Toledo, Ohio – February 6, 2026 – The 2028 US Olympic Marathon Trials are two years out, but the preparation to qualify begins now for many athletes. The 2026 Mercy Health Glass City Marathon Elite Field is proud to showcase regional and international athletes chasing their marathon racing goals. For many of the US athletes, that means qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Trials, while all are chasing their personal bests. The field is comprised of past participants, champions, course record holders, and those aiming to set new course records.
The vision has been a long time coming. Race director Clint McCormick has been working to showcase the strong running community and natural speed of Toledo’s course for some time. Commonly recognized as a top Boston-Qualifer event for age group athletes, it was the collaboration and execution with the new Elite Field Coordinator Liz Burchfield that this became possible. Along with elite only fluid stations, a close partnership with staff from the Detroit Free Press Marathon, and a live tv broadcast by BCSN, athletes are now provided opportunities to better their efforts and truly chase their dreams.
“Clint provided the connection and opportunity to provide support to these athletes in helping them achieve performances that lead to them running their best times or chasing the qualification for the US Olympic Trials,” says Elite Field Coordinator Liz Burchfield, “We have high performing participants of all age levels including a strong group in the masters division. Some runners ran throughout their high school and collegiate careers and others did not discover running until later. All of them are competing as top overall finishers and we are proud to support that pursuit.”
It’s for reasons like these that Mercy Health has been the title sponsor of this event for over a decade now. Through this event, the Mercy Health Sports Medicine team continues to develop best practices for Event Medicine and run specific physical therapy.
“Supporting the elite runners who take on this course each year is an extension of our commitment to help every person reach their highest potential,” said Bob Baxter, president, Mercy Health – Toledo and an avid marathon runner. “Our 11-year partnership with the Toledo Road Runners in support of the Mercy Health Glass City Marathon reflects our deep commitment to advancing athletic performance, safety and recovery. “The same sports medicine and physical therapy skill we provide on race day with top‑tier runners is the same expertise we bring to every runner on the racecourse and in our community.”
The Mercy Health Glass City Marathon takes place on Sunday April 26th, 2026 starting at University Toledo. The 2026 Mercy Health Glass City Marathon is a USA Track & Field Sanctioned event which makes it eligible as a 2028 USA Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifying course.
Top athletes in the field include:
Men’s Elite Field
Zachary Ornelas – a University of Michigan alum and two time Olympic Trials Qualifier. Ornelas has won two USATF 50k National Champions and represented Team USA Trail/Ultra World Championships 5 times. He aims to break the 2025 course record set by Adam Beucler.
Kevin Kirk – Seeking qualification for the Olympic Trials. Spouse Billie Kirk is also racing the Owens Corning Half Marathon in the elite field.
John Burchfield – Local runner and broadcast Meteorologist hoping to be this year’s breakout being coached by Dave’s Training Director, a 2000 US Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier himself, Bob Masters.
Ben Hardy – Our current 4th seed from Michigan working towards qualification for the 2028 Olympic Trials.
Derek Miller – The 2023 runner up in the 2023 Mercy Health Glass City Marathon.
Devin Allbaugh – Iowa based runner and NCAA Division II All American Miler. Allbaugh is looking for a personal best and win in the marathon. Owns a run specialty store in Davenport, Iowa.
Evan Gaynor – multi-year champion in both the marathon and half marathon in Toledo. Top Ohio finisher in the 2016 & 2020 USA Olympic Marathon Trials.
Women’s Elite Field
Andrea Pomaranski – Masters American record holder in the road mile and 50k. Silver Medalist in the World 50k. 3 times Olympic Trials Qualifier and participant.
Alsu Lenneman – 4x All American at Eastern Michigan University, who also comes to the field with a 2:40:15 seed time, her lifetime best.
Ann Centner – Aiming for the Olympic Trials Qualifying time for the Women’s Marathon.
Rachael Gallap – Also chasing the US Olympic Trials Qualifying Standard. Based out of and trains in Kalamazoo, MI.
Andie Cozzarelli – 2016 Trials Qualifier and ready to chase the 2028 OTQ Standard.
Cassandra Klingler – Four time NCAA Division III All American who is chasing the 2028 OTQ.
Kathleen Lawrence – 2024 Mercy Health Glass City Marathon Women’s Champion and set the Women’s Masters Course Record in 2025. Coached by Canadian Marathon Record Holder and Olympian Natasha Wodak.
Hidi Gaff – Set the course record for the Owens Corning Women’s Masters Half Marathon in 2023.
The 2026 Mercy Health Glass City Marathon Elite field is full. For inquiries on the field or to be placed on the waitlist contact elite@glasscitymarathon.org. The entire 2026 Owens Corning Half Marathon Elite Field will be announced at the end of the month.
Current top athletes in the field half marathon field include:
Men’s Elite Field
Cristobal Gutierrez – Columbus based elite runner, craft beer aficionado and host of Beers and Miles Podcast.
Derek Stone – 2024 Mercy Health Glass City Marathon Champion.
Ryan Corby – 2021 Mercy Health Glass City Marathon Champion, Set the Glass City Marathon Masters Course Record in 2023.
Women’s Elite Field
Billie Kirk – 2024 US Olympic Marathon Trials Finisher.
Julia Pleskaczynska – Michigan based runner, ran for Boise State and Eastern Michigan University. Currently running for Dave’s Racing Team.
