Similar to the inaugural Great Bangor Marathon, winners John Ignacz and Hannah Kershner are new to the marathoning scene.
For Ignacz — a 22-year-old Annandale, New Jersey native who finished Sunday’s race with an unofficial time of 2:38:26 — it was his second time running a full marathon. For Kershner — a 25-year-old Orono native who won the women’s division with an unofficial time of 3:12:38 — it was her first.
“I was looking for a race to qualify for Boston, and my sister at UMaine told me about the race,” Ignacz said. “I was coming off the track season [at Marist University] and put together a three-week training block with some long runs. It feels good to be a part of Maine marathon history — it was a cool race.”
The Great Bangor Marathon was the first of its kind in Bangor since the 2006 Paul Bunyan Marathon, and is certified by USA Track & Field, meaning both Ignacz and Kershner were able to qualify for high-profile marathons like Boston with their times. The duo will also take home $1,000 each in prize money.
“I just kind of run to stay in shape and tire out my dog. I started out [today] slow, went with what felt good, and here I am,” Kershner said. “I’ve trained for a marathon prior to this, but had some injury problems. I just kept training, and this was right in my hometown, so I had to do it. It’s so awesome [that] Bangor has such a big event, and hopefully it keeps getting bigger.”
Ignacz and Kershner were two of 361 total participnts (101 marathoners) hailing from 33 different states and four countries, ranging from ages 16 to 83.
Under cloudy skies and with a slight breeze at their backs, they traversed the intersection of Main and Dutton Streets in Bangor at 7 a.m. sharp Sunday, running past the iconic Paul Bunyan statue down Main Street, to Front Street and ultimately to Outer Broadway via Valley Avenue.
The half marathoners turned around right before Pushaw Road in East Bangor, while the full marathon turned around in the outskirts of Kenduskeag, at the intersection of Broadway and Trafton Lane.
Organizers Laura and David McIntyre of Lifestyle Sports Global spent the last 11 months putting the Great Bangor Marathon together, and believe the event could become an annual tradition of sport, spectacle and hospitality.
“Everyone goes to MDI or the coast, but Bangor has some great history,” Laura McIntyre said. “We want to revive road racing up here, and give Bangor an opportunity to shine. We’re dug in for the long haul — central Maine needs something like this.
