The 2nd Annual One City Marathon was a huge success. With the launch of this newsletter, we will feature a series of interesting behind-the-scenes stories that contributed to the many Marathon Moments.

Residents Take to the Streets to Show Their One City Spirit

Sometimes a little “push” makes all the difference especially when running 26.2 miles. Thanks to all the Newport News residents, businesses, churches and schools that lined the course with messages and cheers of encouragement to give this year’s One City Marathon runners just what they needed.

High School bands played and residents held up signs and the runners appreciated every one. Some of the most spirited were at the corner of Warwick and City Center Boulevard at First Baptist Church Newport News. The church even moved Sunday services to a later time so their members and community could join them in cheering on the runners. The band played as they waved from both sides of the Warwick Ave near the Mile 14 Water station.

First Baptist came in a close second to Heritage High School who grabbed The TowneBank Hometown Spirit Award for a second year in a row. The Hurricane’s cheerleaders, bands and students had been planning their strategy all year and they showed up in a big way to push the runners thru the last couple of miles. This year the award also included a $500 charitable donation from TowneBank.

Newport News certainly put its best foot forward March 11-13th for the 2nd Annual One City Marathon and can’t wait to see everyone again for Year 3—March 10-12th, 2017!

To see more of the marathon events across the city watch NNTV’s One City Marathon 2016 Weekend Highlights tonight at 8 & 10 PM on Cox 48 Verizon 19 or on demand and we’ll have more Marathon Moments in future editions of NewportNewsNow .