Morgan Coulter - 2025

Originally from North Branch, MI, Morgan ran her first marathon at Bayshore in 2022, finishing with a time of 3:02:02, securing her a spot to later run Boston in 2023. Following this achievement, she set her sights on breaking sub 3 hours, which she accomplished at Indy Monumental Marathon in November 2024 with a PR of 2:55:51.

She is excited to continue pushing her limits, training in the Mid-Michigan area, where running offers both a refreshing escape and a fun social outlet with fellow runners. Outside of running, Morgan works as a Physician Assistant, and loves spending time outdoors, traveling, and jamming out to Taylor Swift.

Christina Walter - 2025

I’m a Michigan native who loves running, enjoying both road and trails, from 5ks to ultra marathons. When I’m not running, you can catch me working FT as a pediatric occupational therapist, cycling with friends, or chasing my two dogs, Bruce and Ziggy, in hopes to someday beat Ziggy’s mile PR of 4:19. 

Mallory Dryer - 2025

Mallory is a Michigan native and grew up in Holland, Michigan. She currently lives in Indianapolis, Indiana and trains with Personal Best Training (PBT). Her marathon PR is 2:52 and her half marathon PR is 1:20.

Caitlin Bright - 2025

Hello I am Caitlin Bright and I am so excited for the opportunity to race my first ever marathon at Bayshore. I am originally from Minnesota and found myself at South Dakota State University to compete on the cross country and track team. I was able to run PR's of 17:02 in the 5k, 9:56 in the 3k and a 4:59 mile during my time there. Since graduating in 2024, I was accepted into the Physician Assistant program at Michigan State University and moved with my fiancé here to learn medicine and explore the state. I am happy to say that running stayed a huge part of my life as I continue to run, meet new people, and now get to try my hand at a new race!

Frances Loeb - 2025

Frances Loeb, originally from the Philadelphia area, now lives and trains in Boston/Cambridge, MA. During her NCAA running career at Johns Hopkins University, Frances was a 6-time DIII All-American and part of the three-time national champion cross country team. Since she graduated college in 2015, Frances has enjoyed moving up to longer road racing distances, especially the marathon. When she's not running, Frances is a clinical social worker supporting children and adolescents.  

Katie Swor - 2025

Katie is from the metro Detroit area and runs with several local groups. In addition to her training, she is passionate about supporting other runners and growing the Michigan running community.

She is the Operations Director for the Detroit Free Press Marathon, is a mother of one and is celebrating two decades of road racing this year. She is returning to Bayshore after placing 2nd in 2024.

She has a PR in the marathon of 2:48:55, 1:18:35 in the half. 

Anna Zblewski - 2025

Anna Zblewski is a runner from Kalamazoo who found running later in life. She ran her first marathon in 2017, 1 year after the birth of her first child and finished in 4:14:37. In 2019 she gave the marathon distance another go 8 months postpartum with twins and finished in 4:06. Since then she has been knocking off time and first qualified for Boston in 2021 and broke the 3 hour barrier in 2024. She is proving that personal records can be broken even in your 30s! She has her eyes set on continuing that sub 3 and breaking 2:50 in the marathon distance. However, her coach and husband requested 6 months off of marathon training and what better place to run a new personal record in the half than Bayshore?

Kyle Smith - 2025

I am Kyle Smith from Linden Michigan, a CPT in the Army stationed at FT Carson CO. I started running in HS in 2003 and have been running competitively for over 20 years now. In college i ran for Siena Heights University where I mainly ran mid distance. Post college I moved up to the marathon, winning my first marathon in 2:36 in Charlotte NC. I have since completed 15 marathons where I have twice run a PB of 2:19:52, down to the same second. My goal has always been to qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials and continue to push myself as far as I can go athletically. My wife Mariah and two Kids, Kylah and Ryker are part of my biggest support system and we love going on family runs together.

