Photos from 2024 race courtesy of RunVermont. These runners are at the 4:30 pace line, or about two hours behind the leaders.
Burlington, Vermont, May 25, 2025
Vermont Business Magazine RunVermont announces the 36th running of the M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon & Relay on Sunday, May 25, following the tradition of hosting the event over Memorial Day Weekend. More than 5,000 runners, 20,000 spectators, and 800 volunteers will gather on race day as part of the largest single-day sporting event in Vermont.
“We are thrilled to host the 36th annual M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon & Relay, a beloved tradition that unites the running community in Vermont and welcomes new athletes from across the country,” said Anthea Dexter-Cooper, Executive Director of RunVermont. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to this year’s participants for their dedication to the sport, our incredible volunteers—many of whom have volunteered their time and efforts to this event for decades—our valued community partners and sponsors for their unwavering support, and the local community for coming together on Memorial Day Weekend to cheer on and celebrate our event participants.”
Heidi Stumpff, Vermont Regional President at M&T Bank, the event’s title sponsor, added: “The M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon & Relay is a cherished tradition on a weekend where we all take some time to remember those who died while serving our country and one that kicks off summer and unites the Vermont community. This race brings a lot of people and economic impact to Vermont as well. As a relay participant this year, I will be honored to cross the finish line—not only in celebration of this incredible event but also in recognition of the dedicated volunteers, including my colleagues at M&T Bank, and our proud partnership with RunVermont to bring this race to life.”
About the Race
The race consists of a two-loop 13.1-mile course for a total of 26.2 miles that includes some of the best spots in Burlington, such as the Church Street Marketplace and Burlington Bike Path. The start and finish lines are located at Waterfront Park on Lake Street.
In addition to serving as title sponsor, many M&T Bank employees come out to support the event. Over the weekend, more than 75 bank employees will volunteer at the event and over 45 employees will run in the race.
Awards
Marathon Age Group Awards
Racers will compete for prize money, and awards will be given to the winning men and women in the following age groups: 16–24, 25–29, 30–34, 35–39, 40–44, 45–49, 50–54, 55–59, 60–64, 65–69, 70-74, 75-79 and 80+. Relay teams also compete for awards in Junior, Open, Master, and Grand Mountaineer divisions.
Marathon Cash Prizes
Open (all ages)
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Female: 1st - $2,400, 2nd - $1,300, 3rd - $800
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Male: 1st - $2,400, 2nd - $1,300, 3rd - $800
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Non-Binary: 1st - $2,400
Masters (ages 40+)
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Female: 1st - $700, 2nd - $300
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Male: 1st - $700, 2nd - $300
Handcycle
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Female: 1st - $700
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Male: 1st - $700
Pushrim Wheelchair
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Female: 1st - $700
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Male: 1st - $700
Top Vermonter*
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Female: 1st - $700
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Male: 1st - $700
*Eligibility: Must have been a legal resident of Vermont since at least May 27, 2024.
Open Race Record Bonus (female and male divisions): $1,000
Masters Race Record Bonus (female and male divisions): $500
Unofficial race-day results will be available in the Racers’ Services Tent in Waterfront Park. Official results will be posted to RunVermont’s website as soon as possible following the race.
M&T Bank Community Spirit Award
M&T Bank is proud to sponsor the 2025 Community Spirit Award given to the Burlington neighborhood that:
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Does something to keep the runners going
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Cheers the loudest
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Has the most participation
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Is the most creative
The winner of the 2025 Community Spirit Award will be presented with the M&T Bank Community Spirit banner shortly after the race and $500 to donate to the charity of their choice. Runners should pay attention to the neighborhoods on the course that they feel did the most to encourage them on their 26.2-mile journey. After the race, runners can place their vote via this link or the QR code below to reward supporters:
Youth Running Events
RunVermont will be hosting its 24th Annual Mini Marathon and inaugural Vermont City Two Mile on Saturday, March 24, 2025.
Mini Marathon
Runners ages 4-14 can participate in a ½ mile and 1 mile fun run and spectate beloved Mascot Dash.
Vermont Two-Mile
Runners ages 9-14 can compete in a timed two-mile race with awards for top male, female, and nonbinary finishers.
About the Invited Runners
In the Women’s Open category, RunVermont welcomes back Eliza Kerschner, an occupational therapist from Maine who placed second in last year’s marathon, South Burlington’s Sarah Shiman, who hit a personal best of 1:24:42 in April’s Half-Marathon Unplugged, Margaret Vido, who finished 4th in the 2014 Vermont City Marathon and owns a best time of 2:38, and Hayley Collins, who finished third at the 2024 Hartford Marathon with a PR of 2:41:16. Ildi Gaal from Wellesley, MA, with a personal record of 2:46, will also compete in a field with four women with personal bests between 2:38 and 2:48. Sarah True, an Olympic triathlete and Middlebury College graduate, will be competitive in both the Open and Masters categories in her first attempt at a marathon that is not part of a triathlon. Christine Hagan of Burlington, VT will compete in both the Masters and Top Vermonter categories. Masters runner and Essex, VT-born-and-raised Katie Kissane is also back. Rounding out the field for Top Vermonter and competing in the Open category, is Joanna Fortier of Richmond, VT, who is back to defend her Top Vermonter title from 2024.
