Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon Sells Out Multiple Distances at 2024 Event

December 17, 2024

Thousands of runners from across the nation cross the Mississippi coastline

BILOXI, Miss. December 17, 2024 /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K welcomed over 3,700 runners at their ninth annual event on Dec. 14 and 15. Participants visited from 47 states to take part in one of the multiple events offered over the weekend, which included a marathon distance (26.2 miles), half marathon distance (13.1 miles), the Margaritaville 5K (3.1 miles), Chevron Kids Marathon (1-mile), and the F.E.B. Grand Slam Beer Mile. Ahead of the event, the full marathon and Margaritaville 5K distances sold out, with the half marathon and Beer Mile just short of capacity.

On Sunday, the marathon took runners from Pass Christian to Biloxi, following the coastline for 26.2 miles. The half marathon started in Gulfport and followed the same coastline as the marathon for 13.1 miles to Biloxi. Both courses showcased one-of-a-kind Gulf Coast scenery with unobstructed beach views. Both races wrapped up at the F.E.B. Finish Fest, located in the newly rebranded Keesler Federal Park. Runners were greeted by friends, family and fellow runners cheering them on from the stands as they crossed the finish line and were highlighted on the stadium’s jumbotron.

Jake Braam, the men’s marathon champion and overall first-place finisher, completed the 26.2 miles in 2:38:25.83, an impressive 15 minutes ahead of second-place. Coming in after Braam was the men’s marathon second-place finisher, Jared Dybas, followed by third-place finisher Garrison Rosie. The women’s marathon course was led by Katherine Phillips, who finished with a time of 3:11:59.81. Second and third-place finishers for the women’s marathon were April Mbida and Gillian Oaks.

The men’s half marathon division was led by Jacob Plocher, who finished with a time of 1:12:03.97. Plocher has a long history of success with the event, as he was last year’s marathon champion, the first-place winner of the half marathon in 2022 and in 2021 place second in the half marathon distance. Maya Espinosa brought home first in the women’s division, finishing in 1:26:38.36.

On Saturday, the Margaritaville 5K took participants on a point-to-point course starting in Ocean Springs and finishing at Margaritaville Resort in Biloxi. The course led runners down Front Beach Road, across the Biloxi Bay Bridge and across the finish line at Margaritaville Resort. First-place finishers of the men’s and women’s Margaritaville 5K were Steven Marr with a time of 16:38, and Natalie Carden who finished in 21:54. Over 140 kids also took part on Saturday by participating in the Chevron Kids Marathon.

The F.E.B. Grand Slam Beer Mile also saw big finishes over the weekend. The race consists of four beers and four laps around the warning track at Keesler Federal Park. Participants could complete the challenge solo, or bring a team of up to four to complete the event as a relay. The challenge was open to participants 21 years or older. In the solo division, Kenan White led the male division, who completed the challenge in 6:27, while Scott Hawkins took home first place in the female division with a time of 7:28. The relay team division saw over 10 teams and 40 runners compete, with FRESHJUNKIE Racing’s own staff team securing the first-place win with a time of 5:27.

The Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon was rated the Best Marathon in the U.S. in RaceRaves 2023 Runners Choice awards. These results were based on votes from runners nationwide and ratings and reviews on RaceRaves.com. The Mississippi Gulf Coast Half Marathon was also recognized as the top road race in the state of Mississippi in 2023 by Running USA’s Industry Insights Report, with the Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon 5K also ranking 4th, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon ranking 7th. These results were based on total finishers at each individual race.

The 2025 Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K weekend is scheduled for Dec. 13-14. Registration for the 2025 event is expected to open in March. For more information about the Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon, visit mississippigulfcoastmarathon.com and follow the event on Facebook and Instagram.

ABOUT THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST MARATHON AND FRESHJUNKIE RACING

The Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon held its inaugural event in 2016, and has continued to host an annual event that showcases the local culture with a scenic beachside run from Pass Christian to Biloxi. The event also features the Chevron Kids Marathon 1 Mile Run, Margaritaville 5K, the F.E.B. Grand Slam Beer Mile and Beer Mile relays. The event is produced by FRESHJUNKIE Racing (FJR,) an endurance event production company specializing in running races and fundraising walks headquartered in Baton Rouge, La. FJR produces 20 events annually in Louisiana, Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. Of those 20 events, 13 are part of the company’s owned portfolio. FJR’s expertise goes far beyond race logistics & operations, with services ranging from marketing & creative development to complete turn-key production. For more information about FJR, visit www.freshjunkieracing.com and follow the company on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.

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