COURSES FOR BOTH RACES BACK IN LOUISVILLE FOR 2024
April 27, 2024. Louisville, KY. – The GE Appliances Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon and Marathon set off this morning under cloudy, warm and breezy conditions. An estimated 10,000 runners registered for Kentucky’s largest day of road racing, and for the first time since 2019, the routes for both races took place on the Kentucky side of the river. After crossing the Finish Line, all participants received a special Finisher’s Medal this year featuring a red rose front and center. The Kentucky Derby Festival teamed up with Churchill Downs on the design of this year’s medal, which celebrates the 150th Kentucky Derby.
It was a three-peat for runner Antonio Marchi of Lexington, KY, who won the full Marathon in the Men’s Division for the third straight year, clocking in at 2:26:11.
Marchi says there are several reasons that keep him coming back year after year for the Derby Festival road race. “I like how many of my friends are here. It’s motivation to continue staying tough and fit, socialize and stay healthy.”
This was the first time Louisvillian Caroline Gosser ran the full Marathon, and she landed in the top spot in the Women’s Division during her debut race. She previously won the miniMarathon in 2022 and took third place in last year’s mini.
“It’s so cool (running this race) being from Louisville. I heard a lot of people on the course yelling my name,” Gosser said. “The running community here is just awesome!”
The GE Appliances Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon and Marathon set off at 7 a.m. on Main Street, near Louisville Slugger Field, and finished just outside Lynn Family Stadium. While the miniMarathon course returned to Louisville in 2022 after being modified during the pandemic, the Marathon has continued to be split between Kentucky and Southern Indiana. 2024 marked the return of the Full Marathon to Louisville’s South End. Marathon runners went through scenic Iroquois Park. The course also included downtown Louisville, historic Old Louisville, and parts of the city’s picturesque Olmsted parks system. Participants also ran a lap inside Churchill Downs, just one week before the running of the 150th Kentucky Derby.
The top finishers include:
miniMarathon MEN’s WHEELCHAIR Division
PLACE FINISHER TIME HOMETOWN
First Matthew Porterfield 0:58:03 Knoxville, TN
miniMarathon WOMEN’s WHEELCHAIR Division
PLACE FINISHER TIME HOMETOWN
First Aerelle Jones 1:12:09 Nicholasville, KY
miniMarathon MEN’s Division
PLACE FINISHER TIME HOMETOWN
First David Bett 1:03:44 Kenya
Second James Ngandu 1:04:29 Van Wert, OH
Third Jacob Thomson 1:05:12 Flagstaff, AZ
miniMarathon WOMEN’S Division
PLACE FINISHER TIME HOMETOWN
First Joyline Chemutai 1:12:44 Wailuku, HI
Second Catherine Syokau Mwanzau 1:13:29 Grand Prairie, TX
Third Rachel Kennedy 1:20:04 Fort Walton Beach, FL
Marathon MEN’s Division
PLACE FINISHER TIME HOMETOWN
First Antonio Marchi 2:26:11 Lexington, KY
Second Brandon Page 2:44:26 Louisville, KY
Third Adam Togami 2:46:42 New Albany, IN
Marathon WOMEN’s Division
PLACE FINISHER TIME HOMETOWN
First Caroline Gosser 2:51:27 Louisville, KY
Second Anna Wells 2:57:44 Louisville, KY
Third Jennifer Karkoska 3:00:52 Hanover, MD
For additional times and place information, visit http://results.xacte.com/?kw=kdf.
GE Appliances is the Title Sponsor of the miniMarathon and Marathon. Official Race Medical Provider & Training Partner: Norton Sports Health. Contributing Sponsors are Churchill Downs, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Kentucky Department of Tourism, Louisville Water Company, Powerade and TEN20 Craft Brewery. Official Nutrition Partner: Publix. Official Bourbon Retail Partner: Evergreen Liquors. Official Refuel Partner: Prairie Farms. Official Pace Team Sponsor: Ken Combs Running Store. Official Hotel: The Galt House Hotel. Official Timing Sponsor: Rumpke Waste & Recycling. Official Finish Line Sponsor: Louisville City FC/Racing Louisville FC.
