Numbers reflect an almost 100% increase in registration year-over-year
SAVANNAH, Ga. – Back again after a successful inaugural race in 2025, the Savannah Southern Half Marathon proudly unveiled a new course and welcomed over 8,000 participants from across the country, almost doubling last year’s registration numbers. The event featured two distances, the half marathon (13.1 miles) and the Fleet Feet 5K (3.1 miles).
Benjamin Black, the men’s half marathon champion and first-place finisher, completed the 13.1 miles in 1:10:31, followed by the men’s second-place finisher, Owen Allen. Michael Remich took the third-place spot for the men’s half marathon. The women’s half marathon course was led by Adele Cory, who finished with a time of 1:20:26. Second- and third-place finishers for the women’s half marathon were Maddy Walter-Sherretts and Talia Sullivan.
The men’s 5K division was led by Will Casado, who finished with a time of 18:07, followed by second- and third-place finishers, Jordan Melton and Grady Albright. Grace Norman led the women’s division with a time of 19:08. Libby Le Tourneau and Morgan Widenhouse came in shortly after to claim second and third place in the women’s 5K. All results are now available online and can be found here.
“After such a flourishing inaugural race last year, we were thrilled to welcome back runners from across the country to experience the charm of Savannah,” said Crystian Kumnick, managing Director of Motiv Sports, producer of the Savannah Southern Half Marathon. “You could truly feel the community buzzing as participants embraced the city’s character, Southern hospitality and sense of community. It was such a rewarding and uplifting weekend for everyone.”
The scenic courses began at Forsyth Park, taking runners through historic neighborhoods, the Savannah Bananas stadium and the heart of the city before ending in Forsyth Park. Upon finishing the course, runners were met with a lively finish festival filled with local sponsors, food, photo-ops and community celebration.
The enriching local impact of the second-annual Savannah Southern Half Marathon was made possible by local and national partnerships. The race put an emphasis on brands rooted in the city and recognized the value in these partnerships to best showcase the Savannah community.
This year, the Savannah Southern Half continued with its commitment to community and philanthropy through its partnership with the American Cancer Society (ACS). 85 participants joined Team DetermiNation for the 2026 event, and together fundraised over $75,000. These funds will go towards ACS’s mission to improve the lives of cancer patients and their families through advocacy, research and patient support to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat and survive cancer.
For more information about the Savannah Southern Half, visit www.southernhalf.com and follow the event on Facebook and Instagram.
ABOUT SAVANNAH SOUTHERN HALF AND MOTIV SPORTS
The Savannah Southern Half Marathon launched in 2025, and offers participants a scenic journey through iconic areas of the city through two distance options, a half marathon and a 5K. The courses weave participants through the heart of the city, through historic neighborhoods lined with oak trees and draped in Spanish moss while passing porch swings and church bells. Virtual participation opportunities are also available for both distances. The Savannah Southern Half is produced by Motiv Sports. Motiv Sports was founded in 2015, and creates, markets, manages and delivers world-class endurance events all around the world.