I think it is human nature for people to be drawn to stories that resonate with their own experience. That’s probably why I have a fondness for stories about kids running with their parents and (now that I’m 40), female masters runners that are juggling jobs, families, and running. And the 2026 M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon delivered on that last story line and then some. In this, the first of several blog posts about some of the numbers behind the 2026 M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon & Relay, I want to focus on the top four women and top female Vermonter in the marathon.
The top four women: Kellyn Taylor, Rachel Schilkowsky, Paula Pridgen, and Heidi Westover (nee Westerling) were 34 or older (while the top three men were 25 or younger).
Top-3 Women at the 2026 M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon (PC: Stephen Mease Photos)
If my math is correct, these four women, all of whom are mothers, have a collective 11 kids. That’s enough for an entire soccer team, or a 5-on-5 game of basketball, complete with a referee.
These four women have four of the top ten fastest female times in the history of the Vermont City Marathon (Heidi at 2nd and 8th, Kellyn at 3rd, and Rachel at 4th), account for eight (more than 20%) of the wins since 1989 (Heidi at six wins and Kellyn and Rachel each at one win), and 14 top-ten finishes (Heidi at nine, Rachel at three, and Kellyn and Paula each at one).
Heidi Westover (nee Westerling) in 2026 with Hall of Fame and Second Place Masters Plaques (PC: Stephen Mease Photos)
Heidi’s time in 2026, at the age of 45, was 2:47:30. That would have eeked out 26-year-old Heid in 2007 when she won the Vermont City Marathon for the second time in 2:48:56.
Heidi Westover (nee Westerling) Winning the Key Bank Vermont City Marathon (PC: Stephen Mease Photos)
Paula’s time in 2026, 2:41:31, bested the female masters event record, which was the longest standing tracked event record in RunVermont history, by SIX minutes. This record had stood since 1992 (when Paula was six).
And because I also love stories about Vermonters that run, throwing in a massive nod to top female Vermonter Brynn Orban-Salley. Brynn’s first marathon (a 2 Person Relay turned Marathon) was in 2023, in a time of 4:33:32 (chip). She dropped more than an hour in 2024 to finish in 3:06:47 (chip) and then finished in 2026 in 2:58:12 (gun).
Brynn Orban-Salley at 2026 Awards Ceremony (PC: Stephen Mease Photos)
If this is 40 and running in Vermont, then I’m here for it.