Race Recap • Results • Photo Gallery
Alan Jones Vestal XX 2026: Race Photos, Results & a Historic Southern Tier 20K
The 2026 Alan Jones Vestal XX brought runners back to the hills of Vestal on Saturday, June 20, for the 54th running of one of the Southern Tier’s most historic road races.
This is not a race that gives anything away. The Vestal XX is a USATF-certified 20-kilometer road race, 12.427 miles, over the hills of Vestal, New York. The course starts and finishes at the Vestal Senior Center, and year after year it has remained one of the area’s clearest tests of strength, patience, and smart pacing.
The 2026 race delivered a strong front pack, a standout women’s performance, another deep age-graded competition, a spirited 2-person relay, and a reminder of why this event still matters after more than five decades.
Quick links: Photo Gallery | Stories in the Photos | 2026 Results Highlights | Winner Stories | Race History | Recent Winners | FAQ
2026 Alan Jones Vestal XX Photo Gallery
Race day photos help tell the story better than a clock ever could. The faces from Vestal XX show the full range of the race: the early focus, the middle-mile grind, the push over the hills, the relay exchanges, the finish-line relief, and the post-race pride that comes from completing a course with real history behind it.
Use this gallery to find friends, celebrate finishers, share favorite moments, and recognize the runners, volunteers, families, and supporters who continue to keep local road racing strong.
When sharing photos, tag the runners, tag the race community, and help spread the word about one of the Southern Tier’s longest-running traditions.
Stories in the Photos
One of the best parts of a race photo gallery is that the images often tell a bigger story than the results sheet alone. At the 2026 Alan Jones Vestal XX, the photos captured not just finish times, but the rhythm of the Southern Tier running calendar, the character of the course, and the runners who continue to show up for local racing.
In one early photo, a runner is wearing a 4 on the 4th race tank. That is a perfect local running detail. Vestal XX and 4 on the 4th sit close together on the regional race calendar, and both are part of the Triple Cities Runners Club Grand Prix. Vestal XX tests runners over a hilly 20K in June, while 4 on the 4th brings the community back together on Independence Day for a 4-mile road race in Endwell.
Another photo from the race features bib 86, which connects directly back to one of the strongest women’s performances of the day. In the official results, bib 86 finished 18th overall, third among women, and ran 1:32:58.03 for the 20K, averaging 7:29 per mile. That is the kind of performance that deserves recognition on a course as demanding as Vestal.
Other images show the range of the field: runners moving together, athletes waving to the camera, and smiles appearing even in the middle of a difficult race. That mix is what keeps Vestal XX special. It is competitive at the front, meaningful through the middle, and memorable for every runner who earns the finish.
About the Alan Jones Vestal XX
The Alan Jones Vestal XX is a 20K road race in Vestal, New York, organized by the Triple Cities Runners Club. The event includes both the individual 20K and a 2-person relay.
The course is known for its hills, but the race is known for much more than difficulty. It is one of the anchors of Southern Tier running history. The race traces its roots to the early days of organized local road racing and has become a benchmark event for generations of runners from Vestal, Binghamton, Endicott, Johnson City, Owego, Apalachin, Oneonta, Ithaca, northern Pennsylvania, and beyond.
For experienced runners, Vestal XX is a fitness check. For newer runners, it is a major accomplishment. For longtime local racers, it is a tradition. For everyone who finishes, it is earned.
2026 Alan Jones Vestal XX Results Highlights
The 2026 race was led by Benjamin Snodgrass of Endicott, NY, who won the overall 20K in 1:10:19.96, averaging 5:40 per mile. That was the fastest winning time in the recent Falcon Race Timing results window from 2022 through 2026.
The women’s race was won by Emily Gunther of Vestal, NY in 1:29:22.85, averaging 7:12 per mile. It was also her fourth straight women’s win in the recent results stretch from 2023 through 2026.
