• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Baltimore Sports Today

Baltimore Sports Today

Baltimore Sports News Continuously Updated

  • Football
    • Ravens
    • Redskins
  • Baseball
    • Nationals
    • Orioles
  • Basketball
    • Mystics
    • Wizzards
  • Capitals
  • Soccer
    • Blast
    • D.C. United
    • Spirit
  • Colleges
    • George Mason
    • George Washington University
    • Georgetown
    • Howard
    • Johns Hopkins
    • Morgan State
    • Towson
    • University of Maryland

2024 Baltimore Running Festival: First-timers Willy Fink, Sara Kenefick win marathon

October 19, 2024 by The Baltimore Sun

First time running a marathon? No problem.

Willy Fink, 30, of Gaithersburg, and Sara Kenefick, 23, of Charlotte, North Carolina, won the men’s and women’s marathon at the 2024 Baltimore Running Festival on Saturday.

The pair finished the race in 2 hours, 21 minutes and 38 seconds and 3:03:42, respectively. Fink opened up a significant lead over the rest of the pack about 90 minutes in and finished eight minutes ahead of the next-closest runner. Alexander Loper of Abingdon (2:29:50) and Louis Levine of Arlington, Virginia, (2:31:14) finished second and third, respectively, in the men’s marathon, while Simiao Li of Princeton, New Jersey, (3:07:10) and Michelle Johnston of Dayton, Ohio, (3:07:50) followed Kenefick in the women’s race.

The Baltimore Running Festival marathon, which included slight tweaks this year to the path, such as a new turn at Light and Pratt streets and a detour by Lake Montebello to avoid an ongoing sinkhole repair, is internationally certified allowing runners to use their results to qualify for other races such as the Boston Marathon.

Runners participating in the 24th annual festival enjoyed clear skies and chilly temperatures that warmed up by late morning. With roads from downtown Baltimore to Fells Point closed off for the 5K, 10K, half-marathon and full marathon races, the 26.2-mile trek began outside Camden Yards and ended on Pratt Street between Charles and Light streets.

Fink, a member of Under Armour’s distance pro team, suffered a partially torn Achilles tendon in March but returned to competitive racing three months later. Kenefick recently graduated from Penn, where she was an accomplished gymnast who received a slew of accolades for her performances in floor, vault, beam and all-around competitions.

Have a news tip? Contact Matt Weyrich at mweyrich@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/ByMattWeyrich.

  • Sara Kenefick of Charlotte takes first place in the women's...

    Sara Kenefick of Charlotte takes first place in the women’s marathon during the 24th Annual Running Festival at the inner harbor. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)

  • Willy Fink of Gaithersburg reaches the finish line first, capturing...

    Willy Fink of Gaithersburg reaches the finish line first, capturing the marathon during the 24th Annual Baltimore Running Festival at the Inner Harbor. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)

  • Willy Fink of Gaithersburg reaches the finish line first, capturing...

    Willy Fink of Gaithersburg reaches the finish line first, capturing the marathon during the 24th Annual Baltimore Running Festival at the Inner Harbor. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)

  • Litz Patrick Dizon of Middle River reacts during the final...

    Litz Patrick Dizon of Middle River reacts during the final paces to the men’s marathon finish during the 24th Annual Running Festival at the inner harbor. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)

  • Esther Seeland captures first place in thee women's half marathon...

    Esther Seeland captures first place in thee women’s half marathon during the 24th Annual Running Festival at the inner harbor. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)

  • Nicolas Crouzier of Gaithersburg finishes first in thee half marathon...

    Nicolas Crouzier of Gaithersburg finishes first in thee half marathon during the 24th Annual Running Festival at the inner harbor. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)

  • Two spectators cross between runners who head for the finish...

    Two spectators cross between runners who head for the finish line during the 24th Annual Running Festival at the inner harbor. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)

  • during the 24th Annual Running Festival at the inner harbor....

    during the 24th Annual Running Festival at the inner harbor. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)

  • Spotting her husband, Christine Yu of Rockville celebrates with Mark...

    Spotting her husband, Christine Yu of Rockville celebrates with Mark Sailey who heads for the finish of the half marathon during the 24th Annual Running Festival at the inner harbor. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)

  • Race participants head toward Pratt Street to finish the 24th...

