Unsponsored and Unknown, Ethan Shuley Runs 2:07:14 Marathon, Now the 6th Fastest American Ever

February 22, 2026

America, meet Ethan Shuley.

Shuley, a 27-year-old unsponsored runner without a team and without a single collegiate accolade to his name, just ran 2:07:14 at the Osaka Marathon on Sunday to finish 14th and, more importantly, become the 6th fastest American ever on a record-eligible course.

Shuley’s run was shocking because of how far he has come in such a short time.

To understand just how unlikely 2:07:14 is, you have to go back and look at his running career.

Despite injuries that derailed his senior track season, he had a successful high school career, winning two Kentucky state cross country championships and running 4:13 for 1600 and 9:07 for 3200. He then went on a Mormon mission to eastern Ukraine. LETSRUN.COM