While the world is still shaking its head in wonderment over the world-record-smashing 2:09:56 by Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich Sunday at the Chicago Marathon, several Flagstaff-based marathoners took to the streets with mixed results.
NAZ Elite had a good day, as Kenya’s Alex Masai finished ninth overall in his debut, clocking 2:08:51. Though six minutes behind the winner, countryman John Korir, it was a promising race for Masai, who showed impressive consistency throughout. His 5K splits hovered consistently between 4:52 and 4:57 per mile, and he went through the half at 1:04:09.
Masai’s time broke NAZ Elite’s team record in the marathon, dating to Scott Fauble’s 2:09:01 in Boston in 2019.
NAZ Elite’s Lauren Hagans, coming off a series of injuries in the past year, gutted out a personal best of 2:25:47, despite what she later said on social media as a rough day. Still, Hagans was the 13th woman and fifth American finisher. She ran conservatively in the early going, choosing not to go out with the other U.S. top women and reached the half in 1:12. She kept that pace — Dark Sky’s Matt Llano was her pacer — until the final 5K, when she slowed to a 5:42 pace.
Hagans did, however, better her PR of 2:25:56 from her 2023 victory at the Grandma’s Marathon in Minnesota.
Two other notable Flagstaff women competed Sunday. Sara Hall finished 18th among women in 2:30:12, and Diane Nukuri, running her final marathon as a pro, finished in 2:42:58.
Former Flagstaff and NAU runner Brian Shrader, now training in Boston, finished 14th in 2:10:25.
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