Mike Katsefaras - 2025

I started running marathons with the Bayshore Marathon in 2017. I got 3rd here in 2017, 2018 and 2019, but ran my best time in 2022 (2:23:15). More recently, I’ve been running 50K’s and attempting longer. I made it onto Team USA in 2023, and ran in the 50K Road World Championships, in India, finishing 3rd for our team. 

Eric Westog - 2025

I am a 2018 graduate of the University of Georgia, where I ran cross country and track. Since then I have been thankful to see steady improvement in the half and full marathon. My PR in the half marathon is 1:05:58 from the 2022 Greenville Half Marathon. My PR in the marathon came this past November at the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon where I ran 2:19:41 to finish 9th. My wife and I moved to Chelsea, MI in the summer of 2023, and in January of 2024 we were blessed with our daughter Lucy. I work as the Campus Ministry Director at Redeemer Ann Arbor, and I love my work.

Andrew Wittland - 2025

“I’m so excited to be back for my second Bayshore Marathon- my first shot at the distance was here in 2019!

I’m a native of Grand Rapids and ran collegiately at Albion College. I hold PRs of 2:33 for the marathon and 1:10 for the half. 

Everywhere i go in the world, I tell people about how amazing Northern Michigan is. I can’t wait to run 26.2 in such a beautiful place!

Craig Manning - 2025

Craig grew up in Traverse City and (once upon a time) ran as part of the cross country and track teams at Traverse City Central High School. He completed his first marathon on the Bayshore course in 2022, and recorded his PR here the next year in 2:34:14. A proud member of the Traverse City Track Club, Craig has won a title or two in most local races, including the Traverse City Turkey Trot, the Frozen Foot Race, the Leapin’ Leprechaun 5K, the North Mitten Half Marathon, and the Loop the Lake four-miler. He’s also one-sixth of the reigning champion Ragnar Road Michigan relay team, which tore up that 202-mile course from Traverse City to Muskegon in 23 hours and 39 minutes in 2024.

Craig is running this year’s Bayshore in honor of his high school coach, TC Central legend Don Lukens, who passed away in September at the age of 90.

Brendan Favazza - 2025

I am currently a 5th year senior at Michigan State University on the Cross country and Track and field team. During my time at Michigan State, I ran a 13:50 5k, 8:07 indoor 3k and a 24:24 8k with earing second team all-Big Ten. I grew up in Clarkston MI, but I now live in Glen Arbor. This would be my Marathon debut.  Excited to experience a marathon see how fast I can run

Lia Palomino - 2025

I am a native of Tustin, MI (just outside of Cadillac). After graduating high school I moved down to Rochester Hills, to attend Oakland University where I was part of the women's cross country and track teams from 2008-2013.  In summer 2023 my husband and I moved back to Northern Michigan to be closer to family and open our physical therapy business in Traverse City.

I have continued racing post collegiately in half marathons and marathons. My most recent marathon was Haven to Holland in 2022 where I ran a 3:00:25. 

I have raced the bayshore half marathon twice; 2022 with a time of 1:23:00 and then just last year in 2024 where I was 5th female with a PR of 1:21:28.

Grace Nolan - 2025

Hi! My name is Grace and I am a recently graduated (April 2025!) student-athlete from Oakland University. I studied biomedical sciences and public health, while running cross country and track- GO GRIZZLIES! This is my fourth consecutive year running the Bayshore Half Marathon, and something I look forward to doing at the end of every collegiate track season. My primary events in college were cross country and the 5/10k on the track. I've always enjoyed the longer races and am excited to continue racing longer events on the roads as I prepare to begin medical school this summer!

