California International Marathon Selected to Host 2025 and 2026 USATF Marathon Championships

June 16, 2025

CIM will host the men’s and women’s 2025 USATF Marathon Championships on Sunday, Dec. 7, following successful runs in 2017, 2018 & 2022

Sacramento, Calif. (June 16, 2025) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The California International Marathon (CIM) has been selected to host the 2025 and 2026 USA Track & Field (USATF) Marathon Championships by the USATF Long Distance Running Committees. The 2025 Championships will take place on Sunday, December 7, held in conjunction with CIM’s point-to-point race from Folsom to the steps of the California State Capitol.

The USATF Marathon Championships are part of the annual USATF Running Circuit, a road series featuring national championships from one mile through the marathon. The series consistently attracts the best American distance runners for a chance to be crowned National Champion. The Marathon Championships return to Sacramento after most recently being held at CIM in 2017, 2018 and 2022, featuring wins by Timothy Richie (2:11:56) and Sara Hall (2:28:10) in 2017, and Brogan Austin (2:12:39) and Emma Bates (2:28:19) in 2018, and Futsum Zienasellassie (2:11:01) and Paige (Stoner) Wood (2:26:02) in 2022.

“USATF is excited to be returning to Sacramento for the 2025 and 2026 US Marathon Championships. CIM is one of the most popular marathons in the country, across ability levels, and is known for its fast times—particularly with runners trying to BQ and OTQ,” said Olympian and USATF Women’s Long Distance Running Chair Kim Conley.

“The elite athlete experience is superb, and there has been resounding support from our top athletes to have CIM as the host for our U.S. Marathon Championship,” added Conley.

The Sacramento Running Association, organizers of the California International Marathon, will offer a combined $116,500 prize purse for the championship fields, including $20,000 first place prizes for the men’s and women’s winners. An additional $500 U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying bonus will also be offered to U.S. athletes who run under the 2028 U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifying Standards of 2:16:00 for men and 2:37:00 for women.

“We are honored that the California International Marathon has been selected to host the 2025 and 2026 USATF National Marathon Championships,” said Sacramento Running Association Executive Director Scott Abbott. “This recognition reaffirms CIM’s reputation as one of the premier marathons in the country with a unique focus on providing a truly competitive racing experience. While fast times and OTQs will come, we are thrilled that a championship-style race will be the main focus here in Sacramento.”

“We look forward to welcoming the nation’s top marathoners for the unique and special opportunity to fight for a national championship here on the streets of Sacramento for the next two years as part of the important lead up to a domestic Olympics in 2028 right here in California,” added Abbott.

Athletes interested in competing in the USATF Marathon Championships are encouraged to apply for entry by July 1st. More information, including qualifying standards and application procedure, can be found on runcim.org.

The Sacramento Running Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding ways to encourage people of all ages and abilities to run. The SRA is committed to developing new, quality running events that appeal to a broad variety of runners.

Contact:

Danielle Domenichelli
media@runsra.org