Home Marathons Welduilbanos and Hauger-Thackery break California International Marathon course records

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Welduilbanos and Hauger-Thackery break California International Marathon course records

December 9, 2024

Tsegay Welduilbanos and Calli Hauger-Thackery won the California International Marathon (CIM) on Sunday, December 8. Both athletes ran new course record times.

Welduilbanos clocked a 2:07:35 performance, bettering Jerry Lawson’s 2:10:27 run from 1993. For the 28-year-old Eritrean — listed as American in the results — the win is a new personal best. However, World Athletics indicates the result with an asterisk as *not legal. The course, like the Boston Marathon, it is a net downhill and single-direction route.

Tsegay Weldlibanos is this year’s California International Marathon CHAMPION! 🏃

He’s also a record-breaker — completing the marathon in just 2:07:35. The previous record was set in 1993 by Jerry Lawson with a time of 2:10:27.

Just chills watching this today! Congratulations… pic.twitter.com/lfnafQ7GRb
— Chloe Curtis (@chloecurtisnews) December 8, 2024

Hauger-Thackery from Great Britain finished in the time of 2:24:28, which improves the women’s record of 2:26:02 held by Paige Stoner from her 2022 performance. The 31-year-old owns a best of 2:21:34 from the Berlin Marathon run in Sept. 2024.

American CJ Albertson at 2:10:06 and Nick Hauger at 2:11:55 finished second and third. In the women’s race, Jacqueline Gaughan finished closely behind Hauger-Thackery with a time of 2:24:40 — the two had battled fiercely over the final kilometres. Stephanie Bruce took third in the time of 2:28:41.

The point-to-point course runs from Folsom Dam to the California State Capitol. CIM is often used by Americans to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials. Canadians have a history of running well in the event as Bruce Deacon (2), Peter Maher, Peter Butler, Graeme Fell and Dylan Wykes have won the race and many more have had top-10 placings over the years.