# 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.
The races bring crowds of nearly one half million to view the runners.

## History

The first marathon, run on December 30, 1972, featured 113 runners and a crowd of approximately 200 people. The course was a loop of 5 mi (8 km), and runners were served beef stew after the race.
The 1979 edition of the competition hosted the national marathon championship race for men and women. Houston was selected for the women's Olympic Trials in 1992 and held the USATF women's marathon championship in 1998. 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. The 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials for both men and women were held the Saturday prior to the Sunday races.
George W. Bush ran in the Houston Marathon at age 46 in 1993, finishing with a time of 3 hours, 44 minutes, 52 seconds.
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.
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. The virtual marathon was planned for January 2021.

## Course

The fast and flat course starts in the downtown area near Daikin 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.
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.

## Community impact

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

## Sponsorship

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

Key:
    Course record
    $^†$ = Time was a record mark for the state of Texas

### Marathon

| Ed. | Year | Men's winner | Time | Women's winner | Time |
| 52 | January 19, 2025 | Haimro Alame (ISR) | 2:08:17 | Kumeshi Sichala (ETH) | 2:20:42 |
| 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 | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic |
| 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 (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

| Year | Men's winner | Time | Women's winner | Time |
| 2025 | Addisu Gobena (ETH) | 59:17 | Senayet Getachew (ETH) | 1:06:05 |
| 2024 | Jemal Mekonen (ETH) | 1:00:42 | Sutume Kebede (ETH) | 1:04:37$^†$ |
| 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 | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic |
| 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

The current National Records were established during the Houston Marathon:
* Men Marathon
** 1995: Borislav Devic (SRB) 2:13:57
* Women Marathon
** 1996: Galina Goranova (BUL) 2:35:02
** 2007: Melissa Henderson (BLZ) 3:05:13
** 2019: Tania Chavez Moser (BOL) 2:43:24
** 2020: Malindi Elmore (CAN) 2:24:50
** 2022: Keira D'Amato (USA) 2:19:12
* Women 30km
** 2019: Tania Chavez Moser (BOL) 1:55:48
** 2020: Malindi Elmore (CAN) 1:42:53
* Women 25km
** 2018: Hiruni Wijayaratne (SRI) 1:32:53
** 2019: Tania Chavez Moser (BOL) 1:37:01
** 2020: Malindi Elmore (CAN) 1:25:48
* Men Half-Marathon
** 2019: Soh Rui Yong (SIN) 1:06:46
** 2020: Gabriel Geay (TAN) 59:42
** 2022: Rory Linkletter (CAN) 1:01:08
** 2022: Alberto Gonzalez Mindez (GUA) 1:01:20
** 2022: Mohamed Hrezi (LBN) 1:02:08
** 2025: Conner Mantz (USA) 59:17
* Women Half-Marathon
** 2014 Jane Vongvorachoti (THA) 1:15:24
** 2018 Molly Huddle (USA) 1:07:25
** 2020 Hitomi Niiya (JPN) 1:06:38
** 2022 Sara Hall (USA) 1:07:15
** 2023 Emily Sisson (USA) 1:06:52
* Men 20km
** 2019: Soh Rui Yong (SIN) 1:03:23
** 2022: Rory Linkletter (CAN) 58:05
** 2022: Alberto Gonzalez Mindez (GUA) 58:05
** 2022: Mohamed Hrezi (LBN) 59:01
* Women 20km
** 2018 Molly Huddle (USA) 1:03:48
** 2020 Hitomi Niiya (JPN) 1:03:13
* Women 10miles
** 2018 Molly Huddle (USA) 50:52
* Men 15km
** 2022: Alberto Gonzalez Mindez (GUA) 43:21
** 2022: Rory Linkletter (CAN) 43:23
* Men 10km
** 2022: Alberto Gonzalez Mindez (GUA) 29:04
* Men 5km
** 2022: Alberto Gonzalez Mindez (GUA) 14:41
** 2022: Mohamed Hrezi (LBN) 14:50