Article 

(c) 2024 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Reposted with permission NEW HAVEN (02-Sep) -- On a beautiful late summer day here in the Elm City, Hillary Bor (Hoka One One) and Keira D'Amato (Nike) scored convincing victories at the Faxon Law New Haven Road race which hosted the USATF 20K Championships.  Bor, an Olympic steeplechaser, ran away from the field and won in a championships record 58:09.  D'Amato, the former national record holder for the marathon, won in a more tactical effort, clocking 1:06:25, well off of her course and championships record of 1:04:29 set in 2022.  Both athletes won $9,000 in prize money. BOR IN A TIME TRIAL Bor, 34, who lives and trains in Colorado Springs, took a clinical approach to today's race.  Right from the gun he could be seen checking his watch frequently even after splitting a snappy 23:02 for the first five miles and 28:41 for 10K, about 18 seconds ahead of the chase pack.  He had a plan. "I wanted to test my fitness," Bor told reporters after the race.  "I got accepted for Valencia Half-Marathon (October 27) and I know it's going to be really fast."  He continued: "For me to go run the American record in Valencia Half (sub-59:47), also for me to run 59:30, I knew I needed to run at least 57-something in this course.  That was the plan." Bor took the lead in the first mile and recorded a 4:31 split.  That was a little faster than he wanted. "I just wanted to maintain about 4:35," he said. Bor only had Kirubel Erassa for company in the first two miles, but by the three-mile mark (13:48) Erassa had to back off (he would later drop out).  From there Bor just ran by time, cheered on at various points by handfuls of fans gathered on the course. When he went into East Rock Park in the tenth mile he began to tire, despite hitting a fast split of 46:44. "There was a lot of hills and I just got a little bit tired at the end," Bor lamented. For the final 2.4 miles to the finish, Bor backed off his pace and was able to enjoy the cheers from the crowd which he acknowledged with friendly waves.  His time of 58:09 surpassed Matt Tegenkamp's 2012 championships record of 58:30 (also set in New Haven), but did not approach Khalid Khannouchi's 1998 event record of 57:37.  In all, Bor was pleased with his race. "I'm excited, I'm excited," he said.  "I have a 10K to test my speed in two weeks then Valencia." Behind Bor the four-man chase pack of Nathan Martin, Biya Simbassa, Aidan Reed and Sam Chelanga hung together until about the final mile when the sprinting began.  Martin, who had led the chase pack most of the race, got second in 58:26, three seconds ahead of Simbassa.  Reed ran 58:31 and Chelanga clocked 58:39. "The game plan was, hey, if I have a shot to win just to go for it," Martin told Race Results Weekly.  "Hillary kind of took it out really strong (so) I wanted to be conservative and not make moves that would cost me later in the race."  He continued: "Overall, a fantastic race.  Really happy with it." D'AMATO COMES DOWN FROM ALTITUDE D'Amato, 39, came to New Haven after her first-ever training stint at high altitude in Park City, Utah, under Brigham Young University coach Ed Eyestone.  She incorporated today's race into her build-up for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 13, and decided to run a more moderate pace than when she set the course and championships record of 1:04:29 here in 2022. "I tried to stay relaxed through half, and then squeeze it down a little bit," D'Amato explained to reporters.  "I was really fortunate to have a very strong group of ladies to pull through." At the 10-K mark (33:20) Annie Frisbie led D'Amato, Jess McClain, Savannah Berry and Mary Grace Hurley.  By nine miles (48:21) D'Amato began to pull away. "I was feeling really strong so when I got to the top of the hill (just before the 10-mile mark), knowing all the tangents through I figured I could pick up some speed and hopefully put on a little gap, and just hold strong for the rest." Indeed, she did.  D'Amato finished 25 seconds clear of McClain (1:06:50), with Berry (1:07:03), Frisbie (1:07:19) and Hurley (1:07:29) making up the rest of the top-five.  D'Amato got emotional when she said how important this race was for her especially after failing to finish the USA Olympic Trials Marathon back in February. "This has been a year for me," said D'Amato.  "I've had a lot of lows, some changes, and I'm just so pumped to have a really strong, hard effort today.  I feel like I'm moving in the right direction." Coach Eyestone agreed. "Obviously, this is just kind of a checkpoint in the build (for Chicago)," Eyestone told Race Results Weekly.  "You come into this with some pretty heavy mileage.  I think this was good.  She said that she felt strong."  He continued: "Coaches like it when it's not close at the end." In all, 533 athletes finished the 20K while another 1142 finished the companion half-marathon, and 2459 finished the 5K. PHOTO: Hillary Bor wins the 2024 USATF 20-K Championships at the Faxon Law New Haven Road Race (photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)

