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<\/p>\nMarch 15 wasn\u2019t Rowen Wilcko\u2019s original orientation of New York City.<\/p>\n
The Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy student formerly traveled to its boroughs for a field trip.<\/p>\n
Wilcko\u2019s recent Big Apple tour also was guided.<\/p>\n
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Only this time, it was more of a solo variety.<\/p>\n
Wilcko, who\u2019s competed for Erie High\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Wilcko, at 1 hour, 15 minutes, 55 seconds, was first for the event\u2019s age 19-under male division. Oscar Greenberg, a senior for Manhattan\u2019s Bard High School, was second at 1:18:15.<\/p>\n
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Rowen Wilcko, Erie High cross country<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m pretty proud of myself,\u201d Wikco said, \u201calthough I think I actually could have gone (faster). I was aiming for the 1:13 to 1:14 range, but the wind along (Manhattan\u2019s) FDR Drive just killed me. At least I got to go (under) 1:16.\u201d<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
More: District 10 track & field preview | Erie County returns two state champs<\/a><\/p>\n Unexpected invite<\/p>\n Wilcko went from taking up running to winning his age group for a half marathon in less than two years. Last summer\u2019s Presque Isle Half Marathon was one of his previous three.<\/p>\n Wilcko was more shocked that he was chosen for the race than winning it for his age group.<\/p>\n \u201cI saw an ad for it back in October,\u201d he said. \u201cThought I might as well apply and see what happens. I really wasn\u2019t 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\u2019t (immediately) read it, but saw it came with congratulations and a big exclamation point.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s when I realized, \u2018Wait a minute, I think I got in!\u2019<\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n Unlike November\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n More: Erie High’s Schneider a gold medalist at Friday’s PIAA track and field meet<\/a><\/p>\n Marathon on to-do list<\/p>\n Wilcko said long-distance running is definitely for him. So much so, he decided to skip the Royals\u2019 2026 track season to train for over-the road events.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s help, he seeks to break the 1:10 mark come July\u2019s Presque Isle Half Marathon.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n As for Wilcko\u2019s first start in a full marathon, he said it will occur.<\/p>\n Just not as a Collegiate student.<\/p>\n \u201cThat definitely won\u2019t happen until I\u2019m out of high school,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m focusing on (half marathons) and we\u2019ll see what happens from there.\u201d<\/p>\n Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com<\/a>. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.<\/p>\n![\"Rowen](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/d68af0b8e3a1b6179a0ba771049684cb.jpeg\"\/)
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