BRINGING THE TITLE HOME

15-YEAR- OLD MARATHON RUNNER CLAIMS SEVEN MILE BRIDGE RUN CHAMPIONSHIP

“When we got off the hump, I thought it was probably time to go catch (Stephens),” he said. “I said, ‘Collin, you wanna go?’ … He didn’t pick it up enough to where we could catch her by the end of the race, so I just said ‘I guess I have to take off.’ So I did.”

Bursa’s win resumes a proud recent run of victories by Marathon locals, with his cross country contemporaries Aydan Child and Jonathan Pitchford winning the race in 2018 and 2019, respectively. He was quick to acknowledge strong finishes by his current teammates and family – his brothers Jakub, 18, and Tony, 13, took eighth and ninth place overall, respectively, while his mother Helena braved the course with a broken wrist and still claimed the top spot in her age division.

With two more years before graduation, the Weekly only had one other question that we knew Vance would never come out and say on his own: If he can fend off strong runs from his own family, does he have his sights set on a repeat championship?

“That’s the plan,” he laughed.

“We are relieved and happy that the 42nd Annual 7 Mile Bridge Run is now in the books,” said race director Ginger Sayer. “We are so appreciative of all of our volunteers, law enforcement officers, and our local fire personnel. It seemed as though the runners had a good time and were kept safe, and we are now looking forward to the 43rd Annual, which we hope to gain approval for on April 13, 2024.”

3. It takes a city to put on the Seven Mile Bridge Run, and volunteers are the lifeblood

4. Staying true to their promise, Chris Todd Young, right, and her father Paul Todd crossed the finish line just in time to beat the bus, checking off a bucket list item for Paul’s 80th birthday.

5. The women’s overall podium was composed of Shelby Nowak (3rd, left), 2022 women’s winner Holly Smith (2nd, center) and 2023 women’s champion Joanna Stephens.

6. Top overall male finishers included Joel Martinez (3rd, left), 2022 bridge run winner Collin Wainwright

TRUSTS • WILLS

Whether you are a resident or a snowbird, it is important to have your assets properly titled in a way that will avoid those assets going through probate.

ALEX RICKERT alex@keysweekly.com

Noreaster Wins The Sword Fight

The third drift was the charm for Noreaster Sportfishing as they hooked a massive swordfish on April 2 while 30 miles off the coast of Marathon. After a six-hour inch-by-inch fight, captain Nick Borraccino sealed the deal with a wellplaced harpoon. The fish measured 93 inches from the lower jaw to tail fork, with an estimated weight of just over 400 pounds. Pictured, from left: Blake Donahue, Kira Mann, Josh Mann, Borraccino, Frank Ottolino, Kyle Franz. HARLIE FALZONE/Contributed

Talk About A Spring Break Story

This 66-inch, 97-pound amberjack was the trophy of the day on March 29 for Jude Harrison, who visited his family’s home in Marathon for his senior year spring break. “It took him an hour to get it in the boat,” his mother Rhonda told the Weekly. “What a way to spend a spring break!”

RHONDA HARRISON/Contributed

IF YOU NEED A CRANE, IT’S BEEN A GOOD DAY

On March 29, captain Matt Pelphrey, left, Ray Woody and Art Brown found themselves in a fight with a 344-pound swordfish. After hooking the beast at 1 p.m., the crew battled for eight hours, traveling more than 21 miles before putting their prize in the boat. The fish measured 148 inches from lower jaw to tail fork. CONTRIBUTED