CARRABASSETT VALLEY, Maine (May 12, 2024) – With partly cloudy skies and temps in the mid-50s, 33-year-old Steven Fritzsche of Kennebunk, ME won the 40th Sugarloaf Marathon today in two hours, twenty seven minutes, and thirty five seconds. Breanna Gaster, a 30-year-old from Cambridge, MA, claimed the women’s title with a time of 2:48.22.

Fritzsche maintained his lead over second-place finisher, Neil Davis, 40, from Cohasset, MA, crossing the finish line approximately four minutes ahead with a time of 2:31:52. Jeremy Bennett, a 25-year-old from Cambridge, MA, rounded out the top three men with a time of 2:32.00.

In the women’s division, 33-year-old Heather Devane of Plymouth, MA took second place with a time of 2:57.49, while 49-year-old Christine Hein from North Yarmouth, ME took third in 3:06.42.

In the 15k, 26-year-old Aaron Willingham of Portland, ME defended his title with a time of 46:08 – nearly four minutes ahead of the second place finisher, 25-year-old Neville Caulfield of Portland, ME. On the women’s side, 34-year Paige Mills of Cumberland, ME took first place with a running time of 57:30 and 32-year old Hannah Bewsey from Topsham, ME finished second.

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. Roughly 1400 racers registered in this year’s race.

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. On average, the Sugarloaf marathon results in donations of more than $20,000 annually 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 meal, and a finisher’s medal.

Click here to view complete results from both races.

Click here to download high-res photos of the event.

For more information on the Sugarloaf Marathon, please visit www.sugarloaf.com/marathon.

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