Morgan Coulter – 2025 Bayshore Marathon Overall Women’s Champion.
Applicants are still being accepted for the 2026 Owens Corning Half Marathon Elite Field and can apply at https://glasscitymarathon.org.
Men’s Mercy Health Glass City Marathon Elite Field
*Athletes times are lifetime bests or submitted seed times
Kevin Kirk Ogden, Utah
Full: 2:16:33 Half: 1:00:21 (downhill) 1:05:41 (half)
Zachary Ornelas Ann Arbor, MI
1:05:38 Half 2:16:01 Marathon
John Burchfield Holland, OH
1:08 Half Marathon 2:21 Full Marathon
Benjamin Hardy Grand Rapids, MI 2:21:39 Marathon
Derek Miller Fort Wayne, IN
Half Marathon: 1:08:20 Marathon: 2:21:43
Devin Allbaugh Bettendorf, IA
2:22 Marathon & 1:06 Half Marathon
Evan Gaynor Santa Fe, NM
2:17:29 Marathon 1:04:44 Half
Joseph Darda East Lansing, MI
2:24:09 Marathon, 1:10:00 Half
Jorge Villanueva Akron, OH
2:27:18 Marathon, 68:58 Half
Brian Tholl PA Furnace, PA
Full: 2:27:51; Half: 69:44
Payton Godreau Milwaukee, Wisconsin Half: 70:01 Full: 2:28:10
Jacob Turner Ferndale, MI
Full Marathon 2:27:32, Half Marathon- 1:11:40
Ethan Vigario Fort Wayne, IN
1:09:30 Half, 2:28:41Full
Jonathan Allen Columbus, OH
2:23:22 Full 1:06:33 Half
Austen Hughes Broomfield, CO
1:09:53 Half 2:29:46 Full
Kyler Koning Carmel, IN 2:29:48 Full
Ben Utz Jackson, MI
1:09:36 Half/ 1:23:41 25k
Jeff Zenger Fort Wayne, IN
1:11 Half & 2:30 Full
Joe Posler Boulder, CO
Half: 1:08:40; Full: 2:30:30
Eric Hultquist Pasadena, CA
Full: 2:31:24 Half: 1:10:26
Adam Audet Melrose, MA
Half: 1:12:35; Full: 2:31:20
Sean McDonnell Pittsburgh, PA 1:11 Half, 2:33 Full
Jeremy Wysocki Springboro, OH 2:29:34 Full
Benjamin Fulton Denver, CO
Half: 1:11:32 & Full: 2:33:52
Christopher Veska
Port Dover, Ontario, CA Half: 1:14:57 / Full: 2:34:49
Women’s Mercy Health Glass City Marathon Elite Field
*Athletes times are lifetime bests or submitted seed times
Andrea Pomaranksi Commerce Charter Township, MI
Half: 1:13:12; Full: 2:31:06
Alsu Lenneman Canton, MI
1:16:22 Half 2:40:15 Full
Ann Centner Memphis, TN 1:13 Half 2:38 Full
Rachael Gallap Kalamazoo, MI 2:43:52 Full Marathon
Andie Cozzarelli Chattanooga, TN
Marathon: 2:38:47, Half Marathon: 1:12:50
Cassandra Klingler Marshall, MI
1:16:36 Half Marathon 2:38:21 Full
Andrea Klima Independence, OH
1:18 Half 2:45 Full Marathon
Ashton Swinford Hudson, OH
2:44:01 Marathon, 1:17:20 Half Marathon
Kathleen Lawrence Burlington, ON, CA
2:46:06 Full Marathon 1:18:56 Half Marathon
Mariah Jordan Fort Wayne, IN
Full 2:47:26 Half Marathon 1:20:59
Katie Swor Wyandotte, MI
Marathon 2:48:27, Half 1:18:35
Stefanie Cullingford Canyon Lake, CA 2:48:32 Full Marathon
Laura Zenger Fort Wayne, IN
Half 1:18:55, Full Marathon – 2:42
Tanya Porcellato Guelph, ON
Marathon 2:50:27 & Half Marathon 1:22:37
Kim Brown Toronto, CA
1:20 Half, 2:51 Full Marathon
Shelley McDonald Loveland, CO
Half Marathon 1:16:40, Marathon 2:45
Jennifer Simmerman Streetsboro, OH
1:22:08 Half 2:52 Full Marathon
Bridget Gottlieb Chicago, IL
1:21:37 Half , 2:54:21 Full Marathon
Katherine Earwood Martinez, GA
1:23:05 Half Marathon
Angela Jenny Grove City, PA
1:24:01Half 2:58:16 Full Marathon
Megan Muhs Ypsilanti, Mi
Full: 2:59, Half: 1:25
Amanda Fire Stow, OH
Half Marathon:1:24 & Full Marathon: 2:55
Hidi Gaff Fort Wayne, IN
Half 1:21:50, Full 2:51:59
Christina Thompson Pittsburgh, PA
Half – 1:26. Full – 3:02
Cheryl Bayart Cincinnati, OH
Full: 3:06:46, Half: 1:28:43
Felicie Reid Aurora, OH
3:09 full, 1:29 half
Lauren Sajovie Hudson, OH
Half: 1:27 Full: 3:09
Online registration for the April 26, 2026 Mercy Health Glass City Marathon is open to the public at www.glasscitymarathon.org.