After winning the first three editions of the Spring Fever 8-Hour Ultra, Ed Donahue has finally been dethroned. Donahue has himself to thank for that. The 42-year-old from Abington, Mass., returned for the fourth annual event in Hingham on Saturday, April 11, but opted to race one of the event’s two sub-ultra distances instead.

Spring Fever also offered 5-mile and 5K distances. With Donahue racing the 5K, the path was cleared for a new champion to emerge in the 8-Hour. A handful of runners vied for the victory while taking on a 5-mile loop course on the winding trails of Wompatuck State Park. Race Director Jen Cavanagh treated runners to a bit of a twist this year by having runners run the course in reverse, seeking to “reverse the curse” of wet weather that soaked all three prior year’s events. The plan paid off. Runners were treated to ideal conditions with temperatures ranging from the mid-40s to 60 degrees while running under partly cloudy to sunny skies as the race progressed.

A fast field dueled for the win throughout the day, but ultimately only one runner managed to complete a ninth lap within the time limit. Tom Wolejko, 44, of Leominster, Mass., did so and earned the overall victory. Wolejko’s 45-mile effort tied the course record set by Donahue in both 2024 and 2025. Donahue won the inaugural 2023 edition with 40 miles.

A trio of runners followed a lap behind Wolejko. Jeff Henson, 39, of Rockland, Mass., 23-year-old Alejandro Mesa Mazo of East Boston, Mass., and 33-year-old James Menousek of Framingham, Mass., each finished eight laps and 40 miles, tying for second overall.

In the female field, Lila Gaudrault’s 45-mile course record from 2025 went untouched, but the top trio all had strong performances and shared a piece of the top spot. Katherine Demouth, 30, of Brighton, Mass., along with 41-year-old Lisa Keary of Framingham, Mass., and 48-year-old Karen Deyesso of Scarborough, Maine, each completed 35 miles.

Forty-one runners took part in the 8-hour race, and 23 of them completed 30 miles or more, earning ultramarathon mileage for their efforts.

Additionally, 26 runners took part in the 5-mile race. David Gruenwald, 38, of Portsmouth, N.H., earned the overall win in 39:40, followed by 32-year-old Mark Burr of Hull, Mass., in 40:29, and 48-year-old Whitney Cornforth of Arlington, Mass., who completed the male podium in 40:50. Kate LaPlume, 24, of Plymouth, Mass., finished first in the female field in 46:05, followed by 17-year-old Olive Deyesso of Scarborough, Maine, in 51:50. Maria Rose Robbins, 41, of Hanson, Mass., and Matilda Deyesso, 17, of Scarborough, Maine, tied for third in 53:41.

Rounding out the event, 19 runners completed the 5K race. Chayce Horton, 30, of Hingham, Mass., cruised to the victory in 28:50, followed by 13-year-old Owen Hart and 48-year-old Bryan Hart, both of Abington, Mass., who tied for second in 30:36. Top female Becky Lennon, 41, of Abington, Mass., finished in 33:49 – alongside Ed Donahue. Lennon was joined on the podium by Mary Kienke, 43, of Hanson, Mass., and Maritza Rosa, 45, of Weymouth, Mass., who followed in 36:59 and 48:20, respectively.