Following the release of a new Running USA industry insights report that shows significant growth for many running events in the first half of 2024, the organization held a webinar with four race production professionals to learn first-hand what they have experienced at their events. The report (free to download for all active Running USA members) shows significant growth in race participation across various race distances. The growth ranges from 12.5% to 26%, with marathon finishers up by 26%. Individual races and race weekends (comprising multiple race distances) saw substantial increases, particularly 5Ks (19%), 10Ks (20%), half marathons (15.5%), and marathons (26%). These numbers are derived from finisher data through Athlinks, excluding no-shows. Moderated by Running USA Executive Director Jay Holder, the participating panelists were: ● Dan Lakin, Sr. Event Operations Manager and Race Director, Ventures Endurance (Louisville Triple Crown of Running) ● Becky Radliff, Director of Marketing and Events, Eugene Marathon ● Ashlee Snider, Director of Marketing, Metropolitan Richmond Sports Backers (Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K) ● Mike Wattigny, Marketing & Creative Director, FRESHJUNKIE Racing (Louisiana Marathon) Read on for more insights from the virtual session and watch the recording in its entirety here. Meet the featured events The Eugene Marathon experienced a 31% growth in participation across its half marathon and marathon distances (2023-2024). Becky Radliff attributes this to strong community engagement and successful virtual races during COVID. The Louisville Triple Crown of Running reported a 28% total growth, with their 5K and 10K races seeing 31% increases and the 15K achieving a 25% increase. The Louisiana Marathon saw a 28% growth in finishers. Mike Wattigny noted that industry-wide inertia, combined with the closure of other races, contributed to their leadership position in the region. The Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K in Richmond had 23% growth, with finishers increasing from 15,200 in 2023 to 18,732 in 2024. Ashlee Snider explained their focus on community and celebration to maintain engagement post-pandemic. Post-pandemic return to racing and runner re-engagement All of the speakers discussed the challenges and strategies of restoring participation after the pandemic. Becky Radliff (Eugene Marathon) mentioned their focus on a virtual race experience in 2021, which helped retain runners. Ashlee Sneder (Ukrop’s 10K) emphasized the importance of community and celebration to re-engage participants after a three-year hiatus. Mike Wattigny highlighted several strategies FRESHJUNKIE has employed to connect with their audience post-pandemic. One key tactic was the launch of an ambassador program, which gained traction in response to decreasing returns from digital marketing efforts. By putting out a call to their runner database, they received over 100 applicants, resulting in a selection of "micro-influencers" who actively participated in local running clubs and events. The success of this program encouraged them to expand the ambassador team for the upcoming season, further enhancing community engagement. Wattigny discussed compensating ambassadors with race entries, gear, and VIP access, tailoring incentives to encourage long-term commitment and participation. He acknowledged that while the ambassador program has yielded positive results, there is a learning curve in guiding influencers to maximize their social media impact. He plans to strengthen their communication and coaching efforts to drive even greater returns from their ambassadors in the future. Dan Lakin talked about the importance of rebuilding trust within the running community after the challenges of the pandemic. His team took a hands-on approach, meeting with running clubs, reading past event surveys, and engaging with their community to better understand and cater to their needs. They also developed VIP programs and experiential enhancements, such as food and music, to elevate the participant experience and ensure future growth. Curating a memorable event that generates a fear of missing out Becky Radliff echoed similar sentiments on participant experience, stressing the importance of focusing on every interaction—from social media engagement to race day execution. Her team invested heavily in documenting race weekend through video and photography to boost organic reach, especially on Instagram Reels. She attributed much of the race's recent growth to these visuals and their consistent engagement on social media. Wattigny agreed, saying that video, particularly vertical video on platforms like TikTok, plays a crucial role in showcasing the event's experience, helping to expand their reach beyond local participants. Demographic trends reflected in participation increases Snider (Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K): Demographics are skewing younger, with growth in the 18-29 age range (+4 percentage points from 2022 to 2024). Racial diversity is increasing as well, with rises in Black (+2%) and Hispanic participants, while White participants decreased (-3.5%). Lakin (speaking about Chicago events): Similar trends, with growth in younger, more diverse groups due to partnerships with community groups like Black Girls Run and Latinas Run. Wattigny: Marathon events seeing a slight increase in younger participants. The growth of female runners (60-65% in half marathons) and the importance of grassroots connections are emphasized. Both Lakin and Snider noted that marketing efforts for shorter races like 5Ks and 10Ks tend to be more localized, targeting nearby runners and drive markets, while longer races, like half-marathons and marathons, tend to attract participants from farther afield. Snider mentioned that the Richmond 10K has benefited from outreach to local run clubs and