Top 10 Overall Finishers
| Place | Runner | Time | Pace |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benjamin Snodgrass | 1:10:19.96 | 5:40/mile |
| 2 | Andrew Harrell | 1:10:42.53 | 5:41/mile |
| 3 | Vishal Yalamanchili | 1:12:58.61 | 5:52/mile |
| 4 | Lorenzo Christian | 1:16:49.80 | 6:11/mile |
| 5 | Alex Craver | 1:19:26.41 | 6:24/mile |
| 6 | Jordan Varano | 1:19:56.25 | 6:26/mile |
| 7 | Bryant Stewart | 1:24:47.48 | 6:49/mile |
| 8 | John Edwards | 1:26:28.12 | 6:57/mile |
| 9 | Declan Giannone | 1:27:00.63 | 7:00/mile |
| 10 | Nicholas Mushalla | 1:28:33.86 | 7:08/mile |
Top Women
| Place | Runner | Time | Pace |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emily Gunther | 1:29:22.85 | 7:12/mile |
| 2 | Shelby Fisher | 1:30:07.27 | 7:15/mile |
| 3 | Lauren Castellucci | 1:32:58.03 | 7:29/mile |
2-Person Relay Results
| Place | Team | Runners | Time | Pace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eagle Cats | Timothy Smith / Brynn Hogan | 1:26:11.85 | 6:56/mile |
| 2 | It Takes Two | Herb Kline / Kathy Purtell | 1:38:54.51 | 7:58/mile |
| 3 | Sponsored by Uncrustables | Tyler Beckley / Desiree Lee | 1:49:55.75 | 8:51/mile |
| 4 | Team Creedal | Crystal Granish / Faith Rittenburg | 1:55:09.03 | 9:16/mile |
| 5 | Lady Bears | Isabel Goncalves / Tess Labosky | 1:59:43.36 | 9:38/mile |
Top Age-Graded Performances
Age grading has long been part of the Vestal XX tradition, and the 2026 results again showed why. The age-graded standings highlight performances across age groups and give proper credit to athletes who continue to race at a high level year after year.
| Place | Runner | Age | Actual Time | Age-Graded Time | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brian Cummins | 71 | 1:36:19.64 | 1:09:38.10 | 0.7803 |
| 2 | Lydia Dillon | 57 | 1:37:13.68 | 1:18:07.36 | 0.7589 |
| 3 | Jordan Varano | 47 | 1:19:56.25 | 1:12:42.19 | 0.7473 |
| 4 | Lorenzo Christian | 19 | 1:16:49.80 | 1:16:25.37 | 0.7110 |
| 5 | Victoria Castellucci | 67 | 1:59:49.23 | 1:23:54.62 | 0.7065 |
Winner Stories: What Made the 2026 Race Stand Out
Benjamin Snodgrass Wins the Men’s Race in 1:10:19
Benjamin Snodgrass made a major statement at the 2026 Alan Jones Vestal XX, winning in 1:10:19.96. On a course that rarely hands out easy splits, that works out to 5:40 per mile for 20 kilometers.
His performance also fits into a strong 2026 racing pattern. Earlier this year, Snodgrass ran 21:49.42 at the St. Patrick’s Day 4-Miler, averaging 5:27 per mile, and finished second at the Forks XV 15K in 51:36.40, averaging 5:33 per mile.
Those results show range and consistency: fast enough to compete over four miles, strong enough to carry pace over 15K, and durable enough to win the Vestal XX over 20K.
Andrew Harrell Pushes the Front in Second
Andrew Harrell finished second overall in 1:10:42.53, just 22.57 seconds behind Snodgrass. That kind of gap over 20 kilometers is not a blowout; it is a race.
Harrell’s 5:41-per-mile pace kept pressure on the front and helped make the 2026 men’s race one of the strongest recent editions.
Vishal Yalamanchili Returns Faster Than His Winning Year
Vishal Yalamanchili was the 2025 Vestal XX champion in 1:15:10.49. In 2026, he finished third in 1:12:58.61.
That means Yalamanchili came back more than two minutes faster than his winning time from the year before. He did not repeat as champion, but his performance improved dramatically. That is one of the best stories of the race: sometimes the field gets stronger, and so do you.
His longer arc is even more impressive. In 2022, Yalamanchili ran 1:21:35.27 at Vestal XX as an 18-year-old. Four years later, he ran 1:12:58.61. That is more than eight and a half minutes faster on the same historic race distance.
Emily Gunther Continues Her Vestal XX Streak
Emily Gunther won the women’s race in 1:29:22.85, finishing 12th overall. This continued an outstanding run at Vestal XX. In the recent results window, Gunther has won the women’s race in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Her progression also stands out:
| Year | Women’s Finish | Time | Pace |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1st | 1:37:03.15 | 7:49/mile |
| 2024 | 1st | 1:33:29.28 | 7:31/mile |
| 2025 | 1st | 1:30:02.38 | 7:15/mile |
| 2026 | 1st | 1:29:22.85 | 7:12/mile |
That is a clear four-year improvement curve on a difficult 20K course.
