Thousands of runners took to the streets for the first-ever Phoenix Marathon on Saturday, making it a landmark event for the Arizona state capital. According to ABC15, the marathon drew more than 7,000 participants from all 50 states and over a dozen countries.
The marathon, which spanned over 26 miles from Deer Valley to Papago Park, also featured half-marathon and 10K races, with routes passing through notable Phoenix districts and finishing at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Phoenix City Council Member Kesha Hodge-Washington expressed optimism about the event's future, stating, "I think this will be the first of many, many more." Jake Heslington, with a time of two hours and 19 minutes, and Tiaree Towler, clocking in at two hours and 45 minutes, claimed victory in the full marathon for men and women, respectively.
In the 10K, Milo Greder impressed with a finish just under 30 minutes, and Caroline Garrett took the top spot for women in the half-marathon with a time of just over an hour and fifteen minutes. "It was a pretty sunrise this morning, great finish, great atmosphere," Greder told ABC15 after his win. Garrett expressed her excitement to AZFamily, saying, "I don’t think I’ve ever broken a tape before, so that was really exciting."
Spectators lined the routes to support the competitors, contributing to the vibrant atmosphere of the race day. "Watching thousands of runners fill the streets of Phoenix with community members cheering them along the way reminded us why we pursued bringing a city signature marathon to this amazing city," commented Brooksee CEO Phil Dumontet. The top three female marathon finishers are Tiaree Towler, Shanna Birchett, and Jessalyn Sadler, and for the men, Jake Heslington, JJ Santana, and Luke Francis led the pack, according to a list posted on the AZFamily.
The successful completion of the Phoenix Marathon has set a precedent for future races in the city, marking the beginning of what local leaders and organizers hope to be a new tradition in the community. For those interested in the full details of the event's results, the Phoenix Marathon's official site is the place to go.
