2022 City of Oaks Marathon dedicated to Hedingham shooting victim
This year’s City of Oaks Marathon in Raleigh was an emotional one.
The race through downtown Raleigh began with a moment of silence in memory of avid runner Sue Karnatz, one of five victims of the mass shooting in Raleigh last month. Karnatz was killed while running on the Neuse River greenway near her home.
A small memorial has come together theree, and these words: “Run with the angels”.
Sue's husband Tom Karnatz said he wasn't sure he could ever return to that spot, but he said he was drawn there – and it is emotional for him.
“I go by it occassionally and remember her when I go there," said Tom Karnatz.
As he finds his way through parenting three boys alone, Tom Karnatz told WRAL News he is amazed at the outpouring of support he's found in the Raleigh running community. Sue Karnatz was a school psychologist who stayed home to homeschool the three Karnatz boys, ages 15, 14 and 11, her husband said.
“It would be nice to have Sue here for the boys,” said Tom Karnatz.
Sunday's marathon was dedicated to Sue - a member of the local running community.
“It was amazing to me, the reach that everything had and the amount of people touched by the tragedy as a whole,” said Tom Karnatz.
When Tom Karnatz thinks about his wife. He said he thinks of the kindness and love she showed.
"She would take the time to interact with people and try to lift them up," he said. “I kind of want to pay that forward, and live a bit more of that myself. If everyone did that, the world would be a better place.”
Warm weather greets runners
The City of Oaks Marathon – a series of races that also includes a 5K, 10K and half-marathon – took over downtown Raleigh Sunday morning. The race started from 400 Glenwood Ave. and ended at 500 N. West St., with a route that included landmarks like the State Capitol Building in downtown Raleigh, Meredith College and the NC State Bell Tower.
It began under cloudy skies with a temperature in the upper 60s and ended for the bulk of the pack before noon, when temperatures reached 80 degrees with 58% humidity.
2022 City of Oaks winners
The top places in the 16th annual City of Oaks Marathon went to North Carolina runners.
Esayas Nida, of Greensboro, finished first in 2 hours 39 minutes, while Ashley Peppriell was the first woman across the finish line in 3:16.
The half marathon Sunday was won by Sam Monclair of Cary in 1:11. Kate Sanborn of Raleigh won the women's half at 1:16, in fifth place overall.
There were two entries in the wheelchair/handcycle half marathon. Liz Aronin of Scholastic Circle, NC, came in first in 2:07; Joseph Forthofer of Four Oaks took second in 2:25.
The Old Reliable 10K was won by Patrick Shaw of Cary in 36:07; Katie Sanderson of Raleigh won the women's 10K in 39:27.
Joseph Chia of Cary won the wheelchair/handcycle 10K in 54:01.
Ryan Catrien of Cary won the Acorn 5K in 18:06; Katherine Jonas of Atlanta took the women's division in 18:48.
