With a slight breeze and excitement filling the air, the 14th annual Marshall University Marathon began with the signature cannon firing signaling 1,647 people to take off running the marathon, half marathon or 5k.

Matthew Leonard from Johnson City, Tennessee was the first male racer to run across the finish line with a time of just under two hours.

The racers went on a tour throughout the city, starting at the Joan C. Edwards Stadium, going down 3rd Avenue towards Route 60, running through Pullman Square, then through Ritter Park, and so on until they made it back to the inner stadium where the finish line was set up.

“It’s changed a little bit through the years; the course is slightly different, but every change is for the better,” Jim Duke, former Marshall Marathon director and current volunteer, said. “We have so many volunteers dedicated to keeping the runners safe from cars, which is our main priority.”

Runners of all ages competed in the races, including 6-year-old Jarek Compston and his mom Amy Compston. They said they decided to run the half-marathon to aid in raising money for his mom’s fund, Amy for Africa. Amy Compston goes on a trip to Africa four times a year with the money that is raised for building and fixing schools in Uganda.

“I thought I was going to cry when we were so close to the finish line and he asked if we were done yet,” Amy Compston said. “It was touching. I am so proud of him.”

The duo finished the half-marathon in two hours and 18 minutes. They have been training for the race almost every day together for a few months.

Amy Compston said the fundraising for Amy for Africa has been more than doubled since word of her son’s competing in the marathon got out, and she couldn’t be more proud of what he has accomplished both for the charity and physically for himself.

Brooke Griffin can be contacted at [email protected].