Anderson University alums unofficially break Guiness world record

ANDERSON — A quintet with ties to Anderson University recently earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Zach Burton, Kaid Hutchinson, David Lane, Ian Leatherman and David Stansbury unofficially broke the world record for “Fastest Half Marathon in a Five-Person Costume” during the IU Health 500 Festival Mini Marathon.

According to a press release from the 500 Festival, the team of five finished the 13.1-mile course in 1:25:50, beating the previous record by more than 23 minutes.

“It feels great,” Burton said. “The Indy Mini was a great venue and the course energy was unmatched.”

The group is waiting for Guinness World Records officials to certify the results.

Four of them are Anderson University graduates; Stansbury will graduate this weekend. He was brought in by Burton to replace Kaleb Gucinski, who was sidelined with an injury. Lane also stood in for Zachary Davenport.

“Two of the other members I competed with at Anderson University. They offered the opportunity,” Stansbury said. “I thought this would be a really cool first step into post-collegiate running opportunities.”

The 500 Festival race isn’t the group’s first world record. In September, Burton, along with Hutchinson, Davenport and Leatherman, set the record for the “Fastest Half Marathon in a Four-Person Costume” during the Geist Mini Marathon; their time was 1:29:16.

“We thought it would be fun to do it one more time,” Burton said. “The Indy mini being one of the biggest half marathons in the world, certainly one of the most prestigious in the United States, seemed like the perfect backdrop.”

Burton described the Geist mini record as being “anti-climactic,” saying it was exciting, but required a lot of post-run work.

“You do it, but then you have to send in the proof to find out you did it three months later,” he said. “Dressing in the costume and running is funny. It was a good time.”

Burton said he hopes verifying the record at the Indy mini will be more exciting. Their attempt coincided with the 50th annual Indianapolis run, which was founded in 1977.

The team’s journey is being filmed by AU film professor Jack Lugar and turned into a documentary.

Filming has been a time-intensive process for Lugar. One morning, he woke up 5:30 a.m. to follow the group on a training run. Footage from the race was filmed with 360-degree cameras attached to the runners and from camera operators stationed along the route.

Lugar hopes to have the documentary finished by the fall with a screening planned at AU.

Burton said the group does not have a celebration planned once the record is certified. Instead, he said, the group hopes to get some much-needed sleep.