CARRABASSETT VALLEY, MAINE — With consistent cloud cover and temps in the 60s providing welcome relief from Saturday’s heat, 26-year-old Andrew Tuttle of Alton, NH won the 38th Sugarloaf Marathon today in two hours, thirty-four minutes, and forty-eight seconds. Maine-native, Sadie James, a 26-year-old from Phillips, claimed the women’s title with a time of 2:56.29. 

Tuttle held off second-place finisher Christopher Free of Virginia Beach, VA, who finished less than three minutes back with a time of 2:37.14. Chris Ritchie, a 39-year-old from Stratham, NH rounded out the top three men with a time of 2:38.21.

In the women’s division, 26-year-old Kate Edwards of Amherst, MA took second place with a time of 2:57.53, while 19-year-old Lila Gaudrault of Cape Elizabeth, ME took third in 2:58.36.

In the 15k, 24-year-old Aaron Willingham of Portland, ME dominated the men’s field with a time of 48:32 – nearly four minutes ahead of the second-place finisher, 34-year-old Jonny Wilson of Falmouth, ME. On the women’s side, 41-year-old Heather Gallant of Wayne, ME defended her 15k title with a time of 55:31, more than five minutes ahead of 28-year-old Sarah Walker of Princeton, NJ, who finished second.

Roughly 1100 runners took part in what was the first Sugarloaf Marathon and 15k since 2019, after the 2020 and 2021 races were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sponsored by Landry French Construction Company and Darling’s, the Sugarloaf Marathon is Maine’s oldest continuously run marathon. As an official qualifying race for the Boston Marathon certified by the United States Track and Field Association (USATF), the Sugarloaf Marathon is wildly popular among running enthusiasts. Despite its mountainous setting, the course is primarily downhill and ends with a gradual 16-mile descent. Marathon runners regularly record personal-best times at Sugarloaf.

One hundred percent of sponsor dollars from the marathon go to the Sugarloaf Region Charitable Trust, which is a private, nonprofit trust dedicated to improving the quality of life for the communities that make up the Sugarloaf Area. The 2019 marathon resulted in a donation of more than $20,000 for the Trust, which was distributed to deserving organizations in the Sugarloaf area.

The top three men and women in each race received cash prizes, and all entrants received a t-shirt, post-race breakfast, massage, and a finisher’s medal.