RunVermont photo from the 2024 marathon.
Ryan Smith breaks course record; Kellyn Taylor and Rachel Schilkowsky, along with Smith, secure qualifying times for upcoming U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials
Vermont Business Magazine RunVermont's 37th annual M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon & Relay, Vermont’s largest single-day sporting event, took place on May 24, 2026. There were approximately 5,000 athletes registered for the individual marathon and 2 person and 3 to 5-person relay events and thousands of spectators cheering them on along the race course. This year’s Vermont City Marathon served as the Road Runner’s Club of America’s Eastern Region Marathon Championship, with RRCA awards bestowed to the first man and woman in certain age groups, the first non-binary participant overall, and the first male and female wheelchair athletes.
Ryan Smith set a new event record in the Male Open Division of the M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon, finishing at 2:15:53. Kellyn Taylor placed first in the Female Open Division with a time of 2:35:18, with Rachel Schilkowsky finishing in 2:35:51 and placing second. Schilkowsky, Smith, and Taylor all secured qualifying times for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Paula Pridgen set a new Female Masters event record, finishing at 2:41:29 and securing third Female overall.
"What we witnessed on Sunday was a remarkable display of athleticism, with Ryan Smith rewriting our course record, and Kellyn Taylor, Rachel Schilkowsky, and Ryan all earning their tickets to the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials right here on the streets of Burlington,” said Anthea Dexter-Cooper, Executive Director of RunVermont. “Congratulations to our top finishers across every division, and thank you to every athlete who made this year's race unforgettable."
Heidi Stumpff, Regional President for Vermont at M&T Bank, shared, “At M&T Bank, we are incredibly proud to serve as the title sponsor of the Vermont City Marathon & Relay and to support an event that brings our community together in such a powerful and inspiring way. Each year, we are energized by the determination of the runners, the enthusiasm of the spectators, and the spirit of the volunteers and partners who make this day possible. Congratulations to all who participated, and thank you to the entire community for showing up and making this event a true celebration of Vermont.”
In addition to serving as title sponsor, M&T Bank was proud to have more than 75 employees volunteer and 25 employees participate in the race.
Race Recap and Winners
This year’s race was a two-loop, 13.1 mile course for a total of 26.2 miles featuring some of Burlington’s most beloved spots, including the Church Street Marketplace and Burlington Bike Path. The start and finish lines were located at Waterfront Park and Lake Street.
Top finishers included (* indicates an RRCA award winner):
Female Open Division
1. Kellyn Taylor of Flagstaff, AZ, who finished in 2:35:18*
2. Rachel Schilkowsky of Providence, RI, who finished in 2:35:51
3. Paula Pridgen of Charlotte, NC, who finished in 2:41:29*
Male Open Division
1. Ryan Smith of Boston, MA, who finished in 2:15:52*
2. Kevin Heeman of Boerne, TX, who finished in 2:19:25
3. Paul Neilan of Lowell, MA, who finished in 2:19:54
Non-BInary Open Division
1. Jordan Gustafson of Burbank, CA, who finished in 3:18:18*
Male Masters Division
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Alexander Grout of Chappaqua, NY, who finished in 2:33:06*
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Blake Ressler of Winooski, VT, who finished in 2:37:45
Female Masters Division
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Paula Pridgen of Charlotte, NC, who finished in 2:41:29*
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Heidi Westover of Walpole, NH, who finished in 2:47:30
Top Vermonters Division
Female: Brynn Orban-Salley of South Burlington, VT, who finished in 2:58:09
Male: Darius Parker of Hinesburg, VT, who finished in 2:25:47
Female Handcycle (half marathon distance)
Devann Murphy of Keesville, NY, who finished in 1:05:16*
Male Handcycle (half marathon distance)
Erik Corbett of Conway, NH, who finished in 54:55*
Female Pushrim (half marathon distance)
Emily Coolidge of South Burlington, VT, who finished in 4:09:25
Official results, including age-group and relay-division winners, will be posted on RunVermont’s website.
Thank you to our 2026 sponsors!
RunVermont extends its sincere gratitude to all of the 2026 sponsors of the M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon & Relay, whose support helps make this event possible. This year’s sponsors include M&T Bank, Darn Tough Vermont, Altra, Bin There Dump That, Farrell Distributing Corporation, GlobalFoundries, Kinney Drugs, Performance Foodservice, Timberlane Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, University of Vermont Medical Center, Vermont’s Original Bag Balm, UnTapped All Natural Athletic Fuel, and Wasted*, among others.
These valued partners play a critical role in enhancing the race experience for participants and spectators alike, supporting athlete performance, sustainability initiatives, and the continued growth of one of Vermont’s premier sporting events.
About RunVermont
RunVermont is a nonprofit 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 with a branch and ATM network spanning the eastern 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 on 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 and fall 2025, one of the top 10 best marathons for beginners and one of the best marathons to do in spring 2026. For more information, run over to www.runvermont.org.
Burlington, VT – June 16, 2026 – RunVermont's
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