
By SDCN Editor
San Diego, CA–The 13th annual GOVX San Diego Half Marathon and 5K concluded on Sunday morning, drawing runners from across the nation and around the globe to downtown San Diego.
Despite the diverse field, local athletes showcased their prowess, dominating the podium with nine out of 15 spots across the men’s, women’s, and non-binary divisions.
Jackson Friesth emerged as the men’s half marathon champion and overall winner, clocking in at 1:10:29 for the 13.1-mile course. Skip Carmichael secured second place, with San Diego resident Eddie Ramos following closely behind in third. The women’s half marathon saw Paula Lamont leading the pack with a time of 1:18:06, trailed by Maria Jose Ruiz Solorzano and Bridie Robillard in second and third, respectively. Both Lamont and Robillard call San Diego home.
In the non-binary division, Lee Laydon claimed victory with a time of 2:24:50, followed by Elsa Bejarano and Michelle Flores. San Diego locals swept the 5K division, with Abraham Morales finishing first for the men in 16:50, and Meredith Pathria leading the women with a time of 21:12. Doreen Karp took the top spot in the non-binary category with a time of 11:24.
The half marathon route took participants through five miles of waterfront, four historic communities, three parks, and two miles of downtown streets, and concluded in the historic Gaslamp Quarter. The 5K offered a flat and fast course in downtown San Diego.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better race day. While the temperatures were a bit crisp for San Diego, our runners arrived in the sunshine at the finish line,” said Christine Adams, CEO of In Motion Events. “The energy of all the participants and spectators made for a great experience for everyone out there on race day, on or off the course!”
This year marked GOVX’s first year as the event’s title sponsor, highlighting their commitment to the community and honoring military, first responders, emergency medical professionals, and their families, who are prominent members of the San Diego area. Among the participants were GOVX’s CEO, Alan Cole, and his son, both completing the half marathon.
“It’s an honor to have the GOVX name associated with an event like the San Diego Half Marathon and 5K, and working with the team at In Motion Events has been a pleasure. We’re already looking forward to sponsoring and participating in next year’s race, ” said Aaron Pelander, GOVX VP of Brand Marketing.
The race is part of the In Motion Events SoCal Triple Crown race series, along with the Carlsbad Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K, and the America’s Finest City Half Marathon and 5K. Athletes who participate in each race in the same calendar year, regardless of distance, will receive a SoCal Triple Crown medal to commemorate their achievement.
Registration for the America’s Finest City Half Marathon and 5K, the final race of the series, is open.