In the Men’s Open category, RunVermont welcomes 16 runners: Ryan Eiler, Jake Perrin, Matthew Fick, Dan Forry, Jackson Friesth, Dylan Gearinger, Chris Gish, Zachary Hoagland, Hiro Kawakatsu, Jack Leitch, Sam Montclair, Tommy O’Gorman, Chase Pizzonia, Lou Serafini, Nathan Stine, and Kiplangat (who goes by Philemon) Terer. Spectators can watch Philemon, the defending male open champion, go head-to-head with Lou Serafini, the 2023 marathon winner, and Ryan Eiler, the 2023 marathon runner-up, although Dylan Gearinger has already expressed his intention to win and break the race record of 2:17:03. The biggest wild card, though, is Arnold Kipkemboi Kirwa, who is coached by a former world class marathoner and will be running in the US for the first time. In the Masters category, defending champion Fabian Daza will be returning, along with newcomers Dan McGrath and Michael Anis.
In the Non-Binary category, Bryan Morseman, who has run a total of 128 marathons with an average time of under 2:30, will run their first-ever marathon in the state of Vermont. Matt Powers, a South Burlington native with a marathon PR of 2:54:54 from the 2023 Boston Marathon, when they were third in the inaugural inclusion of the non-binary division, will also compete.
Race Weekend Events
SPORTS & FITNESS EXPO
Friday, May 23, 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 24, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
There will be live programming open to the public on both Friday and Saturday
DoubleTree by Hilton, 870 Williston Road, South Burlington
RUNVERMONT HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY
Friday, May 23, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
DoubleTree by Hilton, 870 Williston Road, South Burlington
RUNVERMONT VERMONT CITY TWO MILE & MINI MARATHON
Saturday, May 24 at 8:30 a.m.
Waterfront Park, Burlington
Races: timed two mile, 1 mile fun run, and 0.5 mile fun run
RACE DAY - M&T BANK VERMONT CITY MARATHON & RELAY
Sunday, May 25 at 7:00 a.m.
Waterfront Park, Burlington
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Dignitary addresses starting at 7:00 a.m. (including M&T Bank Regional President for Vermont, Heidi Stumpff)
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Wheelchair start at 7:15 a.m.; Runners start immediately after
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Estimated finish time of first handcyclist: 8:10 a.m.
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Estimated finish time of first marathon finisher: 9:30 a.m.
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Finish line tape will be held by Heidi Stumpff of M&T Bank, Beth Anderson, Chair, RunVermont board of directors, and Mike Pieciak, Treasurer for the State of Vermont)
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Awards presentations
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8:15 a.m. - Wheelchair race awards | Winners available to press at 8:30 a.m. | Location: Announcer’s tent
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10:30 a.m. - Runner’s awards | Winners available to press at 11:00 a.m. | Location: Announcer’s tent
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Thank you to our 2025 partners!
M&T Bank, Altra, Darn Tough Vermont, DexaFit, Farrell Distributing Corporation, GlobalFoundries, JMM Accounting, Kinney Drugs, Leonardo’s Pizza, Michelob Ultra, Performance Foodservice, Skirack, Thuja Outdoor Clothing, University of Vermont Health Network and Medical Center, UnTapped All Natural Athletic Fuel, and Wasted*.
About RunVermont
RunVermont is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the sport of running as a lifelong activity and hosting premier running events in the state of Vermont. In addition to the M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon & Relay, RunVermont also produces a variety of other races and community running programs throughout the year. For more information, please visit www.runvermont.org.
About M&T Bank
M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T’s principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, provides banking products and services in 12 states across the northeastern U.S. from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. Trust-related services are provided in select markets in the U.S. and abroad by M&T’s Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank. For more information about M&T Bank, visit www.mtb.com.
About the M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon & Relay
The Vermont City Marathon was established in 1989 by a small group of local runners who believed that Burlington, Vermont could support a large New England marathon event in the spring. The marathon relay, one of the first marathon relay events in the US and the first organized in conjunction with a marathon, was held in the very first year of the race’s existence. The 1989 race brought 414 marathoners and 125 5-person relay teams to the finish line. Since 1993, the event has grown tremendously both in numbers and status in the running industry. Runner’s World magazine has ranked the race as one of the top 20 best marathons in the United States and, as recently as summer 2025, one of the top 10 best marathons for beginners. For more information, run over to www.runvermont.org.
Burlington, VT – RunVermont
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