Binghamton Santa Run 5K Photos & Top Results – Downtown Binghamton, NY

The Binghamton Santa Run 5K: Fast Feet, Festive Costumes, and a Whole Lot of Cheer

Each December, downtown Binghamton turns into a sea of red, green, and jingling bells as runners and walkers line up on Court Street in front of Boscov’s for the Binghamton Santa Run 5K. The 2025 edition once again delivered everything this race is known for: a flat downtown course, a free Santa’s Little Helper ¼-mile kids’ run, a full-blown costume contest, and a morning built around supporting St. John the Evangelist School. RunSignup

With the start and finish on the Court Street Bridge and a certified route looping along Front Street, Riverside Drive, Beethoven Street, and Main Street, this is a legitimately quick 5K that still feels like a holiday party. RunSignup

Overall Podium: A Tight Men’s Race, a Deep Women’s Field

This year’s 5K saw nearly 400 finishers stream across the Court Street Bridge finish line, led by a familiar name at the front.

Top 5 Overall (Chip Time)

1. Alex Craver – 17:48 (M, 37, NY)

2. Jordan Varano – 17:52 (M, 46, NY)

3. Declan Giannone – 18:15 (M, 21, PA)

4. John Salva – 18:22 (M, 33, NY)

5. Daniel Vandam – 18:56 (M, 32, NY)

Craver and Varano put on a great duel at the front, separated by just a few seconds. Both are no strangers to fast performances in the Triple Cities running scene; in recent Santa Run editions, they’ve been trading spots near the top of the results with sub-18 efforts.

On the women’s side, the top of the field was stacked with local standouts who know this course well:

Top 3 Women (Chip Time)

• Emily Gunther – 19:31 (F, 35, NY – 7th overall)

• Brieanne Smith – 19:51 (F, 41, NY – 8th overall)

• Jessica Gates – 20:00 (F, 20, NY – 10th overall)

Gunther and Smith have become fixtures at the front of local races. In a recent edition of the Santa Run, Gunther broke the tape in the women’s race in just under 20 minutes; this year she dipped her time again into the low-19s. Smith also improved from a previous mid-20-minute finish at this event to crack 20 minutes and place comfortably inside the overall top ten.

Local Regulars and Past Performances

One of the best parts of the Binghamton Santa Run is seeing familiar names appear year after year — and watching their progress.

• Nicholas Luti (16, NY) ran 19:09 to place 6th overall. In a recent Santa Run, he clocked a mid-19-minute finish; now he’s carved that down by more than half a minute and moved well into the top pack.

• Andrew Crocker (17, NY) finished in 20:52 (12th overall), staying right around his prior Santa Run time and showing impressive consistency as a high-school runner learning how to pace on the roads.

• Andrew Gross (27, NY) landed in 13th with 21:20 and has also nudged his time forward compared with a previous mid-21-minute result at this race.

Further back in the pack, long-time local standouts and Triple Cities Runners Club age-group regulars were out in force:

• Lydia Dillon (56, NY) crossed in 22:49. Dillon has been a Masters Grand Prix champion for the Triple Cities Runners Club and continues to show why, holding strong paces year after year.

• Debbie Grassi (75, NY) finished in 35:14, representing the Veterans end of the field and bringing the same toughness that has earned her veterans honors in past Triple Cities standings.

• Harland Bigelow (79, NY) came through in 50:56, adding another finish to a long list of local races he has completed over the years.

These “career Santa runners” quietly illustrate one of the coolest storylines: this event isn’t just about one good day; it’s about showing up, year after year, and watching your fitness — and your holiday tradition — evolve.

Masters, Youth, and Family Storylines

Because the Binghamton Santa Run awards overall winners, masters (40+) winners, age-group awards, and even “fun Santa” prizes, there are races happening within the race all morning long. RunSignup

Masters Depth

The masters fields were particularly deep:

• On the men’s side, Jordan Varano (46) and David Kania (45) both dipped under 20 minutes (17:52 and 19:56), while Michael Wojnarski (61) posted a strong 21:25 to lead the 60+ group across the line.

• On the women’s side, Brieanne Smith (41), Lydia Dillon (56), and Monica Salva (31 – just shy of masters, but racing shoulder-to-shoulder with them in 23:06) represented a wave of experienced runners who keep the front half of the results sheet packed with 20- to 23-minute times.

Youth Movement

This race is always a family affair, and the results show a serious youth presence:

• 9-year-old E. Dello clocked 23:56 — a terrific time for the 6–10 age group — followed closely by B. McCabe (9) and K. McCabe (11) in 24:22 and 24:23.

• Hannah Lindsay (13) ran 24:32, with her dad Brian finishing just a few seconds behind in 24:35 — a classic parent-child finish-line moment.

• Dozens of teens in the 11–19 brackets packed the 23–30 minute range, clearly using the Santa Run as an off-season test for winter training.

Between the 1/4-mile Santa’s Little Helper kids’ race at 10:00 a.m. and the full 5K at 11:00, it’s common to see younger siblings race first, then jump onto the sidewalk to cheer for parents during the main event. RunSignup

Costumes, Community, and a Cause

Of course, the Santa Run is about more than just seconds on a clock.

Race organizers encourage everyone to dress up as their favorite holiday character — Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves, reindeer, even menorahs and dreidels — and back it up with a robust costume contest. Past awards have included Best Dressed Santa, Best Dressed Group, Christmas Cutie, Christmas Couple, and more, and the 2025 edition carried on that playful tradition with plenty of tinsel, LED lights, and matching family outfits. RunSignup

Underneath all the costumes and cowbells is a serious purpose: the event raises funds for St. John the Evangelist School, supporting its students and athletic programs. The race website highlights St. John as a local Catholic learning community focused on academic excellence and character, making the Santa Run both a fundraiser and a visible celebration of that mission in the middle of downtown. RunSignup

Looking Ahead

From front-of-the-pack battles between seasoned club runners to breakthrough PRs from high-school athletes and joyful jogs from first-time 5K finishers, the Binghamton Santa Run once again lived up to its billing as “Binghamton’s most joyful 5K.” RunSignup

If you raced this year, take a moment to look back at your time, compare it to past editions, and jot down one small goal for next year — whether that’s shaving 30 seconds, bringing a new friend, or finally going all-in on a ridiculous costume. And if you were out there cheering, volunteering, or supporting St. John the Evangelist School, you were just as much a part of what makes this event special.

See you on Court Street next December.

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