The Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon returned this past weekend as a huge success with nearly 2,000 registered runners, family-friendly activities; and crowd favorites that included the Bacon Station and the Gummy Bear Forest. The PNC Kids 1K kicked off the event weekend Friday with nearly 600 kids participating. Saturday, Downtown Kalamazoo was host to the Kalamazoo Health Expo with tons of family-friendly activities, booths displaying event sponsors and charity partners; and a meet and greet with NASCAR driver Josh Bilicki. The main event races were held Sunday which included the half marathon,10K, 5K Run, and the Priority Health 5K Walk.
KALAMAZOO, Mich., April 26, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The 2022 Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon was held this past weekend Friday, April 22 through Sunday, April 24, 2022, with a successful turnout and the registration of nearly 2,000 runners and walkers.
"We are deeply grateful to the city of Kalamazoo for hosting us this year and the community for its outpouring of support, smiles, and enthusiasm! An event like this takes a community. To our volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this event happen and to our generous sponsors - thank you for supporting our vision for the Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon and "Driving a Healthy Community" with us. We cannot thank you enough. We are excited to bring this event back, bigger and better next year with the addition of the full marathon in 2023!" said Carrie Drake, director of Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon.
The Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon weekend started on Friday with the PNC Kids' 1K held at the Mayors' Riverfront Park. At the event nearly 600 kids participated across four categories, all walking away with a great experience, a finishing medal, and t-shirt courtesy of event sponsor PNC.
Saturday saw a flurry of activity in Downtown Kalamazoo as the Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon held its Kalamazoo Health Expo with tons of interactive activities for the entire family. A crowd favorite was NASCAR Josh Bilicki's meet and greet, with fans taking photos with him in hopes of winning passes to a NASCAR race at the Michigan International Speedway. The NASCAR driver also set a reaction time using the FitLight system and a 20 yard sprint time. Guests were encouraged to stop by to see if they were faster than the NASCAR driver.
The main event races, held Sunday at the Arcadia Creek Festival Plaza, included the half marathon, 10K, 5K Run, and the Priority Health 5K Walk.
The national anthem was sung by Sarah Mead, then race director Carrie Drake and Zeigler CEO Aaron Zeigler shared a few words about the importance of the event in the community. The Michigan Chapter of myTeam® Triumph kicked off the races, with NASCAR driver Josh Bilicki pacing the half marathon in the Zeigler.com Chevy Camaro.
Click here for the full list of official race results online at ZeiglerKalamazooMarathon.com
Half Marathon - 7:30 a.m.
-Mauri Tejera, 32, Lansing - 1hr. 15 min. 02.37 sec.
-Charlotte Etienne, 23, Kalamazoo - 1 hr. 28 min. 31.93 sec.
10K Run - 7:45 a.m.
-Jack Markillie, 17, Richland - 43:34.0
-Rachel Gallap, 23, Kalamazoo - 47:10.7
5K Run - 7:50 a.m.
-Jeff Nordquist, 32, Kalamazoo - 19:13.3
-Danielle Krasinski, 35, Plainwell - 22:37.3
"We are so proud to be part of the legacy of the Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon! Being able to bring this iconic race back to Kalamazoo is a huge blessing for us and it's only going to get bigger and better from here! To all the event organizers, volunteers, and sponsors – thank you so much for everything, this would not have been possible without you," said Aaron Zeigler, CEO and president of Zeigler Auto Group, the race's title sponsor.
As participants crossed the finish line they were enthusiastically cheered on by the community and awarded medals for their achievement.
Both runners and supporters enjoyed the Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon's Stryker Experience at Arcadia Creek Festival Place which featured food trucks, music by DJ Chuck, games, face painting, balloons, giveaways and more. Sponsor Imperial Beverage provided complimentary beer to adults 21 and over, with many participating in the Beer and Cheer station after the races.
Next year the Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon weekend will bring back the marathon as the main event race. Plans are now underway for the 2023 Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon, for more information, please contact Carrie Drake at director@zeiglerkalamazoomarathon.com.
ABOUT ZEIGLER AUTOMOTIVE GROUP
Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S. with 78 franchises across 35 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Vehicle brands represented include all of the domestic and the majority of the imported manufacturers.
Besides its extensive automotive portfolio, the organization owns and operates Zeigler Motorsports, an 85,000-square-foot motorsports dealership and action park, offering 19 different powersports brands, plus its own onsite restaurant: Trak Houz Bar & Grill. Additionally, Zeigler Motorsports houses the Elevate Leadership & Team Building Academy, an executive training company.
The Kalamazoo-based dealer group also owns and operates Zeigler Pre-Owned of Chicago, a Carquest Auto Parts store, three Byrider franchises, three finance companies, several insurance firms, and a leasing firm.
Founded in 1975, the organization employs over 2,300 people, ranking among the top 1% of automotive dealers in the nation with estimated annual sales of $2.2 billion for 2022. The family-owned and operated company is well known for its commitment to both customer service and employee satisfaction. Zeigler is regularly recognized as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation, also earning similar accolades in Chicago and Michigan.
Media Contact
Francis Mariela, Zeigler Auto Group, 239-273-6976, letswork@francismariela.com
Carrie Drake, Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon, 239-273-6976, director@zeiglerkalamazoomarathon.com
SOURCE Zeigler Auto Group
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