attending expos in nearby cities, boosting awareness without heavy investment in paid advertising. Marketing and budgeting strategies Lakin: 8-10% of revenue goes toward marketing, with a $4-5 acquisition cost per participant for shorter distances. Wattigny: Higher acquisition costs (~$10) for marathons, shifting back to grassroots tactics and reducing reliance on digital marketing due to changes in algorithms. Forecasting growth was challenging. Radliff and Lakin discussed making real-time adjustments to procurement based on race growth, such as medals and participant caps. Post-race and spectator experience Snider: Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K is branded as Richmond's biggest block party, focusing on engaging spectators and volunteers to create a festive atmosphere. Radliff: Post-race experiences for participants at Hayward Field are enhanced by opening the stadium for participants to relax, enjoy hot pancakes, beer, and watch the race. Paid VIP post-race experiences were common across all events, offering exclusive access to food, drinks, and comfortable seating. ** Looking for more insights? Watch the full recording and stay tuned for the release of the 2024 Global Runner Survey from Running USA.

Editor's note: The 2025 Emerging Leaders program is currently accepting applications. You can apply here. At the 2024 Running USA Industry Conference in Orlando, one of the most compelling newcomer stories came from Chef Yaku Moton-Spruill of Northern California. Chef Yaku found himself right in the heart of the running community, amidst like-minded industry professionals in a way he had never encountered before. As a member of the 2024 Emerging Leaders program, Chef Yaku's presence and insights offered a fresh perspective on the intersection of food and running. Hear him talk about his experience in a recent interview. A Culinary Journey into Running Chef Yaku’s journey into the running industry began with an unusual request. Originally a professional chef with a degree from culinary school in San Francisco and experiences on cooking reality TV shows to his credit, Yaku's entry into the running scene was serendipitous. His business partner was seeking a caterer for a grueling 24-hour trail event. Despite the daunting nature of the event, Yaku agreed to take on the challenge. "I remember thinking, 'What am I getting into?' but I wanted to carve out a new niche for myself," Chef Yaku recalled. The experience was eye-opening. He was astounded by the passion of the runners who, despite enduring extreme physical challenges, returned from the trails covered in mud and smiles. As Yaku observed and engaged with the running community, he found himself drawn to the camaraderie and spirit of the sport, especially its ability to bond complete strangers as newfound friends. Although he was initially skeptical about running itself, the community’s warmth and the shared experiences left a lasting impression on him. The Impact of the 2024 Conference Though he initially wasn’t sure what to expect, attending the 2024 Industry Conference influenced Chef Yaku in many ways. The conference provided him with a platform to share his unique perspective on how culinary expertise can improve and elevate events. His breakout session was a hit, drawing a standing room only crowd who were eager to learn how to elevate food offerings at running events. "The conference was incredible," Yaku said. "Being surrounded by like-minded individuals who share a passion for running, regardless of their background, was deeply inspiring. We were all runners first, and that common ground made it easy to connect." For Chef Yaku, the most valuable aspect of the conference was the sense of community and the exchange of ideas. He appreciated how the race directors and other industry professionals in attendance, regardless of their experience level, supported each other and shared insights openly. Advice for Future Emerging Leaders When asked if he would recommend the Emerging Leaders program to others, Chef Yaku's response was enthusiastic. "Absolutely, do it without hesitation. The program offers incredible opportunities to learn and grow, whether you’re a novice or experienced in the field." He emphasized the importance of approaching the conference with an open mind and a willingness to absorb new information. For him, the experience was transformative, helping him to expand his horizons beyond the culinary world. The conference not only offered Chef Yaku professional growth but also fostered lasting connections. He has continued to engage with many of the people he met, collaborating on events and projects across the country. "I’m excited about the opportunities that have come from this conference," Chef Yaku shared. "From catering for trail series in Utah to helping out with marathons, it’s been a fantastic journey. The connections I’ve made have opened new doors for me." Chef Yaku Moton-Spruill’s experience at the 2024 Running USA Industry Conference is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary engagement. His journey from the kitchen to the running world illustrates how passion and expertise can intersect to create meaningful impact. For anyone attending future conferences, Chef Yaku’s advice is clear: be a sponge, absorb everything, and embrace the sense of community. The Running USA conference is not just an event but a vibrant ecosystem where runners and professionals alike can come together, share knowledge, and inspire each other.  

