ELIZABETH CITY — The streets of Elizabeth City filled with energy, competition and community spirit last weekend as the annual U.S. Coast Guard Marathon drew approximately 2,000 racers and pacers for two days of racing that doubled as a tribute to the men and women who serve in uniform.
The event was a qualifier for the Boston Marathon, drew competitors from across the country and featured races ranging from a 5K to a full marathon. Why? Because the course is flat and fast.
For race results, see the Coast Guard Marathon results page — here. Maybe one of your friends or family ran in one of the races.
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U.S. Rep. Don Davis, D-1st District, took to the House floor earlier this week to mark the occasion, calling the weekend a rallying point for the region
“The energy was extremely high at the annual U.S. Coast Guard Marathon with around two thousand dedicated runners and chair athletes in Elizabeth City,” Davis said. “The streets were filled with excitement and determination.”
Davis said the event carried weight beyond sport, noting the community’s deep ties to the service branch headquartered in the city.
“It was an honor to celebrate the vital bond between the U.S. Coast Guard and the Elizabeth City community, recognizing the sacrifices of our active duty personnel, resilient civilians, dedicated volunteers, and the incredible Coast Guard Foundation,” he said.
Before the racing began, organizers paused to honor Petty Officer Tyler Jaggers, who died in the line of duty. Jaggers, an aviation survival technician assigned to Air Station Astoria, Oregon, passed away the evening of March 5, 2026, as a result of critical injuries suffered during the rescue of a distressed mariner from a commercial ship offshore of Oregon on Feb. 27 — see the link to learn more about Jaggers.
“We paid special tribute to the selfless service of individuals like Petty Officer Tyler Jaggers, who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” Davis said. “I extend my deepest gratitude to the Commandant for ensuring this year’s marathon took place. It was so uplifting.”
Davis said the weekend delivered something the community needed. “It provided everyone in the community with the boost we all needed and strengthened our sense of unity,” he said.
A member of the U.S. Army running team and a veteran of the Marine Corps Marathon, U.S. Army Sgt. D. Germain, 25, crossed the finish line first in the full marathon with a time of 2:38:29.
In the women’s full marathon division, the top finisher was a first-time marathoner, Lorel Golden, 24, from Marietta, Ga.
The half-marathon’s overall winner was Matt Lunceford Blivin, 24, a Durham real estate agent, who finished in 1:14:51. Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Jaquelynn Sheedy, 24, of Detroit, took the women’s half-marathon title in 1:24:23.
More than 1,155 runners had registered for the full marathon, 664 for the half marathon, and at least 1,100 for the 5K.
A pair of Camden County teenagers claimed the top two spots in Saturday’s 5K. Noah Davis, 17, won the overall race in 16:12, with Hunter Swann, 19, finishing second in 16:53.
Speaking of Noah Davis, he placed first in the 1,600-meter run on Wednesday at Perquimans County High School. When the NCHSAA Cross Country State Championships were held in November at the Ivey Redmon Sports Complex, Davis finished third in the 2A boys race with an impressive time of 16:35.37, earning his first state championship podium finish.
Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Amelia Whaley claimed first in the women’s division with a time of 19:50, finishing 14th overall among nearly 1,100 participants. Whaley traveled from her unit in Guam to compete. She serves as a culinary specialist aboard the fast response cutter Vincent Danz — named for a Coast Guard reservist and New York City police officer killed responding to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
The feature photo comes from the Coast Guard’s Facebook page.
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One response to “Coast Guard Marathon Draws 2,000 Runners, Honors Coast Guard Sacrifice”
Ask Rep Davis when is he going to vote for the Coast Guard to be funded. Their annual funding is still held up in the DHS fiasco.