The 163 finishers plus six four-person relay teams were treated to perfect conditions Sunday at the 19th Kenai River Marathon.

Under sunny skies and late fall colors, temperatures were in the high 30s but quickly jumped to the low 50s as winds largely left the runners alone.

“It was absolutely gorgeous,” said men’s half marathon winner Micah Templin of Anchorage. “It was nice and chilly, too, so no overheating.”

Homer’s Kristen Buckwalter ran the half marathon for the third time and racked up her second victory.

“This is perfect,” she said. “This is probably the most perfect race day I’ve had here.”

The marathon winners were Kenai’s Jason Parks in 2 hours, 38 minutes and 55 seconds and Kasilof’s Ellie Tadych in 3:51:58.

Parks, 36, won the 2019 marathon in 2:46:04, then set the course record for the half marathon at 1:10:38 in 2020.

While 2020 featured a ripping wind that affected Parks’ pace by 10 to 20 seconds a mile, the 2019 edition had to be the worst in the history of the race.

Due to construction, runners had a detour out and back on Marathon Road to complete the course.

“When we turned around, it was like a 10 to 15 mile per hour headwind in the rain and cold — like in the high 40s or low 50s,” Parks said. “Yeah, it was much better today.”

Parks, the two-time defending champ of the Lost Lake Run, said he’d normally be getting ready for a fall marathon right now, but a troublesome hamstring that flared up over a year ago kept him from doing a big training cycle.

He decided to sign up for the Kenai River Marathon and said he didn’t start pushing until Mile 20, eventually finishing at his normal marathon pace.

“I could still feel it today,” Parks said of the hamstring. “It’s not 100%, but it held up enough for today.”

Tadych, 28, also closed fast, passing Margaret Witt of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, at about Mile 16 to end up defeating her by a little over four minutes.

“I call myself a second halfer,” Tadych said. “The first half, I can keep up, but the second half is really what I’m better at.”

Tadych moved to Kasilof a little over a year ago and ran the Kenai River Marathon for the first time.

Her late endurance is no surprise since she spent the summer training for an ultramarathon with her fiance, Mac Butler. The two were able to finish the Resurrection Pass 50-miler.

“After Mile 35, it was hard,” Tadych said. “After you finished, you were like, ‘Why did I do that?’ Then you’re like, ‘I’m gonna do it again.’”

Templin, 28, won in 1:24:20 in his first appearance at the event. That was a pleasant surprise after he said 1:25:00 was his best-case scenario for the race.

The perfect conditions and Parks are the reason Templin did so well. The marathon and half marathon runners start together, with the half marathon course separating about 4 miles into the race.

“I thought he was doing the half marathon,” Templin said of Parks. “I didn’t look at his bib and I was worried for the first 3 or 4 miles. This is going to hurt a lot. This guy’s fast.

“But he actually got me up to pace and got me really warm, then he took off on the marathon route. I was just able to keep going. That was awesome.”

Buckwalter, 42, was able to run 1:36:43 to lower her winning time of 1:39:07 in 2019.

“I beat last time,” she said. “I’m getting older, so it’s more painful, though. I told my kids I needed them to come because it’s getting more painful and I needed their support.”

Buckwalter said she got a coach and trained hard for the race to lower her time, though the time wasn’t quite what the coach wanted.

Sterling’s Morgan Aldridge, 42, was the overall and women’s winner in the 5-kilometer race, finishing at 23:38. Dominic Smith, 13, won the men’s race at 25:06.

The relay victory went to the Relay 2024 team of Rachel Neuendorf, Lindsay Cobb, Kristen Lee and Shea Rutter in 3:56:18.

Kenai River Marathon

Sunday

Women’s Marathon — 1. Ellie Tadych, Kasilof, 3:51:58; 2. Margaret Witt, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, 3:56:11; 3. Colleen McNaught, Soldotna, 4:31:21; 4. Holly Neese, Frisco, Texas, 4:36:34; 5. Alexandra Lewis, Anchorage, 5:16:00; 6. Grace Thompson-Johnston, Anchorage, 5:25:34; 7. Roxana Lewis, Gardena, California, 6:38:32; 8. Emma Semmens, 6:48:11.

Men’s Marathon — 1. Jason Parks, Kenai, 2:38:55; 2. John Adachi, Ottawa, Ontario, 3:42:32; 3. Cameron Perry, Wasilla, 4:17:13; 4. Justin Wagner, Anchorage, 4:20:13; 5. Dean Denter, Eagle River, 4:21:50; 6. Jonathan Escutia, Corona, New York, 4:22:16; 7. Kyle Settles, Homer, 4:37:49; 8. Matt Skinner, Anchorage, 4:39:18; 9. William Coumbe, Atlanta, Georgia, 4:42:59; 10. Joe Wilde, Houston, Texas, 4:43:27.

