The 41st California International Marathon (CIM) witnessed two sensational course records shattered on Sunday, with standout performances from both the men’s and women’s fields.
In the men’s race, Tsegay Weldlibanos, competing as an asylum athlete originally from Eritrea, claimed victory with a blistering time of 2:07:35. This time not only earned him the title but also broke Jerry Lawson’s long-standing course record of 2:10:27, which had stood for an impressive 31 years.
Weldlibanos’s victory was made even more remarkable by his near-three-minute margin over the previous record. Runner-up CJ Albertson of Fresno, Calif., also finished under the former record at 2:10:06, securing second place. Albertson’s ability to maintain such a high level of consistency in 2024, finishing every marathon under 2:11, highlighted his remarkable endurance.
“Breaking 2:10 today is a dream come true for me,” said Weldlibanos. “I’m incredibly grateful to the CIM organizers and to all the spectators along the course who made this possible.”
Read more at: https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article296769784.html#storylink=cpy
On the women’s side, Great Britain’s Calli Hauger-Thackery delivered a stunning performance, finishing in 2:24:28 to shatter the previous course record of 2:26:02, set by Paige (Stoner) Wood in 2022. Hauger-Thackery faced fierce competition from Jackie Gaughan of Boston, who closed the gap in the race’s final stretch, finishing just 12 seconds behind.
Despite the challenge, Hauger-Thackery held her ground and claimed the win, reflecting on her thrilling race: “I was aiming for both the win and the course record. It feels amazing to have achieved both, though I had to push hard when I saw Jackie coming up behind me at mile 23.”
.
The victory also held special significance as Hauger-Thackery raced alongside her husband, coach, and training partner, Nick Hauger, who secured third place in the men’s race. “Competing together in the same marathon for the first time was a special moment,” Hauger-Thackery shared. “It definitely gave me that extra push.”
Stephanie Bruce of Flagstaff, Ariz., rounded out the women’s podium, finishing in 2:28:41, which also set a new masters course record for athletes aged 40 and above.
Both Weldlibanos and Hauger-Thackery were awarded $15,000 in prize money, with an additional $5,000 bonus for breaking the course records. The top ten finishers in each gender also received monetary prizes.
The California International Marathon, organized by the Sacramento Running Association (SRA), has become one of the most anticipated events in the running calendar. In addition to the 10,000 marathon runners representing all 50 states and 41 countries, over 1,000 relay runners, 75,000 spectators, and 4,000 volunteers participated in the event. The race contributed an estimated $15 million to the local economy and raised over $500,000 for charities and community initiatives.
Scott Abbott, Executive Director of the SRA, commented on the significance of the event: “This year’s race highlighted the incredible achievements of elite athletes while also inspiring thousands of participants to reach personal milestones. CIM has grown into a cherished tradition for Sacramento, and we’re excited to continue this legacy.”
