From start-line preparations to race-day support, 16 students gained a deeper understanding of the teamwork and coordination that drive a major sporting event.
Sixteen students in The Sport Experience program in Charlotte supported the largest Novant Health Charlotte Marathon in the race’s 21-year history, contributing more than 140 hours of professional event-operations work during the annual event’s race weekend.
More than 11,000 runners participated across the marathon, half marathon and 5K — an all-time high — and Elon students were embedded in nearly every aspect of race execution. The day before the event, three students supported the marathon expo and assisted with pre-race setup. Then, beginning at 4 a.m. on race day, students helped with start- and finish-line logistics, runner information services, medical tent coordination and the distribution of thousands of branded beanies to participants.
Among those deeply involved in race operations was Ramy Ghandour ’26, a sport management major who is interning with the Charlotte Marathon under Executive Director Alaina Williams. According to Young Do Kim, associate professor of sport management, Williams helped create the internship specifically for Elon and also facilitated this year’s race-weekend placement for The Sport Experience cohort.
“Alaina has provided an incredible pathway for our students – both through this hands-on event operations opportunity and through Ramy’s internship,” Kim said. “It’s the type of industry partnership that elevates our program and prepares students for professional success.”
Now in its third year, The Sport Experience in Charlotte continues to expand Elon’s footprint in one of the nation’s fastest-growing sports hubs. While studying in Charlotte, Elon students have interned at several organizations, including Fox Sports and the Atlantic Coast Conference, conducted site visits to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Team Penske, Bank of America Stadium, and the Spectrum Center, and attended sporting events to watch the Checkers, Knights, Panthers, Hornets, and Charlotte FC.
The marathon – which drew runners from all 50 states and 19 countries – saw Knoxville’s Carter Coughlin win the men’s division in 2:31:44 and Matthews native Jessica Sarnicola claim the women’s title in 3:01:48.
To learn more about The Sport Experience program and its opportunities to live, learn and intern in Charlotte, visit the program website.