Women’s Half Marathon — 1. Kristen Buckwalter, Homer, 1:36:43; 2. Heather Moon, Soldotna, 1:44:30; 3. Lisa Wegman, Anchorage, 1:48:13; 4. Elizabeth Hardie, Soldotna, 1:48:28; 5. Britni Siekaniec, Homer, 1:50:23; 6. Annie McDonough, San Francisco, 1:56:58; 7. Stacie Schaidle, Soldotna, 2:00:56; 8. Cavan Monaghan, Eagle River, 2:00:57; 9. Dani Akana, Lindon, Utah, 2:02:54; 10. Deanna DePue, Kenai, 2:05:33; 11. Taylor Ewing, Nikiski, 2:07:16; 12. Kathy Trinh, Soldotna, 2:08:35; 13. Colleen McGeath Walker, 2:09:21; 14. Sarah Pribbenow, Kenai, 2:10:44; 15. Jennifer Booz, Homer, 2:11:22; 16. Melanie Ziegler, Soldotna, 2:13:09; 17. Sharon White, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 2:13:25; 18. Cassandra Simmons, Anchorage, 2:14:13; 19. Nicole Thomas, Anchorage, 2:14:21; 20. Amanda Miotke, Homer, 2:15:28; 21. Marianna DiMaggio, Kenai, 2:18:11; 22. Stephanie Stroupe, Anchorage, 2:21:15; 23. Cecilia Borries-Strigle, Kenai, 2:22:49; 24. Taylor Zars, Colorado Springs, 2:23:39; 25. Britney Walden, Ken, 2:24:17.

26. Katelyn Morrison, Soldotna, 2:25:33; 27. Deann Denter, Eagle River, 2:27:14; 28. Charlene Nollner, Glennallen, 2:28:10; 29. Margret Nelson, Sterling, 2:29:01; 30. Janna Cooper, Sterling, 2:29:01; 31. Lila Johnson, Homer, 2:29:05; 32. Abby Radeck, Soldotna, 2:29:51; 33. Courtney Abel, Soldotna, 2:31:27; 34. Christina De La Torre, Homer, 2:32:12; 35. Sam Cagle, 2:34:10; 36. Esther Wee, Anchorage, 2:35:28; 37. Erica Radeck, Soldotna, 2:36:24; 38. June Stuckey, Soldotna, 2:37:19; 39. Brandi Schuerman, Anchor Point, 2:39:25; 40. Lindsy Moore, Soldotna, 2:39:32; 41. Jenna Fabian, Soldotna, 2:42:12; 42. Vanessa Peterson, Anchorage, 2:52:24; 43. Elisa Semmens, Soldotna, 2:57:42; 44. Mollie Pate, Soldotna, 2:58:28; 45. Elizabeth Cox, Kenai, 2:58:28; 46. Tomra Friesland, Taylorville, Illinois, 2:59:50; 47. Hayle Friesland, 2:59:51; 48. Kilann Tanape, Kenai, 3:01:54; 49. Christina Lam, Anchorage, 3:17:11; 50. Juley Kalugin, Anchor Point, 3:21:48.

51. Rebecca Bezdecny, Kenai, 3:28:59; 52. Karen Reagan Scoggins, Kenai, 3:32:27; 53. Katherine Coumbe, 3:53:36.

Men’s Half Marathon — 1. Micah Templin, Anchorage, 1:24:20; 2. Lee Frey, Soldotna, 1:29:50; 3. Patrick Lucas, Warwick, Maryland, 1:35:21; 4. Phil Rohrer, Louisville, 1:35:47; 5. Banyan Joachim, 1:41:40; 6. Andrew Rohrer, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, 1:41:51; 7. Samuel Kitchin, Anchorage, 1:42:50; 8. Niko Zlotnik, Soldotna, 1:43:04; 9. Mark Barbee, Ninilchik, 1:48:49; 10. Paul Wertanen, 1:48:58; 11. Noah Grady, Soldotna, 1:49:17; 12. Sylas McKnight, 1:49:57; 13. Dan McIntosh, Soldotna, 1:50:36; 14. Larry Tews, Soldotna, 1:53:50; 15. Abraham Van Hout, Borger, Texas, 1:54:35; 16. Aditya Bhatia, Columbus, Ohio, 1:55:16; 17. Max Pillsbury, San Francisco, 1:56:57; 18. Danny Mangione, Kenai, 1:57:25; 19. Ian Mercado, Kenai, 1:57:36; 20. Carl Kincaid, Sterling, 2:08:01; 21. Avery Walker, Bloomington, Indiana, 2:09:22; 22. Ethan Gaddy, Anchorage, 2:09:38; 23. Roy Stuckey, Soldotna, 2:17:31; 24. Gregory Joubert, Anchorage, 2:19:24; 25. Michael White, Wasilla, 2:20:00.

