Click the Finish Line graphic above to go to the winners list.
Runners! Ready… Set… Go!
Mile 1 of the 2025 Poetry Marathon Contest began on July 31, 2025. After 113 days, 27 contests, 910 submitted poems, and 260 poems placed, the marathon has ended and the results are in.
The Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medalists Are …
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Susan Ashley
-First Place !!!
The FIRST-PLACE WINNER of the 2022 Poetry Marathon has done it again! SUSAN ASHLEY is the First-Place Champion of the 2025 Poetry Marathon! Susan had 19 placements, 11 of which were podium finishes. Her dedication sportsmanship, encouragement, and humility, continue to inspire. Susan, the following clerihew—written as a tribute to you almost three years ago—still rings true today.
Gold Medal Marathoner, Susan Ashley
Never can be accused of acting rashly
Carefully crafts each word, line, and stanza
Wowing us with her prolific poetry bonanza!
~ Susan, we proudly celebrate you as our returning champion!
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Craig Cornish
-Second Place !!!
SECOND-PLACE congratulations go to CRAIG CORNISH! Craig had 21 placements, 6 of which were podium finishes. Craig’s refined craftsmanship, subtle wit, and distinct voice made him a truly formidable contestant in the Marathon. Craig, the following clerihew is a tribute to you!
Silver Medal Marathoner, Craig Cornish
We applaud your brilliant marathon flourish
Bespoke wit and singular vision ascend
Your distinct voice ran strong to the end
~ Craig, we applaud your outstanding performance!
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Michael Coy
-Third Place !!!
THIRD-PLACE congratulations go to MICHAEL COY! Michael had 19 placements, 6 of which were podium finishes. Michael’s intelligence and charm mixes cross-cultural flair with humor and literary depth. Michael, the following clerihew is a tribute to you!
Bronze Medal Marathoner, Michael Coy
Whose wit and humor we all enjoy
A Spaniard, perhaps—yet a Welsh-British New Yorker?
Whose layered literary allusions prove he's a real corker
~ Michael, we tip our hats in admiration of your achievement!
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Next, the 2025 Poetry Marathon Special Awards go to …
Best 2025 Poetry Marathon Meta-Poem - Maclawrence Famuyiwa, for “A Masterpiece Written In Dreams,” his Mile 15 Trophy Winner, a clever meta-poem about the painstaking yet exhausting process of writing for the Marathon—complete with a playful swipe at yours truly. ;-)
Best Individual Mile Performance - Ghairo Daniels, for “Yellow Field of Wheat,” her Mile 5 Trophy Winner and a deeply moving tribute to the resilience of a thirteen-year-old facing cancer—one of the most powerful single-mile poems in the Marathon.
Comeback Poet Award - Gregory Richard Barden, who missed the first 16 contest miles yet still reached the FINAL Top Ten, showing the same resilience that earned him second place in the 2019 Poetry Marathon.
Most Consistent Poet - Andrea Dietrich, the ONLY poet to place in the top ten of all three Poetry Marathons (2019–3rd, 2022–4th, 2025–6th).
Best New Voice / Breakout Poet - Rowena Velasco, our fifth-place winner, with 14 total placements and 8 podium finishes. Rowena joined Poetry Soup in May of 2025 (talk about hitting the ground running …).
Craftsmanship Award - Mark Massey, our fourth-place winner, recognized for consistent excellence in form, diction, and structural mastery.
Spirit of the Marathon Award - Susan Ashley, two-time Poetry Marathon Champion (2022 and 2025), whose sportsmanship, encouragement, humility, dedication, and joy embody the heart of what the Poetry Marathon stands for.
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Finally, “The Roster of Champions”
Click here to go to the FINAL Placement contest winners list.
“The Roster of Champions” displays the top 15 FINALISTS and Honorable Mentions, along with their winning poems. These are the poems of the Qualifiers of the 2025 Poetry Marathon, poems which had already been placed in the marathon and were handpicked by the poets themselves to submit to this Qualifiers’ FINAL Placement contest. Their poems gave us words that moved, challenged, and inspired, and every participant helped make the Marathon a success. Thanks to every poet who shared the run and FINISHED!
Many thanks to ALL of the poets who submitted the 910 poems—winners or not—who made this a fun and memorable contest! We salute you all!
To close out the 2025 Poetry Marathon, I leave you with my fun Poetry Marathon poem inspired by Walt Whitman (1819-1892), and his famous poem, “O Captain! My Captain!”
O Sponsor! My Sponsor! Our marathon’s undiminished
The number 1 rule is satisfied, for all of us have finished!
The rankings are clear, the comments sincere—a poets’ celebration,
While eyes peruse the final list, the roster of champions!
But O fatigue! fatigue! fatigue!
27 contests have taken their toll
In welcome repose our Sponsor chose
Three years' rest ere the next marathon roll
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P.S. Thank you for being part of the 2025 Poetry Marathon. Time to take off those running shoes and give those feet a rest! See you at the starting line in 2028.
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Graphic images for the 2025 Poetry Marathon were created using Canva Pro