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16th Annual Chesty Puller Memorial Twin Bridge 10K

Another 10K has come and gone, and we're already looking toward 2025 with excitement and anticipation. This year's race, as always, was filled with more patriotism, pride, inspiration, and joy than our little town could possibly contain, and we're grateful to the hundreds of runners, volunteers, and sponsors who joined us for our 16th annual event.


Thank you to our friends at the Tidewater Review for this great recap of a record-setting day!


runners at the start line for a road race
Start of the 16th Annual Chesty Puller 10K. Courtesy of the Tidewater Review.

More than 200 runners hit the streets of West Point on Saturday, June 22nd for the 16th Annual Chesty Puller Memorial Twin Bridge 10K, an annual race that draws runners from around the country.


Among the 280 registered participants, 231 completed the race and two ran virtually, with organizers expecting at least 15 more to complete virtual races. The youngest runner was 4-year-old Colton Booker, while the oldest was Sid Busch, a 78-year-old Navy veteran who has run or walked in hundreds of marathons, half marathons, 10Ks and 5Ks over the past 20 years to honor fallen heroes.

elderly road race participant and a man dressed as uncle sam
Sid Busch, pictured with “Unkl Sam,” is a 78-year-old Navy veteran who has run or walked in hundreds of marathons, half marathons, 10Ks and 5Ks over the past 20 years to honor fallen heroes. Courtesy of the Town of West Point.

The event is named for West Point native Lt. Gen. Lewis Burwell “Chesty” Puller, the most decorated Marine in American history. Puller, who earned his nickname from having a barrel chest, was the recipient of five Naval Crosses and the Army Distinguished Service Cross, participating in campaigns in World War II and Korea.


Runners, walkers, stroller-pushers and dogs followed a route that began in downtown West Point and crossed the town’s twin bridges, taking participants over both the Mattaponi and Pamunkey rivers. Those who completed an extra kilometer took home medals as well as a “One More For Chesty” commemorative coin.


The overall women’s 11K winner was 10-year-old Isabella Strumke of Toano, followed by Julia Henby of Providence Forge and Megan Arrington of New Kent. The overall men’s 11K winner was Alec Daniel of Gloucester, followed by Jack Strumke of Toano and Kevin Kopacki of West Point.


Brandi Huffman of Fredericksburg was the overall women’s 10K winner, followed by Haley Uliasz of Newport News and Rachel Hall of Goochland. Ethan Peters of Clifton won the overall men’s 10K, followed by Ionut Toma of Virginia Beach and Luis Aviles of Newport News.

runners at a road race taking a selfie
Runners at the Chesty Puller 10K take a selfie. Courtesy of the Town of West Point.

Following the race, the town of West Point thanked “everyone who helped make the event a huge success, including sponsors, volunteers, first responders, staff and more,” as well as the participants.


“We love the enthusiasm for this race and how much it means to runners from around the country and our community,” said town spokeswoman Melissa Anderson.


For a full list of results, visit bit.ly/3VY1InN.

ten year old girl running in a road race
Ten-year-old Isabella Strumke of Toano took first place for the female runners in the 11K. Courtesy of the Tidewater Review.
four year old boy wearing a medal
Four-year-old Colton Booker was the youngest runner to complete the Chesty Puller road race. Courtesy of the Town of West Point.
gen. chesty puller 10k medal
The 16th annual road race honors West Point native Lt. Gen. Lewis Burwell “Chesty” Puller, the most decorated Marine in American history. Courtesy of the Town of West Point.

For more photos, visit west-point.va.us/photos.


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The Town of West Point is grateful to everyone who helped make the 2024 Chesty Puller Memorial Twin Bridge 10K a huge success. We couldn't have done it without our sponsors, volunteers, the West Point police and fire departments, the Rotary Club of West Point VA, the Knights of Columbus, EnMotive, the New Kent County Sheriff's Office, the King and Queen County Sheriff's Office, and our town staff. It takes many hands and moving parts to make the 10K a reality, and we appreciate all who assisted. We also want to thank our participants for choosing the Chesty Puller 10K - we love the enthusiasm for this race and how much it means to runners from around the country and our community.


Thank you to our platinum, gold, and silver sponsors: Town of West Point, Valero of West Point, Mennel Milling/Old Dominion Grain, United Bank, Baylands Family Credit Union, Byers Technical Institute, Citizens and Farmers Ban, Giaimo Management, Realtor Harlie Foster, Horn's West Point Ace Hardware, Limitless Grafix, Milby Oil, Inc., Smiles of West Point, Sno-to-Go, and WestRock.


Thanks also to our bronze-level sponsors: Thrift Insurance, Divin' Off the Dock, Historical Society of West Point, West Point Chamber of Commerce, Pamunkey Regional Library, Middle Peninsula Detachment # 1317, Wyatt-Ogg Furniture, Sears Real Estate & Appraisals, Taylor Land Services, LLC, Integrity Food Group, Colonial Farm Credit, West Point Volunteer Fire Department, West Point Police Department, New Kent County Sheriff, and King and Queen County Sheriff.


Save the date for our 17th Annual Memorial Twin Bridge 10K - Saturday, June 21, 2025!

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