Gunther has also been racing well throughout 2026. She was the women’s winner at the Tom Hamlin January Freeze Series #1 in 41:54.28, the women’s winner at Tom Hamlin January Freeze Series #2 in 44:22.91, second woman at the St. Patrick’s Day 4-Miler in 25:09.69, and first in the women’s 30-39 division at Forks XV in 1:03:54.32.
That is not a one-race result. That is a season.
Jordan Varano Keeps Showing Up Near the Front
Jordan Varano finished sixth overall in 2026 and third in the age-graded standings. His recent Vestal XX record shows remarkable consistency: second overall in 2022, fifth overall in 2023, third overall in 2024, third overall in 2025, and sixth overall in 2026.
Varano also won the men’s masters title at the 2026 St. Patrick’s Day 4-Miler, running 23:25.52 for four miles. That makes his Vestal XX performance part of a broader pattern: he remains one of the most consistent local runners across distances and years.
Brian Cummins Wins the Age-Graded Competition
The top age-graded performance belonged to Brian Cummins, age 71, who ran 1:36:19.64. His age-graded time was calculated at 1:09:38.10, putting him at the top of the 2026 age-graded standings.
That matters because Vestal XX has always respected more than just the first runner across the line. The age-graded competition honors athletes who continue to perform at a high level across decades, and Cummins’ 2026 result was one of the strongest performances of the day.
Why the Vestal XX Is Such a Historic Race
The Vestal XX is not just another local road race. It is part of the foundation of organized running in the Southern Tier.
According to Triple Cities Runners Club history, the local running scene that eventually produced the Vestal race grew out of races held in the Binghamton area dating back to the 1930s. One early influence was Nick Ruggeri, who competed in distance races from the early 1930s into the 1980s.
The first Vestal race was held on June 26, 1971. The original course was 12 miles because that was the loop available from Vestal High School. By the next year, the distance was adjusted to 20 kilometers, and in 1973 the race took on the name Vestal XX.
The race is now named for Alan Jones, the founder of the Triple Cities Runners Club and the creator of the Vestal XX. Jones also invented the Jones Counter, the bicycle-mounted device that became central to certified road-course measurement around the world.
That background gives this race a different kind of weight. When runners line up at the Vestal Senior Center, they are not only racing the hills. They are stepping into a local running tradition that helped shape the way road racing developed in this region.
Recent Vestal XX Winners
Looking at recent results helps show how competitive and consistent this race has been. The men’s race has seen different winners in each of the last five listed editions, while Emily Gunther has built a dominant streak on the women’s side.
| Year | Men’s Winner | Men’s Time | Women’s Winner | Women’s Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Benjamin Snodgrass | 1:10:19.96 | Emily Gunther | 1:29:22.85 |
| 2025 | Vishal Yalamanchili | 1:15:10.49 | Emily Gunther | 1:30:02.38 |
| 2024 | Troy Robinson | 1:12:59.36 | Emily Gunther | 1:33:29.28 |
| 2023 | Donnell Davis | 1:13:29.28 | Emily Gunther | 1:37:03.15 |
| 2022 | Steve Esposito | 1:12:59.26 | Jennifer Selig | 1:30:26.17 |
One thing jumps out immediately: the men’s race has been unpredictable, while the women’s race has had a clear standard-bearer. Gunther’s four straight wins from 2023 through 2026 are impressive on any course, but especially on a course as demanding as Vestal.
The men’s recent history is also strong. Steve Esposito’s 2022 win, Donnell Davis’ 2023 win, Troy Robinson’s 2024 win, Vishal Yalamanchili’s 2025 win, and Benjamin Snodgrass’ 2026 win show the depth of the front end of this race. Snodgrass’ 2026 time is the fastest of this recent five-race stretch.
A Course That Does Not Let You Hide
The defining feature of Vestal XX is not just the 20K distance. It is the way the course makes runners manage effort.
A flat 20K can reward pure rhythm. Vestal rewards discipline. Go out too hard and the hills will find you. Hold back too much and the race can slip away. The best performances usually come from runners who know how to stay controlled early, stay mentally engaged through the middle miles, and keep fighting when the final miles start asking questions.
That is what makes this race such a valuable test. Whether you are racing at the front, chasing an age-group place, running with a teammate in the relay, or simply trying to finish, Vestal XX demands honest work.
Thank You to the Race Community
Races like the Alan Jones Vestal XX survive because people keep showing up.
Thank you to the Triple Cities Runners Club, Falcon Race Timing, volunteers, course support, sponsors, families, spectators, and every runner who helped continue the tradition in 2026.
Local racing is not automatic. It takes organizers, volunteers, timers, sponsors, traffic support, photographers, families, and participants who believe these events are worth preserving.
