Molly Born and Futsum Zienasellassie win Sacramento California International Marathon

© Copyright – 2025 – Athletics Illustrated

The California International Marathon, which takes place in Sacramento, CA, is a popular race for Americans as the course is fast, and for many years it has acted as a qualifier for the Olympic or World Championship Trials. For 2025, it was the USATF National Championships.

The course is net downhill and runs in one direction; therefore, the results do not count for records or standards.

For the 2025 edition, run on Sunday, December 7, it was Futsum Zienasellassie who won in a time of 2:09:29. In the women’s race, it was Molly Born who clocked a 2:24:09 performance for the win.

Born, a 26-year-old Oklahoma State alumna, takes the 2025 USATF Marathon Championship title and sets a new course record.

“I knew it was a possibility. It feels really good,” she said. “I’m glad to have kind of found my event, I think it’ll be the marathon going forward.”

On November 9, the 26-year-old ran a half-marathon in Boston in a time of 1:10:11 with training volume still in her legs.

Finishing in second place was Sara Hall, who clocked in at 2:24:36. She was followed by Megan Sailor in 2:25:16. The 42-year-old Hall may have been channelling Canadian Malindi Elmore, who finished 12th in Valencia in the time of 2:24:53 at age 45.

For 32-year-old Zienasellassie, he was happy just to be racing injury-free.

He won the event in 2022 in 2:11:01. For much of the race, Zienasellassie was letting Joseph Whelan lead, but passed him in the last few miles.

Whelan took second in 2:09:41, while Christian Allen clocked in 2:09:57 for third. For Whelan and Allen, Sacramento resulted in new personal bests for both.

Thirty-nine men ran sub 2:15:00, while at least 41 women ran sub 2:40:00.

Results

Top 40 men

Top 40 women