Wikipedia

Houston Marathon

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]

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

History

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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

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External image
  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

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

Sponsorship

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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

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Key:

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

Marathon

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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

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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 Kebede (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

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The current National Records were established during the Houston Marathon:

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d h:m:s
  2. ^ Fastest women’s half marathon run in America

References

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  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
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