HELENA — The 50th Governor’s Cup started this past weekend in Helena with runners from various parts of the state and the nation lining up at the starting line on Saturday.
Organizers expected over 2,300 participants in the races on Friday and Saturday from 38 states, including as far as Florida.
Ranjeet Singh, who is on a mission to run 50 marathons in 50 states as he nears his 50th birthday to support the YMCA, finished 24th in the marathon.
He commented that the Governor’s Cup, marking its 50th anniversary, will be a memorable experience.
“In all the 25 marathons I’ve done, this course is really nice with some amazing views. I’m excited to share a video of it, as the views are truly remarkable. You’ll never get tired of it,” Singh mentioned.
Ryan Burg
This race is one of a kind for many running in the scenic city of Helena.
As known for the Queen City of the Rockies, the area is filled with rolling hills, posing a challenge for the runners.
“Between mile 16 to 20, it’s quite challenging with numerous hills. You go up one, come down, and then another hill. I counted about five hills from mile 16 to 20,” Singh explained.
The day saw participants from the marathon, half marathon, marathon relay, the 10k, and 5k races crossing the finish line at Anchor Park.
Ryan Burg
An awards ceremony was held at 11 am in Pioneer Park, where Helena High and Carroll College Alum, Layne Ryerson, clinched the first place for the marathon for the third consecutive time with a time of 2 hours and 29 minutes.
“I’m overwhelmed. Time flies by quickly. It’s hard to believe it’s been three years, but it’s always enjoyable. This event is something I eagerly look forward to every year. Being able to do something in my hometown where I went to high school and college is truly special,” Layne expressed.
Ryan Burg
His brother, Clayton, finished not far behind with a time of 2 hours and 28 minutes, securing the second place in the marathon.
Running is a passion for both of them, and they continually motivate each other to improve.
“Our entire family is into running. We’ve grown up together and have always been competitive in various activities. So, this is a great way to showcase that,” Clayton mentioned.
The Governor’s Cup may present challenges at times, but whether you finish first, last, or anywhere in between, crossing that finish line is what truly matters.
2024 champions:
Men’s Marathon: Layne Ryerson (Manhattan, MT): 2:29:03.99
Women’s Marathon: Mariah Bredal (Bozeman, MT): 2:48:21.91
Men’s Half Marathon: Micah Drew (Whitefish, MT): 1:16:33.73
Women’s Half Marathon: Nicaole Murray (Missoula, MT): 1:27:40.98
Men’s 10k: Cody Moore (Whitefish, MT): 33:46.21
Women’s 10k: Katrina Ivancic (Bozeman, MT): 37:11.54
Men’s 5k: William Mcgonical (Hailey, ID): 15:32.06
Women’s 5k: Jaelyn Ruybal (Sheridan, WY): 20:53.59
Marathon Relay: Vigilante Masters (Michael French, Michael Kaiser, Patrick Judge, Steve Lipetzky): 2:44:36.52
The detailed results of each race can be viewed on the Governor’s Cup results page.
