There’s a new name atop Braman Hill.
Samuel Elder, 20, stormed to victory at The Bay to Braman Bolt this Labor
Day weekend, winning the sixth annual 1.1-mile footrace
by a record-setting 49-second margin over runner-up Blake Beyer, 28.
Two-time defending champion and Northport native Quenton Buss, 34, chose family over pursuit of a three-peat, running alongside his sons Finn and Carson.
“I feel like when someone beats the world record, I’ll be motivated
to train for it again,” Buss said at the Northport marina.
Elder crossed the line in 6:51 starting line — the fourth-fastest time in
event history — and believes he hasn’t yet reached his peak.
“I think I can beat the world record,” Elder said.
Although Buss’s 2023 mark of 6:25 still stands, Elder joins
elite company as only the third runner in Bolt history to break
the seven-minute barrier.
Race Director Sawyer Scott agreed, noting that Elder briefly veered off course.
“Sam accidentally took a left on West Street before Nagonaba Footpath,” Scott said. “He probably lost ten to twenty seconds.”
Rounding out the podium was Jack Joyce, 19, of Omena, who took third with a personal best of 7:54, followed by Stephan Vitvitsky, 41, whose 8:09 was the fastest time ever logged by a runner in his 40s.
Champion Samuel Elder, 20, lifts his plaque in triumph after his 6:51 victory at The Bolt 6 — the fourth-fastest time in race history.
Family bragging rights were also on the line, and this year it was Scott Normandin, 36, who came out on top. By defeating his cousin Hayden Scott, 28, Normandin evened their rivalry at two wins
apiece. After getting my butt kicked last year, I had to channel my inner Rocky IV and train hard in the offseason,” he grinned.
Scott called the cousins’ back-and-forth “one of the highlights of the last four Bolts,” noting that they finished fifth and sixth this year, with Normandin matching his 2022 PR of 8:15. Among the 32 runners who conquered Braman this year, one stood out: Northport’s own Margie Coggins, who at 80 years old became the oldest person ever to finish the climb.
This year’s standout performances carried an added bonus.
Scott pledged time-based bounties — $250 for finishing under seven minutes, $100 under eight, and $50 under nine. With the top six runners hitting those marks, an extra $600 was
raised for the Northport Museum, pushing The Bolt npast $10,000 in lifetime donations.
Since its founding in 2018, the Bolt has grown from a local footrace into a signature Northport tradition.
“This milestone for the museum is special,” said Scott, “both our runners and our sponsors continue to inspire
me year after year.”
For full race results and to add to the museum donation pool, visit Local Riff Raff Co. on Facebook.
