In a thrilling display of athletic prowess, the 54th annual Chevron Houston Marathon witnessed a historic moment as Zouhair Talbi, an American man, claimed victory, ending a 24-year drought for U.S. men. With a remarkable time of 2:05:45, Talbi not only won the race but also set a new course record. The race was a battle of endurance, with lead changes between Talbi and Adane Kebede Gebre of Ethiopia, who finished just 16 seconds behind. Talbi's strategy was to conserve energy, waiting until the latter part of the race to make his move, and it paid off.
Talbi's journey to this triumph is a testament to his dedication. He returned to the Chevron Houston Marathon as an American citizen, having emigrated to the U.S. in 2025 and serving in the Army reserves. Carrying the U.S. flag, a dream come true, he proudly wore the signature Stetson cowboy hat draped in the American flag. His love for the race is evident, having previously won in 2024 with a personal best of 2:06:39 and competing in the Olympic marathon for Morocco.
The women's race was equally captivating, with Great Britain's Calli Hauger-Thackery emerging as the champion. Despite competing in the humid conditions of Hawaii's Honolulu Marathon just a month prior, Hauger-Thackery's performance was impressive, finishing in 2:24:17. Her husband, who served as her pacer, shared her joy as they embraced after her victory.
The Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon attracted a massive turnout, with 30,000 athletes and 250,000 spectators. The event, held at Memorial Park, celebrated its longstanding tradition, with runners from all 50 states and 52 countries participating. The oldest runner was an impressive 88 years old, showcasing the marathon's inclusive spirit.
The race also saw records broken, with Sara Hall breaking the master's record by two minutes, and Eritrea's Habtom Samuel, 22, setting a new course record in the half marathon with a time of 59:01, his first road race debut and NCAA Cross Country Champion title.
