The husband-and-wife team of Andrew Bowman and Sydney Devore-Bowman won their first race together at the Detroit Free Press Marathon in October.
“Before that, it never happened,” Bowman said. “We both won the marathon in Pittsburgh, but in different years.”
They enjoyed winning together so much, they did it again.
The Ferndale, Mich., couple won their respective overall divisions in the 36th running of the Orland Park Turkey Trot on Nov. 28 at a wooded course near Village Hall. Bowman, 30, crushed the competition in the men’s division with a chip time of 13 minutes, 00.18 seconds over the 2.5-mile course. Homer Glen’s Patrick Valcich, 15, was well behind with a 14:58.78.
Devore-Bowman, 33, won the women’s division with a 15:46.81, well ahead of runner-up Avery Landi of Yorba Linda, California, with a 17:28.86.
The Bowmans were in town to celebrate Thanksgiving with Sydney’s parents, William and Lenore Devore. In years past, they came to Orland Park and enjoyed the day without competing.
This year was different.
“My parents are taking their fitness a little more seriously and we decided to come out here as a family,” Sydney said.
William Devore, 59, finished with a 26:14.92 while Lenore checked in at 36:37.25.
There were 1,000 people who signed up for the race and 870 who finished on the chilly morning.
Winners in the female divisions were V. Lempa (ages 9-under), Avery Landi (10-14), Isabella Van Alst (15-19), Katie Wojcikiewicz (20-24), Caitlin Shanahan (25-29), Devore (30-35), Michelle Lally (35-39), Teresa Green (40-44), Stella Smolka (45-49), Paula Gaspardo (50-54), Tammie Chopp (55-59), Peggy McIntyre (60-64), Fonda Bacho (65-69) and Paula Scheiwe (70-over).
Male winners were J. Dubois (9-under), Charlie Kreppel (10-14), Valcich (15-19), Will Giblin (20-24), Brandon Lukas (25-29), Bowman (30-34), Jonathan Parker (35-39), Daniel Dominik (40-44), Erik Birkmeier (45-49), Thomas Mackie (50-54), Simon Paca (55-59), Gene Lifonti (60-64), Larry Bornhofen (65-69) and Charlie Tarjan (70-over).