Vestal XX is worth preserving.
Congratulations to Every Finisher
Congratulations to every athlete who finished the 2026 Alan Jones Vestal XX.
Whether you were competing for the win, racing for an age-graded award, running the relay, chasing a personal goal, or simply determined to finish one of the area’s hardest races, you were part of something bigger than one result sheet.
You were part of the 54th running of a Southern Tier classic.
That deserves to be celebrated.
Official Race Links
Alan Jones Vestal XX FAQ
What is the Alan Jones Vestal XX?
The Alan Jones Vestal XX is a historic 20-kilometer road race held in Vestal, New York. It is organized by the Triple Cities Runners Club and is known for its hilly course, deep local history, and strong Southern Tier running tradition.
How far is the Vestal XX?
The race is 20 kilometers, which is approximately 12.427 miles.
Where does the Vestal XX start and finish?
The race starts and finishes at the Vestal Senior Center, located at 201 South Main Street in Vestal, NY.
Is the Vestal XX course certified?
Yes. The 2026 race page lists the Vestal XX as a USATF-certified 20K road race with Course ID NY18044JG.
Who won the 2026 Alan Jones Vestal XX?
Benjamin Snodgrass won the 2026 Alan Jones Vestal XX in 1:10:19.96, averaging 5:40 per mile.
Who won the women’s race in 2026?
Emily Gunther won the women’s race in 1:29:22.85. It was her fourth straight women’s win in the recent results window from 2023 through 2026.
Who won the 2026 Vestal XX relay?
The relay team Eagle Cats, made up of Timothy Smith and Brynn Hogan, won the 2026 2-person relay in 1:26:11.85.
Who had the top age-graded performance in 2026?
Brian Cummins had the top age-graded performance in 2026. At age 71, he ran 1:36:19.64, which converted to an age-graded time of 1:09:38.10.
What was notable about bib 86?
Bib 86 was one of the strongest women’s performances of the day, finishing 18th overall, third among women, and running 1:32:58.03 for the 20K.
What is 4 on the 4th?
4 on the 4th is a 4-mile road race in Endwell, NY held on July 4 at Visions Federal Credit Union Headquarters. It is another major local running event and is also listed as part of the Triple Cities Runners Club Grand Prix.
Why is the Vestal XX considered historic?
The race traces its roots to the early days of organized running in the Southern Tier. The first Vestal race was held in 1971, and the event later became the Vestal XX. It is now named in honor of Alan Jones, founder of the Triple Cities Runners Club and inventor of the Jones Counter used in certified road-course measurement.
Where can I find official Vestal XX results?
Official 2026 results are available through Falcon Race Timing, and prior-year results are linked through the official RunSignup race page.
Vestal XX Resources & Local Running Links
Want to learn more about the Alan Jones Vestal XX, view official results, connect with the local running community, or find your next race? These resources are a good place to start.
Official Vestal XX Race Resources
- Falcon Race Timing: 2026 Alan Jones Vestal XX Results — Official timing page with overall results, age group results, relay results, and age-graded results.
- RunSignup: Alan Jones Vestal XX Race Page — Race details, registration information, course information, and race history notes.
- RunSignup: Alan Jones Vestal XX Results — Additional race results and searchable participant results.
Triple Cities Runners Club
- Triple Cities Runners Club — The local running club behind many of the Southern Tier’s long-standing running traditions.
- Triple Cities Runners Club History — Learn more about the roots of local road racing, Alan Jones, and the early history of the Vestal race.
- TCRC Social Runs & Group Runs — Group run information, community training opportunities, and ways to get connected locally.
- Triple Cities Runners Club on Facebook — Follow TCRC for local race updates, club news, and community running posts.
Confluence Running & Local Events
- Confluence Running — Local running shoes, gear, fittings, race support, and community running resources.
- Confluence Running Group Runs — A local guide to group runs, training groups, trail runs, and ways to run with others in the Binghamton area.
- Confluence Running Events — Road and trail running events, race production, community races, and upcoming race opportunities.
- Confluence Running Binghamton on Facebook — Follow for store updates, group runs, local running posts, and community events.
Local Group Runs & Facebook Running Communities
- Binghamton Group Running on Facebook — A community space for coordinating and sharing local group runs.
- Binghamton Area Trail Runners on Facebook — A local trail running community for Southern Tier trail runners.
Whether you raced the Vestal XX, volunteered, cheered, or found this page while looking for your next local event, the Southern Tier has a strong running community with plenty of ways to stay involved.
