THOUSANDS OF RUNNERS HIT LOUISVILLE STREETS FOR DERBY FESTIVAL ROAD RACES

50^TH RUN OF miniMARATHON CELEBRATED

April 29, 2023. Louisville, KY. – The GE Appliances Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon and Marathon took off this morning with crisp, cool and cloudy conditions, ideal for a day of racing around the city. In honor of the 50^th miniMarathon, Mayor Craig Greenberg joined former Louisville Mayor Harvey Sloane (who ran the first mini in 1974) to help kick off Kentucky’s largest day of road racing during a special commemoration at the start line. An estimated 10,000 runners registered for the race, which also marked the 22^nd annual Marathon.

For the second straight year, Antonio Marchi of Lexington, KY won the full Marathon in the Men’s Division and beat his previous time as he sprinted to the Finish Line, clocking in at 2:24:21.

Another Kentuckian was also a top finisher in this year’s race for the second time. Aerelle Jones of Nicholasville, KY won the miniMarathon Women’s Wheelchair Division and said it was special to be part of history. “Lots of people said they were excited about the 50^th and the weather was absolutely perfect,” she said.

The GE Appliances Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon and Marathon set off at 7 a.m. on Main Street at Brook and finished just outside Lynn Family Stadium. The picturesque course included downtown Louisville, historic Old Louisville, Churchill Downs and parts of the city’s scenic Olmsted parks system. Marathoners also crossed the Big Four Bridge to run along the scenic Ohio River Greenway before returning to the finish at Lynn Family Stadium.

As one of the participants of the first miniMarathon in 1974, which featured a field of 301 runners and was nicknamed the “Mayor’s miniMarathon,” Mayor Sloane, who wore bib #1 in the inaugural race, was in town for the festivities. He joined Mayor Greenberg at the Start Line to pay tribute to the historic milestone of the 2023 miniMarathon. An avid runner, this year’s race also marked Mayor Greenberg’s first time running the miniMarathon as Mayor of Louisville.

“It’s amazing! It’s just wonderful seeing the whole city come together in support. It’s great to be out here with the community today,” he said after crossing the Finish Line.

In another nod to the 50^th, John Lloyd, who was the top finisher in the inaugural miniMarathon in 1974 with a time of 69 minutes, was on hand to help hold the ribbon as runners crossed the Finish Line.

The top finishers include:

miniMarathon MEN’s WHEELCHAIR Division

PLACE             FINISHER                     TIME                            HOMETOWN   

First                  Matthew Porterfield       0:58:07                          Knoxville, TN

Second             Chad Johnson              1:15:31                         Corydon, IN

miniMarathon WOMEN’s WHEELCHAIR Division

PLACE             FINISHER                     TIME                            HOMETOWN   

First                  Aerelle Jones                1:10:29                         Nicholasville, KY

miniMarathon MEN’s Division

PLACE             FINISHER                     TIME                            HOMETOWN   

First                  Dominic Korir                1:04:25                         Pacific Palisades, CA

Second             Japhet Kipkoech           1:06:55                         Louisville, KY

Third                 Adam Walker                1:07:05                         Lexington, KY

miniMarathon WOMEN’S Division

PLACE             FINISHER                     TIME                            HOMETOWN   

First                  Joyline  Chemutai          1:15:34                         Pacific Palisades, CA

Second             Flavious Teresa             1:15:56                         Grand Prairie, TX

Third                 Caroline Gosser            1:17:16                         Louisville, KY

Marathon MEN’s Division

PLACE             FINISHER                     TIME                            HOMETOWN   

First                  Antonio Marchi              2:24:21                          Lexington, KY

Second             Corbin Harris                 2:25:22                         Campbellsville, KY

Third                 Michael Deren              2:30:12                          Louisville, KY

Marathon WOMEN’s Division

PLACE             FINISHER                     TIME                            HOMETOWN   

First                  Rachel Kennedy            2:51:19                          Fort Walton Beach, FL

Second             Cassandra Martin          3:00:20                         Louisville, KY

Third                 Melanie Griffiths            3:02:56                          Lexington, KY

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. Official IT Partner: Deloitte. Contributing Sponsors are Baird, Churchill Downs, Kentucky Department of Tourism, Louisville Water Company, Powerade and TEN20 Craft Brewery. Official Finish Line Sponsor: Louisville City FC/Racing Louisville FC. Official Bourbon Retail Partner: Evergreen Liquors. Official Pace Team: Dick’s Sporting Goods. Official Refuel Partner: Prairie Farms. Official Hotel: The Galt House.