2024 DONNA Marathon Weekend champions announced

The 17th DONNA Marathon Weekend concluded with 6,100 runners participating in person at events across the First Coast. Athletes from all 50 states and nine countries laced up for multiple competitive race events, Feb. 2-4. 

Continuing the celebration of The DONNA Foundation’s 20th anniversary year in 2024, participants choosing to fundraise generated more than $150,000 so far in support of the critical programs of the foundation. 

This year’s marathon, which took runners through a double-loop course across the Jacksonville Beaches, saw both repeat and new champions for its 17th running, including:

• Men’s Ultra 110 Marathon: Winner is Charles Poblenz of Jacksonville, 23:36:28
• Women’s Ultra 110 Marathon: Winner is Jamie Saunders of Gainesville, 25:36:43
• Men’s Marathon: Winner is Travis Lucas of Tampa, 2:29:17
• Women’s Marathon: Winner is Kaori Alexander of Wellington, Florida, 3:06:55
• Men’s Half Marathon: Winner is Sem Sultnaov of Jacksonville, 1:13:07
• Women’s Half Marathon: Winner is Kelby Laughner of Indianapolis, IN, 1:21:32
• Survivor Marathon: Winner is Catherine Martin of Gainesville, 3:39:46
• Survivor Half Marathon: Winner is Mary Ladner of Peachtree City, Georgia, 1:48:03
• Adaptive Athlete Marathon: Winner is Brendan Quinn of St. Augustine, 1:24:33
• Adaptive Athlete Half Marathon: Winner is Ciera Hobbs of Jacksonville, 1:51:06
• Men’s GoRuck Marathon: Winner is Dennison Hiller of Savannah, Georgia, 3:41:06
• Women’s GoRuck Marathon: Winner is Victoria Sweeney of Jacksonville, 4:32:14
• Men’s GoRuck Half Marathon: Winner is Harrison Kozlowski of Jacksonville Beach, 1:28:32
• Women’s GoRuck Half Marathon: Winner is Anna Besselink of Jacksonville, 1:28:38

DONNA Marathon Weekend’s Sunday races, including the half marathon and marathon events, extended through several First Coast communities, including Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Jacksonville Beach. 

“This race never disappoints,” said Amanda Napolitano, executive director of The DONNA Foundation. “DONNA Marathon Weekend is truly a one of a kind event that serves as a reminder of why we do the important work we do at The DONNA Foundation. It reminds us what happens when we choose love over fear and is truly a big party, celebrating survivorship and the impact we, along with our partners, can have when we come together. We cannot wait until we’re celebrating the end of breast cancer, but until then, we’ll be out at the beaches each year, racing toward that ultimate finish line.”

In addition to Sunday’s events, the 2024 FIS DONNA 5K started and finished their race inside EverBank Field, in partnership with Jacksonville Jaguars and Bold Events, on Feb. 3.

Winners are as follows:

• Men’s 5K: Winner is Bob Massaglia of Ponte Vedra Beach, 17:30
• Women’s 5K: Winner is Makayla Fick of Jacksonville Beach, 18:40
• Overall 5K Survivor: Winner is Lindsay Hawker of Bradenton, 24:12

The winners for the 2024 Masters Divisions and Booby Trap Challenge are as follows:

• Masters Men’s Marathon: Winner is Armand Riehl of Neptune Beach, 2:58:21
• Masters Women’s Marathon: Winner is Catherine Martin of Gainesville, 3:39:46
• Masters Men’s Half Marathon: Winner is Bob Massaglia of Ponte Vedra Beach, 1:21:41
• Masters Women’s Half Marathon: Winner is Clair Domingo of Jacksonville, 1:27:53
• Booby Trap Challenge Men’s Marathon: Winner is Shawn Smith of Boonville, Indiana, 4:04:23.1
• Booby Trap Challenge Women’s Marathon: Winner is Beth Meisberger of Brooksville, Florida, 4:52:33.2
• Booby Trap Challenge Men’s Half Marathon: Winner is Bob Massaglia of Ponte Vedra Beach, 1:39:11 
• Booby Trap Challenge Women’s Half Marathon: Winner is Cassie Chambers of Neptune Beach, 1:55:08.8

“As we celebrate the 17th annual running of DONNA Marathon Weekend, I am perpetually in awe of the thousands of survivors, champions, family and friends that joined us,” said Mayor Donna Deegan, Founder of The DONNA Foundation. “With the support of the community behind us, we know that as we continue to help patients in need, we are running toward a world without breast cancer.”

Finally, more than 100 participants logged miles over the course of four months as part of The DONNA Foundation’s second annual 110-Mile-A-Day Challenge and virtual events. The challenge encouraged families and individuals to collectively walk one mile per day while focusing on living a healthy, fearless and sustainable life. Miles were logged from Oct. 1 to Feb. 4. The effort closed with nearly 13,000 miles tracked. 

The 18th Annual DONNA Marathon Weekend is planned for Jan. 31 through Feb. 2, 2025.