(c) 2024 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Reprinted with permission. (11-Aug): The athletics program at the 2024 Olympics concluded in spectacular fashion on Sunday, with Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands winning the women’s marathon in a sprint finish to take her third medal at the Paris Games. World record holder Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia crossed the line three seconds behind, and Kenya's Hellen Obiri completed the podium. Hassan became the only woman in history to win medals in the 5000m (bronze), 10,000m (bronze) and marathon (gold) in the same Olympic Games. As with the men's race on Saturday, the women were cautious in the early going, acutely aware that several brutal hills awaited them mid-race, as well as a temperature that would be steadily rising from the 66F/19C at the start.  There was no cloud cover and the course has little shade. The field of 91 athletes set off from Hôtel de Ville (the Paris city hall), but the first casualty would come quickly. U.S. Olympic Trials champion Fiona O'Keeffe, who was running awkwardly from the start, dropped out before the 5-K mark. She would be among 11 athletes who did not finish the race. A crowded lead pack went through 5K in 17:24, and then picked up the pace slightly to hit 10-K in 34:32. By 15K (51:12) there were 14 women up front, including defending Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya, Assefa (who set the world record of 2:11:23 at the 2023 Berlin Marathon), Obiri (a two-time Olympic silver medalist in the 5000 meters and a world champion in indoor and outdoor track and cross country) and France's Melody Julien, who remained at or near the lead through most of the first half. The initial hilly portion of the course, which began at 15K, slowed the pace significantly, allowing several women to catch up to the leaders, including Dakotah Lindwurm of the U.S. and Japan's Yuka Suzuki.  Suzuki, 24, the Japanese Olympic trials winner last October, hoped to break Japan's 20 medal drought in the Olympic Marathon. By halfway (1:13:22) there were 20 women in contact, and moments later Lindwurm made a bold move to the front, leading the race at the turnaround point at Versailles. "I looked up and said, 'God, you're crazy.' I can't believe he put me in that position," Lindwurm told NBC Sports' sideline reporter Steve Porino just after the race. "I've got so many people back in Minnesota watching me, that I could almost feel Minnesota watching me.  It was an honor to be around those women." The decisive racing took shape during the relentless 600-meter stretch of hills after 28K, which rose at a 10.5% grade. Assefa, fellow Ethiopian Amane Beriso Shankule, Kenya's Sharon Lokedi, Jepchirchir and Suzuki separated from the field. Obiri briefly fell back but soon regained contact. After cresting the hill at 30K (1:43:59), nine women were back in contention on a harrowing downhill section, including Hassan, Suzuki, Bahrain's Eunice Chumba and Romania's Delvine Meringor. The pace quickened and by 35-K (1:59:43) the leaders had recorded their fastest 5K split of the day (15:44). Soon Chumba, Meringor and Jepchirchir started to lose contact, followed by Suzuki (the Japanese medal drought would continue). Approaching the Eiffel Tower in the 39th kilometer five contenders remained --Assefa, Beriso Shankule, Obiri, Lokedi and Hassan-- who strategically remained at the back of the group at all times. Those five were still together at 40K (2:16:09), but a kilometer later Beriso Shankule fell behind, followed by Lokedi. Assefa and Obiri ran stride for stride, with Hassan right on their heels. Finally, with less than 400 meters to go, Assefa sprinted to the front. Hassan quickly responded, but Obiri (who said she missed two water stations earlier in the race and even stopped briefly to throw up) could not match the increased tempo. As Assefa and Hassan rounded the final curve heading onto the bright blue carpet at the Esplanade des Invalides, they briefly tangled. (Though the contact seemed incidental, the Ethiopian federation filed a request to have Hassan disqualified; it was rejected by the jury of appeal.) Hassan maintained her poise, surged ahead, but continued to look back even as it was clear Assefa could not match her kick. "At the end I thought, 'This is just a 100m sprint. Come on, Sifan. One more,'" she said. The indefatigable Dutchwoman hit the tape in 2:22:55, breaking the Olympic record set by Ethiopia's Tiki Gelana 12 years ago in