Setting Records: 52,000 cross finish line in historic Pittsburgh Marathon weekend
PERSON YOU’RE INTERVIEWING. YOU GOT? YES. HI, MIKE. YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU’RE GONNA GET HERE AT THE PITTSBURGH MARATHON. THIS IS MY NEW FRIEND, SAMMY COHEN. HE JUST COMPLETED THE MARATHON. OH, AND BY THE WAY, HE’S GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE THIS WEEKEND. A PIT GRAD FROM CHICAGO. HOW ARE YOU FEELING, SAMMY? MENTALLY, I’M FEELING. I’M HAPPY, BUT PHYSICALLY, I’M GONNA NEED A LOT OF ADVIL AFTER THIS. BUT FEELING GOOD? FEELING GOOD. TALK ABOUT THE TRAINING THAT WENT INTO THIS. I MEAN, YOU GO TO SCHOOL HERE, YOU’RE RUNNING THROUGH YOUR YOUR HOMETOWN NECK OF THE WOODS. WALK ME THROUGH THE TRAINING THAT YOU’VE BEEN LIKE, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BE BUSY. IF YOU’RE GETTING READY TO GRADUATE, WHAT DO YOU WHAT DID YOU STUDY? I STUDY NEUROSCIENCE WITH MINORS IN CHEMISTRY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE AND A CERTIFICATE IN CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATION MEDICINE. SO I WAS BUSY WITH THAT AND ALSO BUSY WITH RUNNING THIS SEMESTER. WHERE DID YOU FIND TIME TO RUN? AT NIGHT? I HAD A LOT OF CAFFEINE, A LOT OF GELS, AND IT GOT ME THROUGH IT. SO I’M REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF. VERY HAPPY AS YOU SHOULD BE. WALK ME THROUGH THE GET UP. THIS IS THE REAL CAP AND GOWN. I DON’T HAVE ANY CORDS OR MY STOLES WITH ME. THAT SEEMED LIKE TOO MUCH, BUT MY PARENTS MET ME AROUND MILE 26, GAVE ME THIS, PUT IT ON, AND CROSSED THE FINISH LINE WITH IT. SO SUPER EXCITED. THAT’S AMAZING. WHAT WAS YOUR YOUR FINAL TIME? DO YOU DO YOU KNOW? YEAH, IT WAS AROUND 312 I BELIEVE. SO MY GOAL WAS 315 LAST YEAR. I RAN AROUND 326. SO VERY HAPPY WITH IT. WELL, CONGRATULATIONS. OKAY, SO THIS IS JUST LIKE A BLIP IN THE RADAR WHEN YOU’RE GRADUATING, WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU? I’M TAKING A NAP, BUT NO NEXT FOR ME, I’M APPLYING TO MEDICAL SCHOOL, SO JUST GRADUATED ON THURSDAY AND WILL BE DOING MEDICAL SCHOOL MEDICAL SCHOOL APPLICATIONS. SO I’LL BE HERE NEXT YEAR GETTING A MASTER’S IN PUBLIC HEALTH, THEN MED SCHOOL HOPEFULLY AFTERWARDS. WELL, YOU ARE REMARKABLE. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. HOW SPECIAL IS IT TO RUN HERE IN PITTSBURGH? WHICH I HAVE TO THINK IS LIKE A SECOND HOME FOR YOU NOW. I THINK IT IS MY FIRST HOME NOW. I’VE BEEN HERE FOR. THIS IS MY BE MY FOURTH SUMMER HERE AND I LOVE IT EVERY YEAR. CAN’T WAIT TO BE HERE NEXT YEAR. CAN’T WAIT TO RUN IT AGAIN. AND YES, LOVE IT. SO SO HAPPY I’M HERE. THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY FOLLOW UP QUESTION. ARE WE COMING BACK FOR NEXT YEAR? WE’RE COMING BACK. COMING BACK, BACK BETTER THAN EVER. WILL YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT OUTFIT OR ARE YOU GOING TO KEEP THE CAP AND GOWN? I THINK I’M JUST GONNA WEAR MY SHORTS AND SHORT SLEEVE SHIRT, BUT. ALL RIGHT. WELL, YOU MIGHT NOT BE AS EASY TO FIND, BUT I’LL MAKE SURE I FIND YOU THEN. OKAY
Setting Records: 52,000 cross finish line in historic Pittsburgh Marathon weekend
Updated: 4:49 PM EDT May 3, 2026
The Pittsburgh Marathon ended with multiple record-breaking achievements Sunday afternoon. P3R said in a release that more than 52,000 participants took to the streets of Pittsburgh to earn the title of “Runner of STEEL.”RELATED VIDEO: Pitt graduate finishes Pittsburgh Marathon in cap and gown Sunday’s five races capped a weekend marked by sold-out events and the coldest race-day temperatures since the relaunch of the race in 2009.The men’s division of the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon featured a tightly contested battle at the front, with Pittsburgh native Will Loevner emerging victorious in 2:14:52, the release stated. Jared Ward followed seconds behind in 2:15:04 after the Americans ran stride-for-stride through the second half of the course, while Milton Rotich of Kenya claimed third in 2:17:10.In the women’s division, the release continued, Jane Bareikis defended her title for a third consecutive year with a time of 2:30:34 — six minutes faster than her 2025 finish. Morgan Jensen secured second with a time of 2:39:23, while Peyton McGovern earned a third-place finish in 2:57:07.Officials said roughly 26,000 runners from all 50 states and 34 countries accomplished their goals and earned their medals Sunday. READ OUR PITTSBURGH MARATHON COVERAGE:
PITTSBURGH —
The Pittsburgh Marathon ended with multiple record-breaking achievements Sunday afternoon.
P3R said in a release that more than 52,000 participants took to the streets of Pittsburgh to earn the title of “Runner of STEEL.”
RELATED VIDEO: Pitt graduate finishes Pittsburgh Marathon in cap and gown
Sunday’s five races capped a weekend marked by sold-out events and the coldest race-day temperatures since the relaunch of the race in 2009.
The men’s division of the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon featured a tightly contested battle at the front, with Pittsburgh native Will Loevner emerging victorious in 2:14:52, the release stated.
Jared Ward followed seconds behind in 2:15:04 after the Americans ran stride-for-stride through the second half of the course, while Milton Rotich of Kenya claimed third in 2:17:10.
In the women’s division, the release continued, Jane Bareikis defended her title for a third consecutive year with a time of 2:30:34 — six minutes faster than her 2025 finish.
Morgan Jensen secured second with a time of 2:39:23, while Peyton McGovern earned a third-place finish in 2:57:07.
Officials said roughly 26,000 runners from all 50 states and 34 countries accomplished their goals and earned their medals Sunday.
READ OUR PITTSBURGH MARATHON COVERAGE:
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