Runners of all ages lined up Sunday on the Spit for the 2025 Migration Run.
Originally part of the Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival, the annual 5K has been organized by Kachemak Bay Running Club since 2013. Despite its name, the run now honors mothers, rather birds. Mothers crossing the finish line were handed a tulip flower.
The flowers were grown locally by Homer Mayor Rachel Lord through her flower business, Alaska Stems.
Randy Weist, KBRC secretary, said 75% of the net proceeds for the event (as well as the upcoming Homer Spit Run) go into KBRC’s Youth Running Sports Fund, which supports running activities from elementary to high school.
Weist said 71 runners crossed the finish line Sunday.
For the men, Pedro Ochoa of Homer finished first with a time of 17:50, followed closely by Alec Mclaughlin of Homer with a time of 18:07:47. Fifteen-year-old Jake Black of Palmer took third for the men with a time of 20:43.86 with Homer’s 13-year-old Rubis Gervais close on his heels with a finish of 21:17.81.
For the women, all three top finishers were from Homer. Amanda Cherok crossed the finish line with a time of 20:10.98. Britni Siekaniec and Elizabeth Roedl earned second and third, respectively, with times of 21:25.93 and 21:56.49.
While the Migration Run has had as many as 180 registrants in the past, Wiest said it was still a great turnout. This year was also the first time the club introduced a special “one-miler” race for youth, held after the 5K finishers had crossed the finish line.
“It really warmed my heart and touched me in a really special way,” said Wiest on Monday. “To see the families that had already done the 5K race themselves, to run out with a younger kid to the half-mile point and turn around. I thought it was really cool.”
Weist said that KBRC plans to include a kids run with all the future running events they do, including the upcoming 2025 Homer Spit Run 10K and Cosmic Hamlet Half Marathon on June 28.
For more information and to register online visit kachemakbayrunningclub.org.
2025 MIGRATION RUN RESULTS
5K
Men
1. Pedro Ochoa, Homer, 17:50; 2. Alex Mclaughlin, Homer, 18:07.47; 3. Jake Black, Palmer, 20:43.86; 4. Rubis Gervais, Homer, 21:17.81; 5. Don Seawell, Homer, 21:51.70; 6. Beau Fonkert, Homer, 22:58.45; 7. Adam Depesa, 24:01.75; 8. Renn Marden, Seward, 24:52.09; 9. Pietro Siekaniec, Homer, 25:21.11; 10. Casey Siekaniec, Homer, 25:21.75; 11. Everett Labenski, Seward, 25:48.26; 12. Woods Miller, Wasilla, 25:56.82; 13. Andy Haas, 26:04.16; 14. Sean Campbell, Homer, 27:42.93; 15. Trogon Hauser, Anchorage, 29:15.07; 16. Scott Hauser, Anchorage, 29:23.04; 17. John Mink, 29:43.26; 18. Jonathan Erickson, Homer, 30:24.06; 19. David Basargin, Homer, 31:07.06; 20. Thomas McDonough, Homer, 35:39.26; 21. Westley Hagen, Homer, 37:06.48; 22. Colin Hagen, Homer, 38:00.89; 23. Samuel Williams, Homer, 38.33.18; 24. Westerly Calhoun, Homer, 44:35.09; 25. Liam Stark, Seward, 46:06.69; 26. Michael Murray, 50:48.56.
Women
1. Amanda Cherok, Homer, 20:10.98; 2. Britni Siekaniec, Homer, 21:25.93; 3. Elizabeth Roedl, 21:56.49; 4. Claire Siekaniec, Homer, 23:58.52; 5. Jessica Nyce, Homer, 24:10.98; 6. Heather Moon, 24:31; 7. Katie Marden, Seward, 25:17.69; 8. Emma Field, 26:03.24; 9. Emily Lints, 26:15.48; 10. Kristina Haynes, 27:05.71; 11. Jessica Cashman, 27:18.83; 12. Christina De La Torre, Homer, 29:14.16; 13. Molly Regan-Selle, Los Angeles, 29:50.11; 14. Marion Glaser, Seward, 31:06.74; 15. Valentina Basargin, Homer, 31:20.11; 16. Quetzal Hauser, Anchorage, 31:29.37; 17. Melinda Erickson, Homer, 31:47.93; 18. Sophie Williams, Homer, 31:51.09; 19. Anna Fonkert, Homer, 32:39.71; 20. Jessie Erickson, Homer, 33:09.99; 21. Jolene Field, 33:33.63; 22. Jennifer Depesa, 33:36.8; 23. Cinda Nofziger, Homer, 33:40.26; 24. Brandi Schuerman, Anchor Point, 34:06.35; 25. Veronica Braum, Madison, 34:10.03; 26. Jacqueline McDonough, Homer, 34:11.97; 27. Jennifer Waltenbaugh, Homer, 36:30.12; 28. Kristin James, Homer, 38:05.85; 29. Wendy Weber, Homer, 38:06.27; 30. Bobbi Cleary, Homer, 38:32.81; 31. Brie Drummond, Homer, 38:48.01; 32. Jenny Fonkert, Homer, 39:08.14; 33. Amy Russell, Homer, 39:08.41; 34. Claudia Haines, Homer, 40:51.84; 35. Loretta Thayer-Macenka, 41:52.4; 36. Janelle Siekaniec, Homer, 43:20.12; 37. Hailee Alexander, Homer, 44:18.79; 38. Alivia Erickson, Homer, 44:18.79; 39. Maria Fletcher, Seward, 46:07.09; 40. Lizzie Giver, 47:31.4; 41. Felicity Giver, 47:31.78; 42. Claire Kiesel, Homer, 47:44.41; 43. Chloe Kiesel, Homer, 48:36.86; 44. Alice Speakman, Homer, 48:37.12; 45. Sharon Chandler, Homer, 50:27.29.
Homer’s Pedro Ochoa closes in on the finish line on Sunday, May 11 during the 2025 Migration Run on the Homer Spit. Ochoa finished with an official time of 17:50, securing his first-place win. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Homer’s Alec Mclaughlin closes in on the 2025 Migration Run finish line on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11 on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. He finished second for the men, with a time of 18:07.47. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
A volunteer selects a tulip for a mother crossing the finish line of the 2025 Migration Run on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11 on the Homer Spit. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
10-year-old Renn Marden of Seward closes in on the finish line Sunday, May 11 during the 2025 Migration Run on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11 on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. Marden finished with a time of 24:52.09, securing his 8th place out of 26 other male finishers. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Claudia Haines and Amy Russell playfully tussle as they cross the finish line during the 2025 Migration Run on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11 on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Youth set off from the starting line during the newly introduced kids “one miler” on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11 on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
A happy dog takes a rest after completing the 5k 2025 Migration Run on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11 on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
