CAMBRIDGE, OH — The inaugural Crossroads Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K brought a strong showing to Cambridge on Saturday, May 16, drawing 242 participants across all three events—surpassing early expectations and giving organizers confidence that the race could become a long-term community tradition.
“That was a higher number than we anticipated,” said Race Co-Director Ron Gombeda. “We had hoped to hit 200 and we exceeded that number.”
Strong Competition Across All Divisions
The event featured competitive fields in the marathon, half marathon, and 5K races, with standout performances in both the men’s and women’s divisions.
Half Marathon Winners
Men
- 1st: Hunter Moore — 1:12:24.9
- 2nd: Cole Colman — 1:22:57.9
- 3rd: Chad Settles — 1:23:11.7
Women
- 1st: Sylvis Magis — 1:36:50.9
- 2nd: Olivia Pokas — 1:40:37.6
- 3rd: Rachel Forshey — 1:41:09.7
Full Marathon Winners
Men
- 1st: Alec Testa — 2:48:41.3
- 2nd: Uriah Yoder — 3:04:42.8
- 3rd: Juston Wickham — 3:20:45.4
Women
- 1st: Helen Rafferty — 3:34:14.1
- 2nd: Niki Stillion — 3:51:55.6
- 3rd: Emily Byler — 3:52:14.2
5K Winners
Men
- 1st: Brian Hall — 20:24.6
- 2nd: Miles Burga — 20:56.7
- 3rd: James Wells — 20:57.1
Women
- 1st: Sophia Merickel — 22:44.9
- 2nd: Kylie Howes — 25:07.4
- 3rd: Arden Bond — 26:19.8
Community Support and Local Partnerships
Organizers credited the event’s success to broad community involvement and coordinated planning among local agencies and volunteers.
Gombeda expressed appreciation for his co-director, Jennifer Vincent of the Cambridge Area Chamber of Commerce, along with emergency management personnel, law enforcement, and city departments who supported race-day operations.
“I want to thank my race co-director, Jennifer Vincent of the Cambridge Area Chamber of Commerce. I could not have done this without her help,” Gombeda said. “I also want to thank our staff, volunteers, EMA, the Guernsey County Sheriff, Cambridge Police and Street Departments, and all local EMS stations that assisted.”
The race was organized through a partnership between the Guernsey County Community Development Corporation and the Cambridge Area Chamber of Commerce.
The event also aligned with Cambridge Main Street’s Finish Line Festival, adding to the weekend’s atmosphere of community celebration.
Looking Ahead
With participation exceeding expectations and strong local backing, organizers say the Crossroads Marathon series is positioned to return in future years as a growing regional event in the Ohio Valley.
