Laurel Powers Real-Time Tracking and Race Storytelling for Nearly 15,000 Runners at the Eugene Marathon

May 7, 2026

AI-driven timing and fan engagement platform continues nationwide expansion, bringing real-time athlete tracking and checkpoints every half mile to one of the Pacific Northwest’s most celebrated running events

EUGENE, Ore. — May 7, 2026 /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Laurel, the AI-powered race timing, live tracking, and storytelling platform, today announced its successful deployment at the 2026 Eugene Marathon, further accelerating its nationwide expansion across premier endurance events in the United States.

The event welcomed over 14,500 registrants, making it one of the largest and most celebrated marathons in the Pacific Northwest. Laurel’s patent-pending timing technology delivered industry leading performance, reinforcing its position as a next generation timing and tracking platform.

At the core of Laurel’s innovation is its dense checkpoint network. At Eugene, 46 checkpoints were deployed across the course — spaced approximately every half mile — capturing runner data at intervals that unlock a new layer of visibility, storytelling, and engagement for both participants and spectators.

A New Standard for Race-Day Experience

The Eugene Marathon showcased Laurel’s ability to transform traditional race experiences into highly interactive, emotionally engaging events. Through the Laurel platform:

• Runners and their family and friends received real-time tracking updates throughout the course.
• Laurel’s live tracking platform reached 60,629 users following 63,291 athletes across 1,777 leaderboards delivering a live tracking reach of 5.53 fans per participant. Every runner received a personalized, data-rich Race Recap powered by Laurel Intelligence.

“The Eugene Marathon is exactly the kind of event that shows what’s possible when world-class race tradition meets next-generation technology,” said Phil Dumontet, CEO of Laurel Innovations. “With checkpoints every half mile, more than 60,000 live tracking users, and a personalized recap for every finisher, we’re redefining what race day means for runners, families, and the sport itself.”

A Strategic Milestone in Laurel’s Growth

Laurel’s presence at the Eugene Marathon represents a meaningful milestone as the platform continues scaling across the country. The company is on track to power more than 500 events nationwide in 2026, reflecting rapid adoption among leading race operators.

By combining high-frequency timing data with interactive storytelling features, Laurel is addressing a long-standing gap in the endurance industry turning races into immersive, spectator-friendly experiences.

“Partnering with Laurel allowed us to elevate our runner and spectator experience in ways we didn’t know were possible,” said Ian Dobson, Race Director of the Eugene Marathon. “Laurel’s ability to deploy across the entire course and reliably process data is what sets them apart. The data, the engagement, and the storytelling they bring perfectly reflect where our event is headed.”

Why This Matters

The endurance industry has long relied on decades-old timing infrastructure with limited engagement. Laurel’s model combining high-density data capture, AI-powered insights, and real-time interaction is redefining what a race can be:

• For runners: More feedback, motivation, and connection during and after the race including personalized race recaps powered by Laurel Intelligence, available for all finishers at results.laurelt.com
• For spectators: A richer, more interactive way to follow and support athletes
• For organizers: New opportunities for engagement, sponsorship, and storytelling

Events like the Eugene Marathon signal a broader shift toward data-driven, experience-first endurance events.

About Laurel

Laurel powers next-generation race timing, live tracking, and storytelling for the industry’s most forward-thinking endurance events. Trusted by over 500 races nationwide this year from fast-growing regional events to 30,000+ participant marquee events Laurel supports leading races including Bay to Breakers, Surf City Marathon, 2XU Long Beach Marathon, Boston 10K for Women, and many more.

With hundreds of checkpoints throughout the course delivering tracking updates as frequently as every quarter mile fully white-labeled, top-rated race apps, real-time athlete tracking, and rich performance analytics, Laurel transforms race day from a simple results service into a dynamic, data-driven storytelling platform. From broadcast-ready data feeds to safety visibility and post-race insights, Laurel equips organizers, sponsors, and athletes with the intelligence to elevate the entire endurance experience.

About Eugene Marathon

Established in 2007, the Eugene Marathon features a Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K and 1K kids’ run along with a Health & Wellness Expo. The event takes place annually on the last weekend in April. Runner’s World magazine named it a “Best of the Best” race multiple times. The Eugene Marathon is an LLC that not only brings an annual estimated economic impact of over $8 million to the local region but also works as a vehicle for philanthropic giving and fundraising for charities and youth groups – raising over $600,000 in 2026.

Photo Credit: Andy Nelson/Eugene Marathon

Media Contact:

Phil Dumontet

CEO, Laurel Innovations

phil@laurelt.com

Media Contact:

Becky Radliff
Eugene Marathon

becky@eugenemarathon.com