The 17th annual Colton’s Main Street Run was Saturday morning at Market Square with 1,388 runners participating.
It is named after 10-year-old Colton Sherrill who passed away in 2008 from an unknown heart defect. His parents, Trace and Dena Sherrill, founded Colton’s Run in 2010 as a way to honor his memory and provide life-saving equipment, including Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to schools and other public places. Funds raised have also helped improve city parks, including lighting at the Durant Multi-Sports Complex soccer fields.
“Dena and I are so appreciative of our community support,” Mr. Sherrill said, the morning of the race. “Great turnout today.”
Sherrill thanked the many sponsors of Colton’s Run.
“We’re just very fortunate to have all of our sponsors with us, including Cardinal Glass, our presenting sponsor, and we’re looking forward to having a great day. Weather was a little shaky earlier this week but we got a nice, sunny day, just a little chilly. Just enough to keep us going.”
Mark Bravo came from Edmond to announce the race.
“Colton’s Run is a very special run,” Bravo said. “So many races, virtually The annual Colton’s Main Street Run was Saturday morning and these runners in the fun run got o_ to a false start. Also shown is Mark Bravo, race announcer.
Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat all races, have great causes but when you’re talking about something where you have complete town and city buy in and everyone seems to participate one way or another and help out. Of course, due to the back story that Colton unfortunately at a very young age passed away, but his death, every year it shows that when he’s honored and celebrated was not in vain.
“All of the automatic defibrillator machines that have been donated over the years from funds raised from this race, it’s absolutely amazing. Last year, 2025, the race netted about $96,000 that went to firming up the condition of parks around here, of the Crooked Smile Trail, keeping it in great shape, named after Colton and providing numerous AEDs around various towns.”
Bravo said he thought this was his fourth year to announce the race.
“I was not able schedule wise to be here when I heard about it and they asked me,” Bravo said. “I really wanted to be and once I freed it up, now it is a must do. I don’t put anything on the calendar this weekend.”
As host race announcer, Bravo said he tries to keep people “fired up.”
“That’s not hard at Colton’s Run and let them know some of the things going on,” Bravo said. “Talk a little bit of pure running, like how fast these athletes are going and such and mainly just bring a certain air to the race hopefully every year. I do this in a number of races like the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon and Colton’s Run as far as the support that’s given, and the efficiency of this race ranks with any race I do.”
Runners take off for the 5K and 10K run during Colton’s Main Street Run.