    Race participants head toward Pratt Street to finish the 24th Annual Running Festival at the inner harbor. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)

  • Madeline Smith, 18 months sits atop her father Preston Smith...

    Madeline Smith, 18 months sits atop her father Preston Smith of Valley Forgee, PA who cheer the race participants during the 24th Annual Running Festival at the inner harbor. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)

  • Chad Sussman of Sykesville reaches the finish line while running...

    Chad Sussman of Sykesville reaches the finish line while running the marathon during the 24th Annual Running Festival at the inner harbor. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)

1 of 12

Sara Kenefick of Charlotte takes first place in the women’s marathon during the 24th Annual Running Festival at the inner harbor. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)

Expand

Filed Under: Ravens

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Ravens Elevate Tyler Huntley, C.J. Okoye to Face Texans
  • Man mauled to death by animal in Arkansas national forest, bear thought to be responsible
  • News & Notes: Cooper Rush Feels Ready to Impress
  • Conservative Sanae Takaichi poised to be Japan’s first female premier
  • 50 Words or Less: Losing Key Players Doesn’t Mean Ravens Can’t Win

Categories

  • Baseball
    • Nationals
    • Orioles
  • Basketball
    • Mystics
    • Wizzards
  • Capitals
  • Colleges
    • George Mason
    • George Washington University
    • Georgetown
    • Howard
    • Morgan State
    • Navy
    • Towson
    • University of Maryland
  • Football
    • Ravens
    • Redskins
  • Soccer
    • Blast
    • D.C. United
    • Spirit
  • Uncategorized

Archives

Our Partners

All Sports

  • 247 Sports
  • Bleacher Report
  • CBS Baltimore
  • Forgotten 5
  • NBC Sports Washington
  • Maryland Sports Blog
  • OurSports Central
  • PressBoxOnline.com
  • The Baltimore Sun
  • The Baltimore Wire
  • The Sports Daily
  • The Sports Fan Journal
  • The Spun
  • USA Today
  • Washington Post
  • Washington Times

Baseball

  • MLB.com - Orioles
  • MLB.com - Nationals
  • Baltimore Baseball
  • Birds Watcher
  • Camden Chat
  • District On Deck
  • Federal Baseball
  • Last Word On Baseball - Nationals
  • Last Word On Baseball - Orioles
  • MLB Trade Rumors - Nationals
  • MLB Trade Rumors - Orioles
  • Nationals Arm Race
  • Orioles Hangout

Basketball

  • NBA.com
  • WNBA.com
  • Amico Hoops
  • Bullets Forever
  • High Post Hoops
  • Hoops Hype
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Last Word On Pro Basketball
  • Pro Basketball Talk
  • Real GM
  • Wiz Of Awes

Football

  • Baltimore Ravens
  • Washington Redskins
  • Baltimore Beatdown
  • Baltimore Gridiron Report
  • Ebony Bird
  • Hogs Haven
  • Last Word On Pro Football - Washington Commanders
  • Last Word On Pro Football - Baltimore Ravens
  • NFL Trade Rumors - Ravens
  • NFL Trade Rumors - Redskins
  • Our Turf Football - Ravens
  • Our Turf Football - Redskins
  • Pro Football Rumors - Ravens
  • Pro Football Rumors - Redskins
  • Pro Football Talk - Redskins
  • Pro Football Talk - Ravens
  • Redskins Gab
  • Ravens Wire
  • Redskins Wire
  • Riggos Rag
  • Total Ravens

Hockey

  • Washington Capitals
  • Elite Prospects
  • Japers Rink
  • Last Word On Hockey
  • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Talk
  • Stars And Sticks
  • The Hockey Writers

Soccer

  • Baltimore Blast
  • Black And Red United
  • Last Word on Soccer - DC United
  • Last Word on Soccer - Spirit
  • MLS Multiplex

College

  • Big East Coast Bias
  • Busting Brackets
  • Casual Hoya
  • College Football News
  • College Sports Madness
  • Fourth Estate
  • GW Hatchet
  • Saturday Blitz
  • The Diamondback
  • The Hilltop
  • The Hoya
  • Testudo Times
  • Zags Blog

Copyright © 2025 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in