London (2:23:07). Assefa finished in 2:22:58 for the silver medal, while Obiri (2:23:10) took the bronze, just ahead of Lokedi (2:23:14). Beriso Shankule (2:23:57), Suzuki (2:24:02) and Meringor (2:24:56) followed, while Jepchirchir (2:26:51) faded to 15th. Lindwurm (2:26:44) was the top American, in 12th place, while countrywoman Emily Sisson (2:29:53) finished 23rd. "I'm happy to be here for sure," Lindwurm told Race Results Weekly. "It was super-fun. I was trying to black out as much as possible, do as little thinking as possible. But I was also trying to soak in some moments. It was so cool, the entire way I feel like I was hearing, 'USA, USA.'" This was the sixth Olympic medal of Hassan's career. Three years ago in Tokyo she won gold in the 5000 and 10,000 meters, along with a bronze in the 1500. She tackled an even more ambitious schedule in Paris, covering more than 62 kilometers/38 miles over 10 days, taking bronzes in both the 5000 on August 5 and the 10,000 on August 9, a day and a half before the marathon. "Every moment in the race I was regretting that I ran the 5000 and 10,000," the 31-year-old Hassan admitted. "I was telling myself if I hadn't done that, I would feel great today. From the beginning to the end, it was so hard." She said that she didn't feel comfortable until after the 20K mark. "Then I knew I wanted gold," she said. "But everybody else was fresh and all I was thinking was, 'When are they going to break? They're going to go hard, they're going to go hard.'" Hassan has established herself as the most versatile runner of her generation, with personal bests ranging from 1:56.81 in the 800 meters to 2:13:44 in the marathon, her winning time in Chicago last fall. She has held world records in the mile and 10,000 meters and won a world title in the 1500. Still, this was a humbling moment. "I have so many emotions," she said. "Every step I challenged myself, and now I am so grateful I didn't push myself too much on the track. I was scared of this race. I am Olympic champion. What can I say?" PHOTO: Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands winning the 2024 Women's Olympic Marathon in Paris in a Games record of 2:22:55 (photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)

(c) 2024 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Reprinted with permission. (10-Aug) -- When the Paris Olympic marathon course was unveiled two years ago, it was touted as "a challenge without precedent" due to a series of ominously steep hills. Tamirat Tola was up to the challenge. Named to Ethiopia’s team just two weeks ago as a replacement for Boston Marathon winner Sisay Lemma, the 32-year-old Tola made a bold move over a stretch of brutal hills in the second half to run away from the field and take the gold medal, breaking the Olympic record in the process. Behind him, silver medalist Belgium's Bashir Abdi ran onto the podium for the second straight Olympics, while Kenya's Benson Kipruto took the bronze. The race began — with 81 starters from 42 countries — at Hôtel de Ville, Paris's city hall, with bright sun and temperatures at 62F/17C, but soon to climb. The course rolled through and past some of the city's most iconic landmarks and not long after cutting through the grounds of the Musée du Louvre, the pack hit the 5K in a cautious 15:40, the runners no doubt wary of the challenges to come. Americans Conner Mantz and Clayton Young were near the front of a large group that passed 10-K in 30:59. Italy's Eyob Faniel then began a solo breakaway that would give him a 23-second lead at 15-K (45:38) right before the race's biggest hills. Two-time defending gold medalist Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya soon lost contact and appeared in discomfort, later revealing he experienced back pain. He would ultimately drop out after 30K. "The hills didn't affect me at all," the 39-year-old Kipchoge said. "The pain made me stop." Up front, at 20-K Faniel's lead was down to 11 seconds (1:01:32), with Tola leading the pursuit up the course's first big hill. He and Mantz caught the Italian by 21K and the trio plunged downhill through the halfway point in 1:04:51, though Faniel was beginning to fade. (He would finish 43rd, in 2:12:50.) Eight men were together at the turnaround point at the Palace of Versailles at 23K: Tola, Abdi, Kipruto, Mantz, Tanzania's Alphonse Simbu, Japan's Akira Akasaki, South Africa's Elroy Gelant, and Ethiopia's Deresa Geleta. But with the course's ultra-steep hill from 28 to 29 km approaching, the pace