RUN THE PENINSULA: 600 runners take on the Sequim Railroad Bridge run

Published 2:45 pm Saturday, April 25, 2026

SEQUIM — More than 600 participants ranging in age from toddlers to 80-year-old partook in this year’s Sequim Railroad Bridge Run on Saturday morning, and were greeted by one of the most gorgeous days ever for the events.

The sun was shining bright and the temperatures were in the 60s for this years event, part of the Run the Peninsula series.

This year’s number of participants was 100 more than last year’s, filling up not only the parking lot at the Dungeness River Nature Center, but two adjacent pastures.

The Sequim Railroad Bridge Run usually sees much better weather than the Elwha Bridge Run in February, but most year’s it’s at least drizzling. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky for this year’s race.

The race was changed somewhat this year with staggered starts to keep large number of people off the Sequim Railroad Bridge, which is facing likely rebuilding next year. People took off in groups of 50 with the top runners urged to be in the first groups.

The event is put on by the Port Angeles Marathon Association, which also manages the North Olympic Discovery Marathon June 6-7 between Port Angeles and Blyn. The event is made possible by title sponsors Peninsula Daily News and the Sequim Gazette, presenting sponsors Sound Community Bank and Olympic Medical Center. Proceeds go to several local organizations, including the Peninsula Trails Coalition and the Dungeness River Nature Center.

This year’s race featured repeat winners and new winners. Winning this year’s 10K was a repeat winner, Nico Errichetti of Port Townsend, who crushed the field with a time of 37 minutes, 17.98 seconds, winning by more than 3½ minutes.

In second place was Michael Higuera of Port Angeles (40:46.96), a repeat top placer, while third place was Matt Dale of Bremerton in 41:39.66.

Errichetti, 16, a member of the East Jefferson track and cross-country teams, also won the 10K in the Dec. 2025 Jamestown S’Klallam Glow Run and the Elwha River Bridge Run in February.

“I’m trying to win all five plaques,” he said. The other two races in the Run the Peninsula are the NODM and the Spruce Railroad Run in October. Errichetti plans to run the half-marathon at the NODM, which is about twice as long as a 10K.

While it was a beautiful day for cyclists and hikers on the Olympic Discovery Trail, it was actually a little warm for a 10K.

“It was really hot out there. Hotter than before,” Errichetti said.

Results are still unofficial and won’t be official for at least 24 hours after race, but it appears the women’s winner is Jennifer Mathews of Belfair in 47:24.09.

Mathews is the cross-country coach at North Mason High School. This was her first time at the Sequim Railroad Bridge Run and her first win in a 10K.

“It feels pretty good actually,” she said.

Becca Manson, a basketball and soccer player for Port Angeles High School, was the second woman at 49:43.08, while third was Chelsea Bush of Edmonds (50:59.93).

Winning the 5K was a repeat winner, Sarah Paquet of Bothell in a time of 19:29.29. Paquet won the Sequim race last year and was the top woman at the Spruce Railroad run in October, coming in a close second overall.

She said the heat didn’t affect her that much.

“The 10kers are going to feel it more,” she said.

The top male 5K runner was a newcomer, Mark LaGioia of Port Hadlock, who finished second overall in a time of 20:46.13.

“I tried to stay with her [Paquet] and hoped that she would burn herself out. It didn’t happen,” LaGioia said.

“It was warm, but it beats standing around at a starting line freezing,” LaGioia said. It was also his first time at the Sequim race and his first win in just his third 5K.

The second-place woman in the 5K was Cassandra Karjalainen of Port Angeles in a time of 24:20.16 and third place was Janae Dale of Bremerton in 24:49.95.

The second-place male was Ken Reiten of University Place in 21:39.65 and third place was Josh Krzysiak of Port Angeles in 23:32.92.

Addie Killam of Burien also won the 10K wheelchair division in a time of 44:41.1. That was the fifth-best overall 10K time.

More results will be posted later. To view full results, people can go to https://tinyurl.com/SequimBridgeResults2026.

The next race in the Run the Peninsula series is the NODM between Blyn and Port Angeles on June 6-7. This race includes a full marathon, a half-marathon, a 10K, a 5K and a children’s marathon over two days.