A Mill Race Marathon victory: Winners celebrate at the finish line

September 28, 2024

133797884_web1_20290929cr-marathon-winners-6 — Mike Wolanin | The Republic Polina Hodnette puts on her finisher medal after winning the women’s division of the marathon distance in the Mill Race Marathon in Columbus, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.

A few years ago, Caleb Kerr and a couple of his buddies started the Working Man Track Club in Indianapolis.

That club swept the men’s marathon and half marathon races at Saturday’s 12th Annual Mill Race Marathon. Kerr won the full 26.2-mile marathon, and Curtis Eckstein defended his half marathon title in a race that was contested in a light, but steady rain.

“Honestly, I was glad for the rain because it’s pretty warm for a marathon,” Kerr said. “Anything over about 50 degrees is warm for a race that long. You want it to be cold, so the rain was enough to keep it bearable.”

Kerr, who ran cross-country and track at Evansville North and Purdue University and now lives in Zionsville, ran the Olympic Trials marathon in 2020 and 2024. He finished in 2 hours, 30 minutes, 49 seconds to win by more than five minutes for his first marathon victory.

“It’s a long race to be leading, so you get a lot of cheers through the town and you kind of need that for a race that lasts two hours-plus,” Kerr said. “We ran with the half marathoners for awhile until we split off there at 12 miles, and then, it was just me out there and my bike escort.”

Polina Hodnette, a Ukraine native, who played tennis at West Alabama before joining the cross-country team there, went on to run at Hawaii, was the women’s marathon winner in 2:58:26.

“I started running late in college, thanks to my tennis coach,” Hodnette said. “The tennis coach noticed I was pretty quick on the tennis court, and he was like, ‘Go help out the cross-country team. Maybe you’ll be able to score for them.’ That’s how it started.”

Hodnette, who now lives in Chicago, was running the Mill Race Marathon for the first time.

“One of my friends did it two years ago, and she had a great time,” Hodnette said. “She said this marathon has a great atmosphere with a small local town. A lot of people come out (to watch), the volunteers are great and the course is appealing, so I just wanted to give it a go.”

Meanwhile, Eckstein defended his men’s half marathon title. The former state cross-country and track state champion from Oldenburg Academy who ran at Purdue now lives in Indianapolis, ran 1:06.45.

Eckstein ran with Working Man Track Club teammate Johnnie Guy for most of the 13.1-mile race before outsprinting him to win by 2 seconds.

“It was harder for sure,” Eckstein said. “I don’t think I’m in as good of shape, either. My time was a lot slower.”

Lucy Dobbs, who finished third in 2022, was the top women’s half marathon finisher in 1:18:01. The Arizona native who ran on the club team at Purdue and now lives in Indianapolis ran the Olympic Trials marathon in February.

“It was fun,” Dobbs said. “It’s a great day to be out here, a little rainy, but it didn’t break any spirits. It’s a training run. I’m running a marathon later this fall (in New York), so I’m pretty happy to just be out here and feel good.”

Cole DeVreese, an eighth-grader at St. Peter’s Lutheran, won the men’s 5K in 18:35.

“I thought there were going to be more people that were ahead of me, but I guess they’re all in the marathon,” DeVreese said. “

Sarah Storm was the top women’s 5K finisher in 21:48.

Top marathon men’s finishers

1. Caleb Kerr;2:30:49

2. Andrew Taylor;2:35:09

3. David Grieshaber;2:32:34

4. Cory Kirkham;2:50:01

5. Collin Wesco;2:51:46

Top marathon women’s finishers

1. Polina Hodnette;2:58:26

2. April Woo;3:10:06