Michigan, Illinois runners capture first Air Force Marathon titles
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 20, 2026, 1:01 AM
Last updated Sep 20, 2026
Track & FieldNick McKenzie from Michigan and Kayla Rice from Illinois won their first Air Force Marathon titles on September 19, 2026, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. McKenzie finished the 26.2-mile race in 2 hours, 34 minutes, 33 seconds, while Rice completed it in 2:56.39. Both runners previously placed respectably in last year's marathon and benefited from an earlier start time of 6:30 a.m. to avoid the heat. McKenzie overtook the competition comfortably, finishing more than five minutes ahead of the second-place finisher. Rice encountered calf cramps during the race but ultimately secured her victory by breaking away from her closest rival after the ninth mile.
- •McKenzie and Rice are first-time winners of the Air Force Marathon.
- •McKenzie finished with a time of 2:34:33, Rice at 2:56:39.
- •The marathon was held at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base on September 19, 2026.
- •Both athletes praised the earlier start time for avoiding heat.
- •McKenzie previously placed 36th in 2025, Rice fifth.
- 1:01 AMYahoo Sports — 2026 Air Force Marathon: Michigan, Illinois natives first-time winners
"The 30th edition of Air Force Marathon began an hour earlier than normal. In a quest to beat the heat on Saturday, Sept. 19, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, race organizers pushed the start time to 6:30 a.m. The male and female winners of the 26.2-mile race approved of the decision, even if the temperatures didn’t approach the highs of some past races. “I thought it was great,” said male ...
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
Track & Field•Sep 20, 2026, 1:34 AMMarvins Antoine death: UMass Dartmouth RB killed in stabbing incident
Track & Field•Sep 20, 2026, 12:33 AM13,000 runners hit the streets for 2026 New Balance Bronx 10 Mile
Track & Field•Sep 19, 2026, 10:45 PMWhy comedian Kevin Hart is in Knoxville watching Tennessee football
Track & Field•Sep 19, 2026, 10:02 PMOver 9K crossed finish line at 2026 Air Force Marathon
Track & Field•Sep 19, 2026, 12:55 PMCyclones run at Roy Griak Invitational- Track & FieldTrack & Field•Sep 18, 2026, 10:31 PMCross country: NLS Wildcats seek another state title