Houston Marathon

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Houston Marathon
DateThird Sunday in January
LocationHouston, Texas, United States
Event typeRoad
DistanceMarathon, Half marathon, 5K run
Primary sponsorChevron (marathon)
Aramco (half marathon)
Established1972 (52 years ago) (1972)
Course recordsMarathon:
Men: 2:06:39 (2024)
Morocco Zouhair Talbi
Women: 2:19:12 (2022)
United States Keira D'Amato
Half Marathon:
Men: 59:22 (2012)
Ethiopia Feyisa Lilesa
Women: 1:05:03 (2022)
Kenya Vicoty Chepngeno
Official siteHouston Marathon
Participants~33,000 (all races) (2020)[1]
23,613 (2019)
Marathon runners in 2007
A shadow run of the half marathon, held at Forward Operating Base Ghazni in Afghanistan in 2011

The Houston Marathon is an annual marathon usually held every January in Houston, Texas, United States, since 1972. With thousands of runners and spectators, it is the largest single day sporting event in the city. It is run concurrently with a half marathon and a 5 km race. The 2007 race included the first-ever satellite running of the event, run simultaneously in Fallujah, Iraq.[2]

The races bring crowds of nearly one half million to view the runners.[3][clarification needed]

History[edit]

The first marathon, run on December 30, 1972, featured 113 runners and a crowd of approximately 200 people.[3] The course was a loop of 5 mi (8 km), and runners were served beef stew after the race.[3]

The 1979 edition of the competition hosted the national marathon championship race for men and women.[3] Houston was selected for the women's Olympic Trials in 1992 and held the USATF women's marathon championship in 1998.[3] The half marathon course hosted the USATF Men's Half Marathon Championship from 2005 to 2008, and also hosted the women's event in 2007 and 2008.[3][4] The 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials for both men and women were held the Saturday prior to the Sunday races.[citation needed]

George W. Bush ran in the Houston Marathon at age 46 in 1993, finishing with a time of 3 hours, 44 minutes, 52 seconds.[5]

The 2014 edition included a 5K event run on Saturday, January 18th and the marathon and half marathon run on Sunday, January 19th. The 5K event had close to 5,000 runners while the marathon and half marathon had nearly 13,000 runners each.[citation needed]

The 2021 in-person edition of the race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all registrants given the option of running the race virtually (and receiving a discount for the race in 2022), or transferring their entry to 2022 or 2023.[6] The virtual marathon was planned for January 2021.[7]

Course[edit]

External image
image icon Course map of full marathon in 2019[8]

The fast and flat course starts in the downtown area near Minute Maid Park and takes runners past scenic Houston areas and communities—including Houston Heights and Neartown, past Hermann Park and Rice University, over to Uptown, and then through Memorial Park and Allen Parkway, finishing at the George R. Brown Convention Center downtown. The course is USATF certified and is popular with runners seeking to qualify for the Boston Marathon. The race time limit is 6 hours and a limit of 27,000 entries is enforced, divided evenly between the full and half marathons.[9]

The course was changed for 2014. Changes included starting on Congress St. downtown, eliminating a section of the course through the Heights, and adding 2 miles along Kirby Dr.[10]

Community impact[edit]

The event supports many charities, including CanCare, Texas Children's Hospital, and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Sponsorship[edit]

The current corporate sponsor of the marathon is Chevron Corporation. Aramco sponsors the half marathon and Chevron and Aramco co-sponsor the 5K run.

Winners[edit]

Key:

   Course record
† = Time was a record mark for the state of Texas

Multiple Winners[edit]

For the men,  Bazu Worku (ETH),  David Cheruiyot (KEN) and  Stephen Ndungu (KEN) all won the marathon 3 times.

 Birhanu Gedefa (ETH),  Ron Tabb (USA) and  Clent Mericle (USA) won the marathon twice, a performance done by  Meb Keflezighi (USA) and  Feyisa Lilesa (ETH) on the half.


For the women,  Biruktayit Degefa (ETH),  Tatyana Pozdnyakova (UKR) and  Véronique Marot (ENG) all won the marathon 3 times.

 Teyba Erkesso (ETH),  Dire Tune (ETH),  Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR) and  Dorothy Doolittle (USA) won the marathon twice, a performance done by  Colleen De Reuck (USA) on the half.


 Mamitu Daska (ETH) is the only athlete who won both the marathon (2011) and the half-marathon (2013) in Houston.