softened just enough to allow the lead pack to grow to 15, including Young. "I was frustrated to hear another athlete catch up to the pack, but so excited when it was Clayton," Mantz later wrote on Instagram. "Keep your friends close." The decisive move came up that hill where the course rises at a 10.5% grade. Tola, winner of last year's TCS New York City Marathon and the 2022 World Championships Marathon, surged to a lead he would not surrender. By the time he reached the top at 30K (1:31:12) his lead was 11 seconds, with Great Britain’s Emile Cairess in second place. "My intention was just to keep up with the people who were pushing on ahead, but when I caught them I decided to go on alone," Tola said. "I had difficulties on the hilly section, so I was afraid at that point." Tola ripped a 14:02 split over the next 5K segment, thanks to a sharp downhill, and at 35K (1:45:14) his lead was up to 18 seconds. With the Eiffel Tower in sight, Geleta, Abdi and Kipruto pulled away from Akasaki, setting up a three-man battle for the last two podium spots. Up ahead, Tola periodically looked behind, but showed no signs of slowing. At 40-K (2:00:02) his lead was 22 seconds over Abdi, who began to pull away from Kipruto, while Geleta fell back.  Despite the hills, Tola was on Olympic record pace, an incredible feat considering the difficulty of the course. Tola finally acknowledged the boisterous crowd support with about 200 meters to go, briefly waving his arms in celebration before crossing the finish line at Esplanade des Invalides in 2:06:26. That cut six seconds from the previous Olympic record, set in 2008 by the late Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya (on a much flatter route). Tola earned his second career Olympic medal after taking the bronze in the 10,000 meters in Rio in 2016. "I am happy today because I fulfilled my goal. I prepared well. I trained hard so I could win," said Tola. "In my life, this is my great achievement." This marks the fifth time an Ethiopian has won the Olympic marathon, and the first since 2000, when Gezahegne Abera took the gold at the Sydney Games. Abdi, 35, crossed in 2:06:47, upgrading from the bronze he won three years ago in Sapporo, Japan. "This is the hardest marathon course I've ever run," he said. "I expected going uphill would be most challenging, but I found going downhill most difficult. It was very steep and you don't have control of your body. That was very scary, especially after 29-K, we had almost 2-K of running downhill and it was just going more down and down, and I was really afraid of falling." Kipruto, who won March's Tokyo Marathon in 2:02:16 (currently the fastest time in the world this year), took the bronze in 2:07:00. "The course was tough but I'm happy with the result I posted," said the 33-year-old Kenyan, who finished on the podium at the Boston and Chicago Marathons in 2022 and 2023, including a Chicago win two years ago. "I trained with the mind first before going to the legs and the heart. Running uphill and downhill was not easy." Cairess (2:07:29) moved up from sixth at 40-K to finish fourth, followed by Geleta (2:07:31), Akasaki (2:07:32 PR) and Lesotho's Tebello Ramakongoana (2:07:58 national record). Mantz took eighth in 2:08:12, followed by training partner Young (2:08:44), who joyously soaked in the experience over the final stretch and then lingered at the finish line to congratulate the athletes coming in behind him. "Thank you to everyone who cheered both @_clayton_young_ and I on today (both near and far)," Mantz wrote in his Instagram post. "We've both had an insane amount of support from family, friends, and fans during this time." Leonard Korir (2:18:45), the third American in the race, was out of contention early and finished 63rd. Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bekele, 42, a four-time gold medalist on the track, finished 39th in 2:12:24 in his first Olympic appearance since 2012. The Netherlands' Abdi Nageeye, silver medalist at the the Tokyo Games, and Kipchoge were among 10 competitors who did not finish. "I don’t know what my future will hold," said the always thoughtful Kipchoge, who is less than a year removed from his last marathon win, in Berlin last September. "I will think about it over the next three months. I still want to try to run some marathons." PHOTO: Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia wins the 2024 Men's Olympic Marathon in Paris in an Olympic record 2:06:26 (photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)