OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – It has been more than two years since the last in-person Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon.
On Sunday, thousands of runners headed to downtown Oklahoma City to take part in the iconic event.
Although we are back in-person this year, organizers say they still needed to make a few changes in order to protect participants in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
Organizers planned a staggered start for the 12,000 runners to help them maintain space between one another.
Jose Pablo Salazar Ezquerra won the men’s marathon after coming from behind race front-runner Koki Ozawa.
There was excitement in the women’s marathon too!
Layne Hammer came from the third spot to quickly overtake Catherine Lisle and Ewa Zaborowska in the lead for the women’s race.
Hammer graduated from Oklahoma Christian University and has even set several running records at the university.
Zaborowska finished just 28 seconds behind Hammer, taking second place in her first marathon.
Hammer was able to finish the race at 2 hours, 54 minutes, and 34 seconds. Her average pace was a 6:40 minute mile.
With the finish line almost in sight, Hammer had to stop and take a breath on the side of the path.
Hammer is less than a half-mile from the finish line. She still has an almost two minute lead over the next closest runner, Zaborowska.
Hammer is going around the final turn of the race.
In the women’s race, Layne Hammer is maintaining a 6:33 minute mile and still has a steady lead over Ewa Zaborowska.
Ezquerra, who is from Chile, says this is his first time running a marathon. He told KFOR that he didn’t think he would actually win, but says he had so much fun and loved the atmosphere of Oklahoma City.
Ezquerra just crossed the finish line, completing the marathon in 2 hours, 28 minutes and 56 seconds. His average pace was 5:41 minute mile.
JP Ezquerra is taking the final turn in the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon and looks like he will finish with a 5:26 minute mile.
In the women’s race, Layne Hammer continues to have the commanding lead. The tracking app shows that Zaborowska has taken over second place, with Catherine Lisle in third.
Jose Pablo Salazar Ezquerra just took the lead over Ozawa with three miles left to go in the race.
The drums are going in the Asian District to welcome runners to the 23rd mile of the race.
Koki Ozawa’s pace has slowed slightly to 6:06 minute mile as he reaches the 20.3 mile mark of the race, but the second placed runner is now catching up. Jose Pablo Salazar Ezquerra is on pace for a 5:42 minute mile and is now in sight of Ozawa.
In the women’s race, Layne Hammer took the lead over Catherine Lisle. Hammer graduated from Oklahoma Christian and has held several running records at the school.
At the 17.5 mile mark, Ozawa says that both of his legs are starting to cramp. However, he still looks pretty strong.
If Ozawa keeps his current pace, he would likely set the race record for the men’s full marathon.
In the women’s race, Ewa Zaborowska has fallen behind and Catherine Lisle has kept her lead. She is at the 12.5 mile mark and is maintaining a 6:39 minute mile.
At this point, Koki Ozawa is still in the lead and is in front of the second place runner by at least a half-mile.
Around 6,000 people just took off from the start for the half marathon.
