FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Marine Corps Marathon Weekend Celebrates "Women in Service"
MCM honors Molly Marine and Celebrates her Commitment to
Community, Courage and the Marine Corps
QUANTICO, VA (October 28, 2024) - The Marine Corps Marathon Organization
(MCMO) race day greeted runners with clear, crisp skies, mild temperatures
in the mid-50s, and light winds, creating perfect conditions for the iconic
course that traverses Arlington, VA, and Washington, D.C. The favorable
weather contributed to an exhilarating and electric atmosphere, allowing
participants to fully embrace the scenic route, which included landmarks
like the Marine Corps War Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial. Due to
construction along Ohio Drive SW, that required minor changes to the
course, runners also experienced close views of more iconic sites in our
Nation's Capital, including the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial along West
Basin Drive SW, and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial along East Basin Drive
SW.
This year's marathon celebrated the enduring legacy of Molly Marine, a
symbol of women's service in the U.S. Marine Corps. Her story inspired
countless participants, reminding everyone of the strength and resilience
of women in uniform.
Of the 21,933 finishers across all races, 16,242 earned their Molly Marine
themed Eagle, Globe and Anchor medal by completing the marathon, another
955 went the extra distance to successfully finish the MCM50K, and 4,736
completed the MCM10K.
Earlier in the morning, spectators witnessed the MCM50K win by Calum Neff,
age 39 from Fulshear, Texas, in 2:56:36. Calum set the event record of
2:55:56 in 2023, and now becomes the first male two-time Champion in
back-to-back fashion.
Neff was followed closely behind by Steve Mance, age 40 from Washington
D.C., in second at 2:58:48, while Jonathan Ladson, age 33 from Woodbridge,
VA, was third in 3:13:34.
The top three MCM50K women were Anna Staats, age 25 from Arlington, VA, in
3:44:42, making her the first two-time and back-to-back female champion of
the race, followed by Siena Morlatt, age 22 from Blacksburg, VA, in second
place with a time of 3:48:43; and Lauren Cramer, age 40 from Hagerstown,
MD, in third, with a time of 3:52:40.
The 49th MCM overall champion was Major Kyle King, United States Marine
Corps, age 34 from Yucca Valley, CA, in 2:25:06, making him the first
active duty Marine to notch two MCM victories, following his initial win in
2022.
Captain George Crist, United States Air Force, age 26 from Davis, CA,
followed closely behind for second with a time of 2:26:20, while Captain
Kyle Smith, United States Army, age 36 from Colorado Springs, CO, finished
43 seconds later for third, in 2:27:03.
Arlington, VA, native, Tessa Barrett, age 28, was the female MCM champion
in a time of 2:39:38, notching her the fifth fastest winning time in event
history, while Jessica Smith, age 36 from Philadelphia, PA, finished second
in 2:46:07, and Laurel Le Moigne, age 39 from Springfield, VA, crossed in
third with a time of 2:49:31.
The 49th Marine Corps Marathon is also the annual host for the Armed Forces
Marathon Championships, which includes teams from the Marine Corps and
Army, as well as combined teams representing the Navy and Coast Guard, as
well as the Air Force and Space Force. In this year's event, the Armed
Forces men's title was claimed by the Marine Corps, while the Navy and
Coast Guard took top honors in the women's competition.
In the Challenge Cup between the United States Marine Corps and the British
Royal Navy, a traditional rivalry which dates to 1978, the United States
Marine Corps Team prevailed in both the men's and women's competitions.
Sergeant Major Carlos Ruiz, the 20th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps,
served as the MCM ceremonial starter. Corporal Garrett Jones, USMC (Ret),
Gary Sinise Foundation's (RISE) Restoring Independence Supporting
Empowerment Program, started the MCM50K, Major General Lorna M. Mahlock,
Commander Cyber National Mission Force (CNMF), started the 49th MCM Wheeled
Athlete race, and Colonel Jenny Colgate, Marine Corps Installations Command
National Capitol Region - Marine Corps Base Quantico (MCINCR - MCBQ),
started the MCM10K.
Unofficial results for all events are available on marinemarathon.com and
on the MCM app.
The upcoming 50th Marine Corps Marathon, which will take place just prior
to the 250th birthday of the United States Marine Corps, will dedicate its
entire 30,000 runner race permit to the marathon to give as many runners as
possible the opportunity to participate in the milestone event. The live
MCM10K and MCM50K will be paused in 2025 but offered virtually. Exclusive
early access to registration is now available for participants of the 49th
MCM Weekend to secure their spots in next year's golden anniversary event.
The Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) is one of the largest marathons in the
world. Recognized as "Best Marathon in the Mid Atlantic," and the "Best
Marathon for Charities," the MCM celebrates the honor, courage and
commitment of its participants. Also known as "The People's Marathon,"
runners from all 50 states and more than 60 countries participate in the
MCM, the largest marathon not to offer prize money. No federal or Marine
Corps endorsement is implied. Connect with the Marine Corps Marathon on
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. #RunWithTheMarines
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