SVI PHOTOS BY DAN DOCKSTADER
It was a beautiful day in the area as several hundred runners put on their best shoes and tackled the 13.1 miles that is the Star Valley Half-Marathon on Saturday July 12.
After learning from the Bart and Denise Kunz family last year and working alongside them this year, Star Valley Health (SVH) will be taking over the organizational responsibilities of the Star Valley Half-Marathon moving forward.
“We start about six months before the race because there are so many things like getting sanctioned with USA Track and Field and getting sponsors and getting shirts ready and volunteers lined up,” Denise stated. “Sometimes I work all day and don’t know what I did. It’s sort of like being a mom.”
Approximately 120-140 volunteers help put on the annual race which was started by the Kunz family in honor of their son, Jeremy, who was killed by a drunk driver while running a Ragnar relay race outside of Las Vegas. Hundreds of runners each year start the race and finish it. Over 300 are signed up to run the race in 2025
“There’s probably more participants in this race than any other single sports event in Star Valley.” Bart said. The family has seen their work on the race evolve and grow over the last decade and a half.
“It’s interesting that each of the kids has a responsibility and they know what they are,” Bart continued. “Now it’s the grandkids who do it and they claim things and do things that are important to them. They all have their responsibilities. I can’t emphasize enough that this is a team effort. No one person could do it.”
In addition to the 13.1 mile course, the organization of SVH has helped the event add a 5K as well.
“Star Valley Health helped us with more manpower so we were able to add that,” Bart reiterated. “We wouldn’t have been able to do that without them providing their manpower.”
Denise explained how the family has been working with SVH so they can take over the race by themselves starting in 2026.
“We broke down the management of the race into nine areas and gave that to SVH to decide who does what,” she added. “The hard part is transitioning and teaching them how to do it. But they are excited and they’ve done a lot this year. We are in good hands with them.”
“We will be available and support as needed moving forward,” Bart said. “But they are in charge.”
Spirit of the Race
At each mile marker, there is a picture of Jeremy to urge the runners on. There is a feeling over the Star Valley Half that is different than so many other events.
“We have found out that this is more than a race,” Bart continued. “People tell us that all the time. They say they run other races but this one is different. Every time they run they see how important it is to be giving back. They feel that. They tell us it’s an emotional race and they learn that they can do hard things. We look at this as much more than just a race. Over these 15 years that has been cemented.”
The race began on Jeremy’s birthday and fittingly for the last year of his family’s run as the organizers, it was run on his birthday again in 2025.
“It helped us through a hard time,” Denise replied. “We were mourning and it helped us do something bigger than ourselves. As people have shared their struggles; they are running for different things themselves. It’s a beautiful place and it’s good for the soul. We appreciate when people share their stories with us. If we can help them to carry on and do hard things we are happy to do that.”
“It’s been an opportunity as a family to give back to the community,” Bart concluded. “They supported us and helped us and visited us and its been a chance for us to give back to them too. That’s important for us.”
The Winners
Overall, Jase Burton added another trophy to his overflowing case as the recent SVHS grad and BYU commit set a new course record with a time of 1:08:28. This bested the time of Peter Visser who ran a 1:09:02 in 2022. SVHS students, Colton Cranney (1:15:17) and Sully Wilson (1:16:56) were second and third overall.
The winner of the women’s division was Muriel Jones of Kemmerer who finished with a time of 1:29:26. Annmarie Wilson of Lingle, Wyoming, was second with a finish of 1:31:25. SVHS student Kylee Linford was third with a 1:33:38.
New this year was the 5K (3.1 miles) with Kemmerer’s Chandler Jones winning the race with a time of 18:55. Carlos Caballero and Myles Carson were second and third.
Full results will be available at: starvalleyhalfmarathon.com.
PHOTO GALLERY BELOW RESULTS –
Male Overall
Jase Burton 1:08:28*
Colton Cranney 1:15:17
Sully Wilson 1:16.56
(* = New Course Record)
Female Overall
Muriel Jones 1:29:26
Annmarie Wilson 1:31:25
Kylee Linford 1:33:38
Female 19 and Under
Kylee Linford 1:33:38
Gracey Visser 1:44:35
Brielle Parry 1:45:17
Female 20-24
Muriel Jones 1:29:26
Hattie Mattson 1:46:18
Emily Wright 1:46:48
Female 25-29
Samantha Lawrence 1:43:00
Zoe Hales 1:51:25
Anna Burns 1:55:57
Female 30-34
Mariah Radue 1:56:07
Natalie Buttars 1:59:02
Emily Mass 2:12:17
Female 35-39
Cristy Davis 1:36:15
Megan Elwell 1:37:08
Kristen Griffin 1:39:24
Female 40-49
Annmarie Wilson 1:31:25
Briana Butler 1:34:00
Veronica Gamble 1:37:41
Female 50-59
Stacy Paige 1:40:41
Stacy Burgie 1:49:54
Lynette Johnson 2:16:40
Female 60+
Denise Chadwick 2:42:56
Peggy Wilckens 2:42:58
Jenny Blanchett-Morse 2:58:45
Male 19 and Under
Jase Burton 1:08:28*
Colton Cranney 1:15:17
Sully Wilson 1:16.56
Male 20-24
Jaden Thurgood 1:24:24
Quin Wright 1:28:23
Ashton W. Rodabough 1:36:01
Male 25-29
Adam Linder 1:59:27
Brendan Bühler 2:00:05
Luke Anderson 2:04:53
Male 30-34
Donald Davis 1:27:43
Kyle Johnson 1:38:31
Brendan Law 1:57:46
Male 35-39
Eric Anderson 1:25:33
Blake Elwell 1:39:47
Nicholas Gove 1:40:04
Male 40-49
Curtis Hale 1:20:06
Danny Knudsen 1:30:17
Kirk Orton 1:30:39
Male 50-59
Ty Draney 1:29:02
Lynn Koberstein 1:42:13
Todd Kunz 1:55:22
Male 60+
Jed Heap 1:50:14
Matthew Meyer 1:54:55
Gary Fralick 2:06:41
