A 'perfect day' greets runners in Coeur d'Alene
BILL BULEY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 6 months, 4 weeks AGO
Jordan Fiorini of Hayden and daughter Abryele Rich smile as they finish the Coeur d'Alene half marathon Sunday at McEuen Park.
BILL BULEY/Press
Runners make their way past The Coeur d'Alene Resort during Sunday's Coeur d'Alene Marathon.
Scott Spencer congratulates his son Lincoln after he finished the Coeur d'Alene half marathon Sunday.
Hirtle
Madeleine Williamson, center, and Michele Matthews, right, both of Gilbert, Ariz., smile as they approach the finish line of the Coeur d'Alene Marathon on Sunday, followed by Jade Gere of Cheney, Wash.
Medals await runners at the Coeur d'Alene Marathon on Sunday.
Mary Milliken and Marty Hunter, both of Spokane, take a selfie at the finish of the Coeur d'Alene Marathon on Sunday.
Sisters Tiffany Pettey, left, and Lindsey Everill are happy after finishing the Coeur d'Alene half marathon Sunday.
Jaylene Crosby of Coeur d’Alene was joined by son Thomas, 3, just before finishing the 10K on Sunday.
Tim and Wanda Quinn of Coeur d'Alene at the finish of the Coeur d'Alene Marathon on Sunday. Wanda ran the 5K and Tim ran the half marathon.
A spectator carries signs at the Coeur d'Alene Marathon on Sunday.
Three runners head to the finish line Sunday at McEuen Park.
Grace Hewa of Colbert, Wash., casts a shadow as she runs in McEuen Park toward the finish of the Coeur d'Alene Marathon on Sunday. She completed the course in 3:53:07.
Bill Buley covers the city of Coeur d'Alene for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He has worked here since January 2020, after spending seven years on Kauai as editor-in-chief of The Garden Island newspaper. He enjoys running. | May 26, 2025 1:09 AM
When Jordan Fiorini and Abryele Rich crossed the finish line of the Coeur d’Alene half marathon Sunday, they hugged.
Running 13.1 miles together was something the mother and daughter from Hayden will remember.
"Sharing that memory with her,” Fiorini said when asked what was the best part of the day.
They took their time and enjoyed the sunny morning and the course with views of Lake Coeur d’Alene. Abryele, 11, was nervous during her first half-marathon while her mom was running her second.
The finish line, with family and friends cheering them on, was wonderful as they posed for pictures, smiled and enjoyed the moment.
Still, it wasn’t easy.
“It was painful, but fun,” Abryele said.
“It took a lot of encouragement,” Fiorini added.
They were among about 2,500 runners who competed in one of four distances, the full Coeur d’Alene marathon, half, 10K and 5K on a picture-perfect day with clear skies and warm weather.
The courses included the Sanders Beach neighborhood and the North Idaho Centennial Trail, with all races starting and ending at McEuen Park.
The event is a fundraiser for the North Idaho Centennial Trail Foundation.
Dave Hirtle of Coeur d’Alene finished in 4:09:12 in his first marathon. He was shooting to break 4 hours.
“It got a little warm,” he said.
Hirtle took advantage of the early start at 5:30 and was rewarded with a gorgeous sunrise as he ran near Lake Coeur d’Alene.
“It doesn’t get any better than that,” he said.
Hirtle held on for a solid finish.
“The last 3 miles, you’re starting to feel it,” he said.
Connor Turpin of Lewiston won the marathon in 2 hours, 33 minutes and 27 seconds, followed by Cole Olsen of Coeur d’Alene in 2:36:49. Evan Peters of Cheney, Wash, was third in 2:47:57.
Ashley Desanno of Portland topped the women’s field in 3:02, with Hannah Pierson of Boise second in 3:05:39 and Kelli Proctor of Waterford, Pa., third in 3:12:59. Abbey Torres of Coeur d’Alene was the top local female marathoner in 3:30:11, good for 10th place.
