The Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon celebrates life and there were 22,000 runners with reasons to celebrate on Sunday! Norman, Oklahoma’s Korey Larson was the Memorial Marathon winner with a time of 2:31:56. The Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon remembers those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever in the downtown Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. The Finish Line celebrates the lives of the 168 people killed with their names and pictures, inspiration for those last few steps.
“I was really hurting and when you see those, the hurt goes away and they lift you up,” recalled Larson. Catherine “Cat” Lisle, of Edmond, Oklahoma, was crowned the Marathon’s five-time champion after finishing 2:52:03. Catherine also won the Memorial Marathon in 2009, 2010, 2016 and 2017. “It’s a major honor especially to do it in Oklahoma City where the whole reason we’re doing it is to remember the people who cannot do it.”
Steven Scalzo, Harrah, Oklahoma, raced to his six-time Memorial Marathon win in the Hand Crank Wheelchair – 1:36:35
Oklahoma Coaches Collective repeated their 2023 Relay win – 2:29:41
Al Maeder of Oklahoma City won his second Half Marathon – 1:09:14
Ali Andrews of Oklahoma City, won the women’s Half Marathon – 1:22:28
On Saturday, the Memorial 5K, Senior Marathon and Kids Marathon were run.
The 5K races were won by Jack Sydnes, Edmond Santa Fe High School – 16:03 and Morgan McNutt, Bethany Middle School – 19:24. The Senior Marathon and Kids Marathon are not timed races.
Oklahoma City also welcomed legendary trailblazer, Joan Benoit Samuelson, celebrating the 40th anniversary of her win as the first women’s Olympics marathon champion in 1984. Joan’s Olympic medal was also on display at the Marathon’s Health & Fitness Expo this weekend. Joan joined the Half Marathon race, finishing 1:34:47. Bill Rodgers, four-time Boston Marathon winner, welcomed runners to the Finish Line.
“The OKC Memorial Marathon brings together runners from all 50 states plus 14 countries in a show of unity and remembrance. We appreciate all the runners, volunteers, partners and spectators for showing their support,” thanked Kari Watkins, Race Director and President & CEO, Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. The Memorial Marathon is the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum’s largest fundraiser, supporting educational and public programming and the beautification of the Memorial and the Museum.
2025 is the 25th anniversary of the Memorial Marathon and the 30th anniversary of the bombing. Registration for the 2025 Memorial Marathon will open this summer. Follow the Marathon on @okcMarathon on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
