March 15 wasn’t Rowen Wilcko’s original orientation of New York City.
The Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy student formerly traveled to its boroughs for a field trip.
Wilcko’s recent Big Apple tour also was guided.
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Only this time, it was more of a solo variety.
Wilcko, who’s competed for Erie High’s cross country and track and field programs, was among more than 30,000 runners who started the United Airlines New York City Half Marathon. The junior accomplished more than crossing its 13.1-mile finish line with a personal best time.
Wilcko, at 1 hour, 15 minutes, 55 seconds, was first for the event’s age 19-under male division. Oscar Greenberg, a senior for Manhattan’s Bard High School, was second at 1:18:15.
Rowen Wilcko, Erie High cross country
“I’m pretty proud of myself,” Wikco said, “although I think I actually could have gone (faster). I was aiming for the 1:13 to 1:14 range, but the wind along (Manhattan’s) FDR Drive just killed me. At least I got to go (under) 1:16.”
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Wilcko placed 218th overall in an event won by Adriaan Wildschutt, 27. The South Africa resident cracked the one-hour mark at 59:30.
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Unexpected invite
Wilcko went from taking up running to winning his age group for a half marathon in less than two years. Last summer’s Presque Isle Half Marathon was one of his previous three.
Wilcko was more shocked that he was chosen for the race than winning it for his age group.
“I saw an ad for it back in October,” he said. “Thought I might as well apply and see what happens. I really wasn’t expecting to get (chosen) because there was a (less than) 10 percent chance. Then, I got a ping for my email a couple of days before Thanksgiving. I didn’t (immediately) read it, but saw it came with congratulations and a big exclamation point.
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“That’s when I realized, ‘Wait a minute, I think I got in!’
Rowen Wilcko (middle), a Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy student who competes for Erie High’s cross country program, competed in the New York City Half Marathon on March 15. The junior finished first for the race’s age 19-under male division. PROVIDED BY EMILY WILCKO
Unlike November’s New York City Marathon, which covers its five boroughs, the March 15 race was limited to Brooklyn and Manhattan. The course began at Prospect Park, near where the Brooklyn Dodgers once played at Ebbets Field, and concluded at Central Park.
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Marathon on to-do list
Wilcko said long-distance running is definitely for him. So much so, he decided to skip the Royals’ 2026 track season to train for over-the road events.
Wilcko has Ryan Vail, an assistant coach for the track and field program at the University of Portland (Oregon), as a personal trainer. Via Vail’s help, he seeks to break the 1:10 mark come July’s Presque Isle Half Marathon.
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As for Wilcko’s first start in a full marathon, he said it will occur.
Just not as a Collegiate student.
“That definitely won’t happen until I’m out of high school,” he said. “I’m focusing on (half marathons) and we’ll see what happens from there.”
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie High runner Rowen Wilcko wins age group for NYC Half Marathon