross country team and was third-team All-SEC in 2024.
Boston or Bust starts and ends at Ditto Landing in south Huntsville, with runners hitting the Aldridge Creek Greenway. It’s fast, flat and certified. This week is the qualifying period for the Boston Marathon, which is April 19 next spring. The second weekend of September is traditionally the final one to hit qualifying times before the lottery application period this week.
Boston or Bust is one of the few final opportunities to hit qualifying times. The top eight runners in the marathon, all men, hit qualifying times, Runners from 15 states and London competed. The race had 111 official finishers.
Brennan Lovejoy, 32, of Mount Juliet, Tenn., won the women’s title and led a crew across the line in qualifying time. Lovejoy finished in 3:17 and was 15th overall. Right behind her was Kaseleigh McCarley of Frisco, Texas; Katherine Kopotic of Enterprise; and Alexa Hoppenfield of Atlanta. McCarley and Kopotic crossed in 3:17:14 and :16, with Hoppenfield next in 3:18:33.
Keith Steinbrecher, 30, of New Market, was seventh and the top local finisher. He hit the line in 2:53:01. Erin DuBose 33, of Union Grove, was the top local women’s finisher, in 25th at 3:27:16.
In the half-marathon, Eddie Smith, 23, of Smyrna, Tenn., took top honors with a fine 1:13:01 to win by almost four minutes. Michael Volz, 31, of Madison, was second in 1:16:46.
Shea Zablan, 36, of Birmingham, won the women’s division. She was eighth overall in 1:21:37.
The race is put on by Running Lane Events. See all of the Boston or Bust marathon results here and half-marathon results here.
The annual Swing Through 5K in Tanner kicked off the weekend, which also included the Taco Trot 5K in Guntersville. In other events over the weekend:
Caney Fork Ultra
SPARTA, Tenn. — Dana Overton and Lindsey Shady of Huntsville completed the inaugural Caney Fork Ultra 50-miler on Saturday at the Camp Latimer Scout Reservation.
Shady, 45, and Overton, 51, finished together in 15:26:15. They were among four women of the 16 finishers.
The new, technical course took runners on trails into Caney Fork and Scotts Gulf areas of the Cumberland Plateau. Elevation gain hit about 8,700 feet.
Rodney Cameron, 48, of Madison, completed the 25K in 4:50:27.
See all of the results here.
Soggy Seals Triathlon
Nathaniel Pierce won the 15th annual Soggy Seals Triathlon on Saturday at the Southeast YMCA in Huntsville.
Pierce, 40, of Huntsville, finished in 46:55, with Matt Fletcher, 27, of Madison, in second at 50:49. Thomas Farias, 33, of Madison, was third in 54:53.
Laura Benson, 28, of Madison, won the women’s division in 59:49. She was eighth overall. Li Jo, 29, of Huntsville, was second (9th) in 59:51. Caitlin McCloud, 17, of Huntsville, was third (25th) in 1:12:17.
Athletes swim 300 yards, bike eight miles and run a 5K in the event, which is put on by the Southeast YMCA and Team Rocket Tri Club.
See all of the results here.
Tunnel to Towers
LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — Sean Giffin of Wartrace, Tenn., won the Tunnel to Towers 5K on Saturday morning.
Giffin, 35, finished in 17:47 for the win.
Savanna Summar, 18, of Culleoka, Tenn., won the women’s division and was ninth overall. She finished in 21:55.
The race had 296 official finishers who started and ended on the Lynchburg Town Square. Proceeds benefit the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
See all of the results here.
9/11 Heroes Run
MADISON — Andy Grant of Birmingham won the Travis Manion Foundation 9/11 Heroes Run on Saturday.
Grant, 39, finished in 17:28 for the win against a field of 219 finishers. Andy Choi, 52, of Madison, was second in 19:01.
Perla Nunez, 44, of Madison, won the women’s division and was 15th overall. She finished in 20:52.
Brandy Hall, 36, of Scottsboro, won the 5K Ruck title in 24:06. Nicholas Gibbs, 49, of Arab, was second in 25:00.
See all of the 5K results here and 5K Ruck results here.