Marathon[edit]

Holly Koester, winner of the 2007 marathon, approaching Mile 10
Paul Cummings after winning the marathon in 1986
Ed. Year Men's winner Time[a] Women's winner Time[a]
51 January 14, 2024  Zouhair Talbi (MAR) 2:06:36†  Rahma Tusa (ETH) 2:19:33
50 January 15, 2023  Dominic Ondoro (KEN) 2:10:36  Hitomi Niiya (JPN) 2:19:24
49 January 16, 2022  James Ngandu (KEN) 2:11:03  Keira D'Amato (USA) 2:19:12† NR
2021 cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic[6]
48 January 19, 2020  Kelkile Gezahegn (ETH) 2:08:36  Askale Merachi (ETH) 2:23:29
47 January 20, 2019  Albert Korir (KEN) 2:10:02  Biruktayit Degefa (ETH) 2:23:28
46 January 14, 2018  Bazu Worku (ETH) 2:08:30  Biruktayit Degefa (ETH) 2:24:51
45 January 15, 2017  Dominic Ondoro (KEN) 2:12:05  Meskerem Assefa (ETH) 2:30:18
44 January 17, 2016  Birhanu Gedefa[11] (ETH) 2:10:54  Biruktayit Degefa (ETH) 2:26:07
43 January 18, 2015  Birhanu Gedefa (ETH) 2:08:03  Yebrgual Melese (ETH) 2:23:23
42 January 19, 2014  Bazu Worku (ETH) 2:07:32  Abebech Afework (ETH) 2:25:52
41 January 13, 2013  Bazu Worku (ETH) 2:10:17  Merima Mohammed (ETH) 2:23:37
40 January 15, 2012  Tariku Jufar (ETH) 2:06:51  Alemitu Abera (ETH) 2:23:14†
39 January 30, 2011  Bekana Daba (ETH) 2:07:04†  Mamitu Daska (ETH) 2:26:33
38 January 18, 2010  Teshome Gelana (ETH) 2:07:37†  Teyba Erkesso (ETH) 2:23:53†
37 January 18, 2009  Deriba Merga (ETH) 2:07:52†  Teyba Erkesso (ETH) 2:24:15†
36 January 13, 2008  David Cheruiyot (KEN) 2:12:32  Dire Tune (ETH) 2:24:40
35 January 14, 2007  Feyisa Tusse (ETH) 2:11:39  Dire Tune (ETH) 2:26:52
34 January 15, 2006  David Cheruiyot (KEN) 2:12:02  Firiya Sultanova (RUS) 2:32:25
33 January 16, 2005  David Cheruiyot (KEN) 2:14:50  Kelly Keane (USA) 2:32:27
32 January 18, 2004  Marek Jaroszewski (POL) 2:18:51  Margarita Tapia (MEX) 2:28:36
31 January 19, 2003  Sean Wade (NZL) 2:24:43  Albina Gallyamova (RUS) 2:42:37
30 January 20, 2002  Drew Prisner (USA) 2:28:43  Becky Sondag (USA) 2:50:49
29 January 14 2001  Chris Ciamarra (USA) 2:29:27  Stacie Alboucrek (USA) 2:43:40
28 January 16, 2000  Stephen Ndungu (KEN) 2:11:28  Tatyana Pozdnyakova (UKR) 2:32:25
27 January 17, 1999  Stephen Ndungu (KEN) 2:14:56  Tatyana Pozdnyakova (UKR) 2:33:23
26 January 18, 1998  Stephen Ndungu (KEN) 2:11:23  Gwyn Coogan (USA) 2:33:37
25 January 12, 1997  Åke Eriksson (SWE) 2:19:21  Claudia Dreher (GER) 2:36:13
24 January 21, 1996  Tumo Turbo (ETH) 2:10:34  Adriana Fernández (MEX) 2:31:59
23 January 15, 1995  Peter Fonseca (CAN) 2:11:52  Tatyana Pozdnyakova (UKR) 2:29:57
22 January 16, 1994  Colin Moore (ENG) 2:13:34  Alevtina Naumova (RUS) 2:34:47
21 January 24, 1993  Frank Bjorkli (NOR) 2:13:21  Kristy Johnston (USA) 2:29:05
20 January 26, 1992  Filemon López (MEX) 2:13:12  Janis Klecker (USA) 2:30:12
19 January 20, 1991  Carey Nelson (CAN) 2:12:28  Véronique Marot (ENG) 2:30:55
18 January 14, 1990  Paul Pilkington (USA) 2:11:13  María Trujillo (USA) 2:32:55
17 January 15, 1989  Richard Kaitany (KEN) 2:10:04  Véronique Marot (ENG) 2:30:16
16 January 17, 1988  Geir Kvernmo (NOR) 2:11:44  Linda Zeman (USA) 2:34:52
15 January 18, 1987  Derrick May (RSA) 2:11:51  Bente Moe (NOR) 2:32:37
14 January 19, 1986  Paul Cummings (USA) 2:11:31  Véronique Marot (ENG) 2:31:33
13 January 6, 1985  Marty Froelick (USA) 2:11:14  Silvia Ruegger (CAN) 2:28:36
12 January 15, 1984  Charlie Spedding (ENG) 2:11:54  Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR) 2:27:51
11 January 16, 1983  Hailu Ebba (ETH) 2:12:17  Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR) 2:33:27
10 January 24, 1982  Benji Durden (USA) 2:11:12  Laurie Binder (USA) 2:40:56
9 January 10, 1981  Bill Rodgers (USA) 2:12:20  Patti Catalano (USA) 2:35:28
8 January 19, 1980  Ron Tabb (USA) 2:13:35  Vanessa Vajdos (USA) 2:44:45
7 January 20, 1979  Tom Antczak (USA) 2:15:28  Sue Petersen (USA) 2:46:17
6 January 21, 1978  Ron Tabb (USA) 2:17:11  Peggy Kokernot (USA) 3:01:54
5 January 22, 1977  Clent Mericle (USA) 2:27:46  Dorothy Doolittle (USA) 3:00:34
4 January 17, 1976  Jeff Wells (USA) 2:17:46  Marsha Johnson (USA) 3:37:04
3 January 18, 1975  Clent Mericle (USA) 2:35:00  Dorothy Doolittle (USA) 3:31:24
2 December 29, 1973  Juan Garza (USA) 2:37:47  Nancy Laird (USA) 4:29:07
1 December 30, 1972  Danny Green (USA) 2:32:33  Tanya Trantham (USA) 5:11:55

