By SDCN Staff
San Diego, CA–The men’s and women’s half marathon first-place finishers at the 14th annual GOVX San Diego Half Marathon and 5K were not only returning participants from 2024 but also returning podium finishers.
The men’s first-place finisher and San Diego resident, Eddie Ramos, placed third in 2024, leveling up to the top spot this year. Maria Jose Ruiz Solorzano, placed second in last year’s race and returned to the 2025 race as the first-place finisher. Thousands of other finishers joined them along the route in downtown San Diego on Sunday.
San Diego locals overtook the top men’s half marathon division spots, with all three podium finishers residing in San Diego. Ramos, the men’s half marathon champion and first-place finisher, completed the 13.1 miles in 1:12:18. He was followed by the men’s half marathon second-place finisher, Nathan Wilber. Daniel Weiss took the third-place spot for the men’s half marathon.
The women’s half marathon course was led by Ruiz Solorzano, who finished with an impressive time of 1:15:55 and placed fourth overall. Second and third-place finishers for the women’s half marathon were Kai Bohannon and Bridget End. Jesse Lewis took first place in the non-binary division with a time of 1:41:03, followed by second and third-place finishers Cece Collins and Desiree Klassen. The full race results are posted here.
The GOVX San Diego Half Marathon took runners through five miles of waterfront, four historic communities, three parks, two miles of downtown streets and wrapped up with participants crossing the finish line under the historic Gaslamp Quarter sign. The 5K participants took on a flat and fast course that weaved through downtown San Diego.
The men’s 5K division was led by Jiovanni Garcia Barrera, who finished with a time of 16:30, followed by second and third-place finishers, Victor De La Paz and Eric Mayan. Evie Spengler led the women’s division with a time of 20:43. Alice Hong and Kathryn Woolbright came in shortly after to claim second and third place in the women’s 5K. J Martinez placed first in the non-binary division, finishing the 3.1 miles in 35:36, with Amanda Dohring and Julie Germain claiming second and third place in the non-binary 5K.
The GOVX San Diego Half Marathon and 5K attracts returning runners year after year for many reasons, including the opportunity to join their Half Marathon Legacy program. Runners who participate in the half marathon for consecutive years are automatically in the Legacy program. Each consecutive year, participants are rewarded with a new Legacy item, including branded shirts, jackets, hats, backpacks, and more to show off their continued commitment. Participants are also provided exclusive access to the Legacy Zone at the finish line festival. There are currently about 1,500 Legacy runners and of those, 192 have participated in the race every year since its inception.
The half marathon is a part of In Motion Events’ San Diego Foundation SoCal Triple Crown race series, which also includes the Carlsbad Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K, and the America’s Finest City Half Marathon and 5K. This trio offers a variety of courses and scenery throughout San Diego, providing athletes with a fun and unique running experience in distinct parts of the city and county. Athletes who participate in each race in the same calendar year, no matter the distance they participate in, will be awarded a San Diego Foundation SoCal Triple Crown medal to celebrate their accomplishment of completing the race series. Runners simply register for all three events separately, no additional registration or fee is required to qualify for the San Diego Foundation SoCal Triple Crown finisher award. Over 1,500 runners are currently on track to completing the 2025 San Diego Foundation SoCal Triple Crown. Registration for America’s Finest City Half Marathon and 5K, the final race of the series, is open.
“One of our main goals at In Motion Events is to create lasting memories for all our participants through our running events,” said Christine Adams, CEO of In Motions Events. “Seeing runners of all experience levels and abilities returning year after year is really a rewarding thing for our team. We love seeing all the familiar faces, and look forward to continuing to grow our running community at each and every race.”
The event’s title sponsor, GOVX, has also announced the renewal of their contract to continue their sponsorship of the local running event through 2027. This year was the second year that GOVX served as the event’s title sponsor. The race showcases GOVX’s investment in this community and brings additional focus to the event’s support of the military, first responders, emergency medical professionals, and their families who are very predominant community members in the San Diego area.
“For a second consecutive year, the GOVX Half Marathon and 5K challenged runners to push limits, embrace perseverance, and celebrate every mile,” said Alan Cole, GOVX CEO. “At GOVX, we are beyond grateful for the opportunity to return as the Title Sponsor and do our part to support the incredible athletic achievements of our local community.”
