Record Breaking Year in the Denver Colfax Marathon Weekend

May 22, 2025

Denver, CO. (May 22, 2025) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Denver welcomed over 25,000 runners to the Mile High for the city’s largest running event of the year. The 19th Denver Colfax Marathon, presented by Cigna Healthcare, hosted eight races over the weekend with several event records broken and a historic number of runners. Athletes from around the world and all 50 states competed in the event, but Colorado runners swept the podium on race day.

The race’s new ‘Colorado Half Marathon Showdown’ welcomed an elite field of local Coloradoans vying for prize money in this high-altitude race. The top five runners in the men’s division were all under the previous half marathon record by more than a minute. Coming in first was Emad Bashir-Mohammed of Aurora, Colorado, beating his own record that he set in this very race last year. He finished the race on Sunday with a time of 1:03:05, just 15 seconds shy of breaking the state record.

Bashir-Mohammed is a refugee from Sudan who came to America eleven years ago and has since become a US citizen, training and living in the Denver area. He crossed the showdown finish line stating, “This is my turf!”. Bashir-Mohammed went home with $6280: $5280 for winning the half marathon and another $1000 for breaking the event record.

This brand-new elite competition had a prize purse of close to $25,000 to celebrate

athletes training and living in Colorado. The top four local runners in the male and

female categories were awarded. Local Coloradoan Ednah Kurgat, US Army WCAP in Colorado Springs, was the half marathon winner in the women’s division and took home a mile high check of $5280.

Three runners also set a new half marathon state record on Sunday in their age group. Tyler McCandless, Lawrence Kipkoech and Emad Bashir-Mohammed earned the fastest times in their age group on a USATF certified course in Colorado.

Marathon Relay records in several divisions were also broken over the weekend, including the Overall Men’s Relay, which broke an 18-year record, and the Overall Coed Relay. The Denver Colfax Marathon relay has 4 divisions (open, corporate, government, public school) and is now the largest marathon relay in the country.

“I wish you could feel the energy that we experienced throughout this race weekend,” said Andrea Dowdy, CEO of the Denver Colfax Marathon. “From our elite runner field and the thousands of spectators supporting with motivational signs, to the family and friends that witnessed goals being accomplished, this race celebrates our entire Colorado community. We are so proud to keep this special tradition going year after year.”

The Denver Colfax Marathon race weekend brought 100,000 people to the city of Denver through its various events. News reporters hosted live reports from the start line and finish line festival, showcasing the runners in their element, breaking records in their hometown race. Runners were treated to a grilled lunch with complimentary beer, wine, a live Colorado band and DJ.

In its fourth year as the title sponsor of the race, Cigna Healthcare’s mission of keeping health and wellness in focus supports not only the runners but the entire Denver community.

“We are amazed and appreciative of the Denver community and Colfax Marathon team for putting on such an impactful event, promoting health and vitality,” said Brett Winingham, general manager and market growth leader for Cigna Mountain States. “Cigna Healthcare is proud to be the presenting sponsor.”

The Denver Colfax Marathon is a nonprofit that gives back to hundreds of local charities every year. This year, the marathon had more than 135 charities involved in the race weekend to raise awareness and funds for their cause through the marathon’s free Charity Partners Program. The marathon will award $150,000 to local charities in June at its annual awards evening in Denver.

The Denver Colfax Marathon weekend is now the largest marathon weekend in the 8-state Rocky Mountain Region. This year, the event’s half marathon and marathon relay sold out before the race weekend started, with little capacity left in the remaining races throughout the weekend. Registration for the 20th Denver Colfax Marathon will begin in August. To learn more, please visit www.runcolfax.org.