Half marathon[edit]

Meb Keflezighi, winner of the 2009 half marathon, on the race course
Year Men's winner Time[a] Women's winner Time[a]
2024  Jemal Mekonen (ETH) 1:00:42  Sutume Assefa (ETH) 1:04:37† [b]
2023  Leul Gebresilase (ETH) 1:00:34  Hiwot Gebremaryam (ETH) 1:06:28
2022  Milkesa Mengesha (ETH) 1:00:24  Vicoty Chepngeno (KEN) 1:05:03†
2021 cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic[6]
2020  Jemal Yimer (ETH) 59:25  Hitomi Niiya (JPN) 1:06:38
2019  Shura Kitata (ETH) 1:00:11  Brigid Kosgei (KEN) 1:05:50
2018  Jake Robertson (NZL) 1:00:01  Ruti Aga (ETH) 1:06:39
2017  Leonard Korir (USA) 1:01:14  Veronica Nyaruai (KEN) 1:07:58
2016  Lelisa Desisa (ETH) 1:00:37  Mary Wacera (KEN) 1:06:29
2015  Diego Estrada (USA) 1:00:51  Kim Conley (USA) 1:09:44
2014  Meb Keflezighi (USA) 1:01:23  Serena Burla (USA) 1:10:48
2013  Feyisa Lilesa (ETH) 1:01:54  Mamitu Daska (ETH) 1:09:53
2012  Feyisa Lilesa (ETH) 59:22  Belaynesh Oljira (ETH) 1:08:26
2011  Jeffrey Eggleston (USA) 1:08:26  Colleen De Reuck (USA) 1:16:19
2010  Antonio Vega (USA) 1:01:54  Shalane Flanagan (USA) 1:09:41
2009  Meb Keflezighi (USA) 1:01:25  Magdalena Lewy-Boulet (USA) 1:11:47
2008  James Carney (USA) 1:02:21  Kate O'Neill (USA) 1:11:57
2007  Ryan Hall (USA) 059:43  Elva Dryer (USA) 1:11:42
2006  Nicodemus Malakwen (KEN) 1:02:07  Asmae Leghzaoui (MAR) 1:11:53
2005  Julius Koskei (KEN) 1:03:17  Olga Romanova (RUS) 1:12:36
2004  Gilbert Koech (KEN) 1:03:08  Colleen De Reuck (USA) 1:10:55
2003  Scott Strand (USA) 1:05:13  Beth Old (USA) 1:17:03
2002  Justin Chaston (USA) 1:08:42  Christy Nielsen-Crotta (USA) 1:21:37

National Records[edit]

The current National Records were established during the Houston Marathon:

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d h:m:s
  2. ^ North American all-comers’ half marathon record

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Register for the 2021 Houston Marathon and watch the 2020 finish line below". 20 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Houston Marathon detours to Fallujah". Houston Chronicle. January 15, 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-28.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Our History". Houston Marathon. Archived from the original on 2007-02-09. Retrieved 2007-02-28.
  4. ^ "USATF - Events - 2008 USA Half Marathon Championships". Archived from the original on 2020-10-06.
  5. ^ "Stars Who've Run Marathons". That's fit. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
  6. ^ a b c "2021 Chevron Houston Marathon Event Update". 10 July 2020.
  7. ^ Ponder, Erica (October 5, 2020). "2021 Chevron Houston Marathon canceled because of coronavirus pandemic". Click2Houston.com. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  8. ^ "Course Info". Archived from the original on 2019-02-08.
  9. ^ "Chevron #HouMarathon Registration Info". Chevron Houston Marathon. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
  10. ^ "Houston Marathon changes course for 2014". 11 June 2013.
  11. ^ Birhanu Gedefa Declared 2016 Men’s Marathon Winner. Houston Marathon. Retrieved on 2017-05-25.
Lists of winners

External links[edit]

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