Popejoy, Bawcom Win Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans

Alabama-residents John Brigham and Samatha Garder take home the win in the marathon;

Saints punter Thomas Morstead ran the 10K in 1:07:47 on behalf of Team Feed The Children

Credit: Andrew McClanahan

Mike Popejoy from Somerville, Mass. broke the tape first in the half marathon, blazing the speedy course in one hour, 5 minutes, and 18 seconds. Coming in 30 seconds behind Popejoy was the pre-race favorite, Ben Bruce of Flagstaff, Arizona. The women’s half marathon was entirely a solo affair with Janet Cherobon Bawcom, an eight-time collegiate All-American and 2012 Olympian setting a blistering early pace that gapped the field.

Over an hour after the half-marathon winners crossed the line came the marathon champion, John Brigham who celebrated his achievement in 2:28:46. The 29-year-old high school teacher lives not too far away from New Orleans in Mobile, Alabama. The women’s marathon champion also turned out to be from Alabama. Twenty-nine-year-old Samantha Gardner from Daphne clocked 3:04:24 for the win, and it was her first marathon victory.