Kipkemei defends QC Marathon title

Abraham Talam Kipkemei (Kenya) crossed the finish line just two minutes ahead of second-place Wilfred Kimeli Kimitei but defended his 2023 title run with a 2:21:31 and a first-place finish Sunday morning at the TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon.

"It was very nice," Kipkemei said of winning in consecutive years. "I won last year and was able to defend my position."

When the gun was shot at 7 a.m., all the runners — from the full marathon to the Palmer 5k to the Mel Foster Company Half Marathon and every combination of races in between — started under cloudy and muggy conditions. There were also several puddles along the course from the overnight rainfall.

However, for Kipkemei, the wetter environment did not pose any threat, despite running five minutes slower (2:16:37) than in last year's win.

"The conditions were all right," Kipkemei said about the weather being a non-factor for his run on Sunday.

Kimitei (Kenya) ran across the finish line just past the intersection of River Drive and 15th Street with a time of 2:23:10. Soloman Kagimbi (Kenya) came in third place in 2:23:40.

Phil Young (Davenport), who was racing in his first QC Marathon after holding a pace-setting position at this race for each of the past seven years, finished in seventh place (2:41:02) overall.

Among all local runners, Artur Mueller (Davenport) finished with a 2:35.43, good for fifth place.

On the women's side, the favorite heading into Sunday's QC Marathon was Lenah Jerotich of Kenya. She participated in the 2024 Padova Marathon in Italy back in April and had a top time of 2:31.47. In her first ever QC Marathon, she blazed by the competition, holding the lead right from the start with a wire-to-wire time of 2:38:04.

"The race was great — from the environment, the people and the cause," Jerotich said of her win. "It was my first time, and I am happy to win."

Jerotich was a good eight minutes faster than second-place Mercy Lagat, who had a time of 2:46:38. Polina Hodnette was third, with a time of 2:56:21.

Lagat led the opening 10k, running in 36:06, about 28 seconds ahead of Jerotich.

"I prepared for this race, and because I prepared, I had no doubt that I was going to win," Jerotich said.

Like Kagimbi, Jerotich said the early precipitation and humidity did not bother her — but there was another factor that she noticed.

"The weather was windy along the river — as an athlete we must accept any conditions that we face and that we can meet," Jerotich said.

However, unlike Kabimbi, Jerotich did not begin the race strong.

"I started slow, and I did not want to run too fast, because I knew that this was going to be a hard marathon," Jerotich said. I made my own preparation for the wind, and after the first 14 kilometers, I set my pace and ran alone, and I enjoyed it."

Marcos wins second straight Half Marathon

Jaime Marcos, a native of Champaign, Illinois, defended last year's Mel Foster Co. Half Marathon first-place time of 1:05:08 with a slightly slower time of 1:07:32 to claim his second consecutive win in Moline.

"I am excited and ecstatic," Marcos said. "I won last year and wanted to win it again this year — I am a teacher, so I run when I can after school. In the second half of the race, I found my confidence and rhythm and brought it all together. It was exciting to run out there and win it again."

Mike Gille was second, in 1:09:06, and Lucas Keifer was third, just seconds later (1:09:14).

Marcos felt anxious before last year's half marathon but shook those off a whole back for Sunday's return.

"There was a little bit of nerves and stress (leading to my first win)," Marcos said. "I had put in a lot of training for myself to pull off another win. I was confident and excited to try and go for a second title. I am pumped."

Iowa native Gabby Skopec won the women's Mel Foster Co. Half Marathon, clocking in at 1:20:28.

"I am just so happy to win this marathon," Skopec said. "This was my first ever Quad City marathon win, after competing two years ago."

Olivia Dietzel was second, with 1:25:02, and Anne Terranova finished in third place (1:26:05).