26. Dustin Brito, Sterling, 2:21:34; 27. Brent Johnson, Clam Gulch, 2:31:11; 28. Tim Chaffey, Burlingston, Kentucky, 2:31:46; 29. Alan Miller, Hiawassee, Georgia, 2:35:22; 30. Matt Tunseth, Anchorage, 2:39:06; 31. James Feaster, Palmer, 2:45:58; 32. Jacob Woodall, Anchorage, 3:02:39; 33. Steve Bezdecny, Kenai, 3:28:59; 34. Cameron Hildebrand, 3:44:33.

Women’s 5K — 1. Morgan Aldridge, Sterling, 23:38; 2. Breckin Sulley, 26:11; 3. Emily Sears, Kasilof, 26:49; 4. Chelsea Eisenberg, Crowley, Texas, 26:49; 5. Sofia Tews, 27:57; 6. Dannette Petersen, Kasilof, 29:42; 7. Ashton Stubblefield, JBER, 32:11; 8. Leiana Cox, Anchorage, 32:46; 9. Breelyn Fox, Anchorage, 32:49; 10. Mila Coleman, 33:03; 11. Bridgette Bourgouin, Anchorage, 33:09; 12. Olivia Tews, 34:26; 13. Thessa Elpidio, Dalton, Georgia, 36:57; 14. MJ Loveland, Kenai, 38:59; 15. Maykala Lightfoot, Kenai, 39:24; 16. Chrissy McCormick, Soldotna, 39:36; 17. Sheena Ashkenasy, Kenai, 42:19; 18. Allison Wilde, Houston, Texas, 44:10; 19. Laura Brown, Kenai, 49:13; 20. Emmarie Edwards-Dean, Kenai, 50:07; 21. Susan Neese, Frisco, Texas, 50:43; 22. Tabitha Kingery, Kenai, 53:36; 23. Chrissy Smith, Kenai, 53:37; 24. Beth Knorr, Anchorage, 54:02; 25. Shaahi Kanumuri, 55:50.

26. Susan Eisenberg, Crowley, Texas, 56:25; 27. Josie Anhorn, Soldotna, 58:17; 28. Terah Whitman, Cyril, Oklahoma, 58:19; 29. Delanie Vitosh, Soldotna, 58:20; 30. Yvonne Miller, 58:56; 31. Erika Smith, Anchorage, 59:30; 32. Alecia Bradford, Kenai, 59:30; 33. Sydney Krager, 59:32; 34. Kemberly Mills, 1:02:21; 35. Heather Mills, Soldotna, 1:02:24; 36. Rhonda McCormick, Soldotna, 1:02:58; 37. Becca Mills, Kenai, 1:03:12; 38. Brittany Raz, Soldotna, 1:03:12; 39. Amanda Parker, Soldotna, 1:03:13; 40. Lynette Joubert, 1:04:11; 41. Jill Wilde, Houston, Texas, 1:05:56; 42. Alexis Joubert, Anchorage, 1:05:57; 43. Brianna Joubert, Anchorage, 1:06:18.

Men’s 5K — 1. Dominic Smith, 25:06; 2. Scott Sumner, Sterling, 26:32; 3. Jacob Newton, Kenai, 27:40; 4. Greg Hough, Soldotna, 28:32; 5. Wyatt Kingery, 28:34; 6. Grady Kingery, 34:22; 7. Ryan Coleman, Kenai, 34:58; 8. Odin Scott, Soldotna, 35:32; 9 (tie). Liam Hart, Pedro Souza, Soldotna, 35:38; 11. Zeke Smith, 37:50; 12. Joshua Blair, Kenai, 44:10; 13. Matthew Knorr, Anchorage, 54:02; 14. Alex Zyszkowski, Sterling, 55:50; 15. Howard Eisenberg, Crowley, Texas, 56:24.

Marathon Relay — 1. Relay 2024 (Rachel Neuendorf, Lindsay Cobb, Kristen Lee, Shea Rutter), 3:56:18; 2. Legs Miserables, 3:58:28; 3. ADLs & ACLs, 3:58:41; 4. City Slickers, 3:59:25; 5. Highlights, 4:45:02; 6. The Swifties, 4:46:06.

Runners start the Kenai River Marathon on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Rachel Neuendorf and her daughter, Ember, finish off a relay victory for Relay 2024 at the Kenai River Marathon on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai’s Jason Parks runs to a win in the men’s marathon at the Kenai River Marathon on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Homer’s Kristen Buckwalter runs to victory in the women’s half marathon at the Kenai River Marathon on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Homer’s Kristen Buckwalter runs to victory in the women’s half marathon at the Kenai River Marathon on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)