More than 800 women from 24 states raced for $4,600 in cash prizes
CARMEL, Ind. (October 24, 2023) – Temperatures may have been chilly at the start line, but race finishers brought the heat to the 2023 Indiana Women’s Running Festival on Saturday, October 21, in Carmel, Ind. A cash purse of $4,600 in total was awarded to the top finishers.
The 13th annual event, formerly known as the Indy Women’s Half Marathon and previously held in downtown Indianapolis, now includes the Indiana Women’s Half Marathon, Women’s 4-Miler, Women’s 5K, and Get a MOVE on Cancer 1-Mile Walk in Carmel. As the only women’s half marathon in the United States that pays a top-20 cash purse, the event attracted speedy runners from 24 states.
English Tomlinson of Roanoke, Va., paced the half marathon field to finish first in 1:15:58. The Women’s 4-Miler trophy went to 12-year-old Tinley Woodruff of Plainfield, Ind. for her finish in 27:26. The Women’s 5K was a close battle to the finish line, with Indianapolis local Taushah Papke edging out second place finisher Ashley Wright by .07 seconds.
Podium finishers for the 2023 Indiana Women’s Running Festival include:
Indiana Women’s Half Marathon
1 – English Tomlinson, 1:15:58 (Roanoke, Va.)
2 – Noelle Adriaens, 1:18:40 (Brighton, Mich.)
3 – Hannah Stoffel, 1:19:09 (Indianapolis)
Women’s 4-Miler
1 – Tinley Woodruff, 27:26 (Plainfield, Ind.)
2 – Christine Wright, 28:55 (Indianapolis)
3 – Amy Jay, 29:05 (Indianapolis)
Women’s 5K
1 – Taushah Papke, 19:27.77 (Indianapolis)
2 – Ashley Wright, 19:27.84 (Fishers, Ind.)
3 – Lori Quick, 20:32 (Indianapolis)
Through the registration process, race participants were invited to support two event charities for breast cancer awareness month, recognized globally in October. Long-time charity partner IWIN Foundation supports individuals in Indiana receiving treatment for breast cancer by relieving emotional, physical, and financial burdens. In addition, the inaugural Get a MOVE on Cancer 1-Mile Walk offered participants an opportunity to support breast cancer patients through fundraising for the Multidisciplinary Oncology Vitality and Exercise (MOVE) Program at Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The post-race festival included a cookout courtesy of The Runner’s Forum, cookies and cake from Taylor’s Bakery and live music under the autumn leaves at the Gazebo. The after-party at Sugar Creek Winery in Carmel kept the celebrations going into the evening.
“We are so thankful to everyone who helped make the revamped Indiana Women’s Running Festival a success,” said Todd Oliver, race director and president of CRRG Events. “Moving an event to a new location with a new course always has its challenges, but our amazing community partners, sponsors and volunteer groups make it all possible. Our finishers this year really brought the excitement and energy to our festival in Carmel, and we look forward to making next year’s event even better for them!”
Full results for the 2023 Indiana Women’s Running Festival are available at IndyWomensHalfMarathon.com.
Photo credit Rhi Johns Photography.
About CRRG Events:
CRRG Events is an event management and production company with more than 20 years of producing successful running events. Based in Carmel, Indiana, CRRG Events has staged and managed events across 11 states ranging from a 1-mile football halftime race to ultramarathons. For more information, please visit CarmelRoadRacingGroup.com.