Matt Roberts of Helena, Mont., won the half marathon in 1:18:45, while the top local finisher among the men was Zach Moreno of Dalton Gardens in 1:27:32 in sixth place, with Drew Grady of Hayden close behind in seventh place in 1:27:53.
Kai Sharbono of Spokane led the women in 1:24:49, while Katie Rinne of Coeur d’Alene was second and the top local finisher in 1:29:02.
Kayla Leland of Spokane was the top overall finisher in the 10K in 37:52, while Joe Martin of Coeur d’Alene was the top local finisher among the men in 41:47. Brianne Weinberger of Coeur d’Alene was the top local finisher among the women in 44:37.
Hunter Mosman of Spokane won the 5K in 16:46. Gracie McVey of Hayden, 14 years old, was the first local finisher in 20:44, while Rene Reyes of Post Falls was the first local finisher in the men’s field in 21:14.
Lincoln Spencer, 13, of Post Falls, finished his first half marathon in 2:08:24.
“It’s the first time he’s ever run anything,” said his proud dad, Scott Spencer. “He just decided to do it a few weeks ago. He didn’t really train for it.”
Lincoln’s friend, Samson Kjar of Liberty Lake, talked him into it. He said Lincoln did well.
“I was impressed,” Kjar said.
Lincoln Spencer said it was tough.
“Especially at mile 8 when you know you have 5 more miles to go,” he said.
Jaylene Crosby of Coeur d’Alene was joined by son Thomas, 3, just before finishing the 10K, and they held hands.
She said his two older sisters have crossed finish lines with her.
“This time, it was his turn,” Crosby said.
Sisters Tiffany Pettey of Spokane and Lindsey Everill of South Jordan, Utah, raised their hands in triumph as they completed the half in 2:48.
They run the same pace and enjoy each other's company, so sticking together was no problem.
They called it a “perfect day.”
“Loved it,” Everill said.
Laura Kebart of Salem, Ore., toughed out a rough day in the marathon. She was shooting for 3:20 but settled for 3:38:25.
“It didn’t go as expected. I had a horrible side stitch at mile 12 and carried it all the way to the end. It was bad. I couldn’t even breathe. It’s hurting right now,” she said. "That being said, I finished. I did not have to do a DNF.”
Despite some suffering, Kebart loved the setting, the scenery and the course of the Coeur d'Alene Marathon, which was on her bucket list.
“It's definitely a destination,” Kebart said.
Runners make their way past The Coeur d'Alene Resort during Sunday's Coeur d'Alene Marathon.
Scott Spencer congratulates his son Lincoln after he finished the Coeur d'Alene half marathon Sunday.
Hirtle
Madeleine Williamson, center, and Michele Matthews, right, both of Gilbert, Ariz., smile as they approach the finish line of the Coeur d'Alene Marathon on Sunday, followed by Jade Gere of Cheney, Wash.
Medals await runners at the Coeur d'Alene Marathon on Sunday.
Mary Milliken and Marty Hunter, both of Spokane, take a selfie at the finish of the Coeur d'Alene Marathon on Sunday.
Sisters Tiffany Pettey, left, and Lindsey Everill are happy after finishing the Coeur d'Alene half marathon Sunday.
Jaylene Crosby of Coeur d’Alene was joined by son Thomas, 3, just before finishing the 10K on Sunday.
Tim and Wanda Quinn of Coeur d'Alene at the finish of the Coeur d'Alene Marathon on Sunday. Wanda ran the 5K and Tim ran the half marathon.
A spectator carries signs at the Coeur d'Alene Marathon on Sunday.
Three runners head to the finish line Sunday at McEuen Park.
Grace Hewa of Colbert, Wash., casts a shadow as she runs in McEuen Park toward the finish of the Coeur d'Alene Marathon on Sunday. She completed the course in 3:53:07.ARTICLES BY BILL BULEY
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