Amber Dermyre - 2025

• 2022 TCTC Bayshore Half Marathon 1:22:57

• 2022 Amway River Bank 25k run 1:40:45

• 2018 Rock CF Half marathon 2nd Female 1:24:20

• 2018 Boston Marathon 3:09:13

• 2017 Brooksieway Half Marathon First Female 1:26:02

• 2017 Growlers Gallop 5k First Female 18:04

• 2017 Milford Labor Day 30k first female 2:08:03

• 2017 NYC Marathon 3:01:44 84th Female

Kelly Babcock - 2025

Hi - I’m Kelly Babcock and I’m originally from the Northern Michigan area. Running has always been an integral part of my life. It has brought me some of my most favorite memories and cherished friendships, and now serves as a great pastime from work. I currently live in Haslett, MI and am coached by my Fiancé, Max. Most recently I have run PBs in the 5k and mile of 17:20 and 4:58.

Allison Snyder - 2025

I currently live in Ypsilanti, MI while I am studying to earn my master's degree in nutrition and dietetics. In college, I competed for Albion College's cross country and track teams. I now run for Red Cedar Running Company and have enjoyed continuing to train for marathons and half marathons. I ran Bayshore in 2022, so I am excited to have the opportunity to race in Traverse City again. My PR's are 1:22:57 for the half marathon and 2:56:23 for the full marathon. 

Rachel McCardell - 2025

I started running when I was around 10 years old, just trying to keep up with my dad! Love of the sport took me to Chicago, where I spent 5 years competing in the Big 10 conference for Northwestern University. I graduated in 2023 and have since been making the transition to longer distances with Nameless Track Club in Chicago. My family is local to TC!

Brooke Wildermuth - 2025

31 year old from Cincinnati, OH who found running later in life in her late 20s with a marathon PR of 2:44 from her 2nd full. She is excited to keep chasing crazy dreams alongside welcoming her first baby boy in early 2025.

Marissa Lenger - 2025

I was raised and currently reside in Portage, MI. I hold a personal best of 2:38:41 in the marathon and recently competed in the Chicago Marathon, placing 30th with a time of 2:39:24 and the Capital City River Run Half Marathon, placing 1st with a time of 1:17:24. The Bayshore Half Marathon was my first ever road race, running it on my 24th birthday in 2014. This year, Bayshore falls on my 35th birthday and I can't think of a better way to celebrate!

Ben Veatch - 2025

I ran in college at Indiana University where I won multiple Big Ten titles and NCAA all American awards in the 3k, 5k, and 10k. I then ran for 2 years professionally with Under Armour Dark Sky in Flagstaff, AZ. I recently moved back to Indiana for medical school and I’m looking to transition to some longer distance races. My fiancée is running the marathon and I thought it was a perfect opportunity to enter a half marathon.

My PRs are:

Mile: 3:56.06
3k: 7:45
5k: 13:22
10k: 28:57

Zach Ripley - 2025

As a runner, Zach is predominantly focused on the marathon. He won the Bayshore Marathon from 2022-2024 where he currently holds the course record. Recently, he also won the 2023 Baltimore Marathon and 2024 Grand Rapids Marathon (also in course record time). As a co-founder with wife Andi of AtoZrunning (atozrunning.com), Zach currently coaches runners across North America and co-hosts the A to Z Running Podcast. Follow Andi and Zach's work on Instagram via @atozrunning.

Andrew Stern - 2025

I am currently a student at Aquinas College with two years of eligibility left. I raced my first half marathon at the Grand Rapids Half Marathon placing first in a time of 1:09:36. I graduated from Saline High School in 2022 where I claimed All-Conference and All-Region honors in both Cross Country and Track. I started my collegiate career at Siena Heights after transferring to Aquinas this last summer.

Luke Koopman - 2025

I grew up in Overisel, Michigan and competed collegiately at Cornerstone University. I currently reside in Grand Rapids and work as an accountant.

Last fall I competed in the Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon and ran 1:08:26. In college I focused primarily on the 10k and was a two time NAIA National qualifier. 

PRs:

• 5k - 15:07

• 10k - 31:15

• Half Marathon - 1:08:26

Zac Truman - 2025

I'm Zac, this is my third year running the Half. I really like Traverse City.