Press Releases
December 2, 2025
 
CHANDLER, Ariz., December 2, 2025 – The Marathon Project produced one of the best performances in American history in 2020 when Sara Hall ran the then second-fastest U.S. mark ever--2 hours, 20 minutes, 32 seconds. Hall crossed the line more than two full minutes ahead of runner-up Keira D'Amato. The Marathon Project presented by HOKA returns in 2025 and features what should be a much closer race up front with experienced Americans Kellyn Taylor and Paige Wood expected to do battle with German debutant Blanka Dörfel. Taylor has a long history of success in the marathon including five top-ten finishes at the TCS New York City Marathon, two top-ten finishes at the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon, and a then course record win at the 2018 Grandma's Marathon. She was also third at The Marathon Project in 2020 in 2:25:22.

Wood made her debut at The Marathon Project in 2020, finishing seventh in 2:28:43. Two years later she won the USATF National Championships in 2:26:02. Now, two years after having her first child, she enters The Marathon Project in good form coming off a second-place finish at last month's Philadelphia Half Marathon. 

Dörfel, meanwhile, is taking a swing at the marathon distance at the age of 23 after a year that saw her post a top-ten finish at the Generali Berlin Half Marathon in 1:09:46 and a runner-up finish at the Berlin 10k in October in 31:52.

Other sub 2:30 performers expected to battle for podium spots include Americans Molly Grabill and Jane Bareikis as well as Sweden's Hanna Lindholm. Grabill owns a personal best of 2:26:46 set at last year's Valencia Marathon while Bareikis is coming off a victory at the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon earlier this fall. Lindholm is one of the fastest masters runners in the world and will be shooting to run 2:28:00 or faster at the age of 46. Fans should also keep an eye on Peru's Mica Wood who will be making her debut after an outstanding 2025 that has included a national record at 3,000 meters and personal bests at 10k and the half marathon. 

Perhaps the biggest story will be how many athletes can hit the Olympic Trials Standard of 2:37:00. American marathon star and Phoenix resident, Jess McClain, will be part of a group of five pacers leading dozens of hopefuls as they try to qualify for the 2028 Trials. Fans can watch the race LIVE on Flotrack on Sunday, December 21 beginning at 9 a.m. EST. 

About The Marathon Project
The Marathon Project aims to create a premier race weekend experience for professionals and amateurs alike, providing each participant the opportunity to run as fast as possible. For more information, please visit www.themarathonproject.com.

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ATHLETE BIOS

Kellyn Taylor (USA - 2:24:29) - Taylor has been a consistent force on the American distance running scene for more than a decade. She made her marathon debut in 2015 at the Chevron Houston Marathon, running 2:28:40–the sixth-fastest U.S. debut ever at the time. A year later she finished sixth at the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon and fourth in the 10,000 at the Track Trials. In 2017, she was eighth at the TCS New York City Marathon—kicking off a string of five top-10’s in NYC, including a sixth-place finish in 2021. Her marathon PB came in 2018 at the Grandma’s Marathon when she ran 2:24:29 to win by four minutes and set a then course record. Her second fastest time came at TMP 2020 where she was third in 2:25:22. She’s also won two USATF national titles on the road, a bronze medal at the Pan American Games, and NACAC gold medals in cross country and on the track.

Paige Wood (USA - 2:26:02) - Wood was seventh at The Marathon Project in 2020 in 2:28:43—the fastest U.S. female under-25 time ever at the time. She went on to win the USATF Marathon Championships two years later in 2:26:02. After having her first child, Nolan, in the fall of 2023, Wood is back and in top form. She recently finished second at the Philadelphia Half Marathon in 1:11:21—a race she ran as a workout in her buildup to TMP. Listen to her appearance on the Inside The Marathon Project podcast HERE.

Blanka Dörfel (GER - DEBUT) - Dörfel, at just 23 years of age, is an up-and-coming star in Germany. She’s shown tremendous promise on the roads this year with a 31:52 for 10 kilometers and a 1:09:46 in the half marathon. She has been putting in a huge block of training in Boulder, Colo. in advance of TMP.

Molly Grabill (USA - 2:26:46) - The University of Oregon grad was a six-time NCAA All American for the Ducks and is currently enjoying a career resurgence after running a personal best of 2:29:45 at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 2023 and then slashing another three minutes off of that in 2024 with a 2:26:46 in Valencia. She was third at the Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon in the build-up to TMP.

Jane Bareikis (USA - 2:29:00) - Bareikis is a naturalized citizen who has been steadily improving at the marathon distance. After a 2:42:38 debut in 2018, she chopped off nearly ten minutes in just three years with a 2:33:54 at the Grandma’s Marathon in 2021. Her 2:29:00 at the BMW Berlin Marathon in 2023 remains her personal best but she is coming off a victory at the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon earlier this fall in hot and humid conditions.

Hanna Lindholm (SWE - 2:28:59) - One of the best masters runners in the world, Lindholm will be attempting to run at or near her personal best at 46 years of age. As recently as January of 2024, she ran a 1:11:04 half marathon so running well under 2:30 is certainly possible. Word is that her training has been going very well in advance of TMP.

Mica Wood (PER - DEBUT) - Wood is an up-and-comer in the sport and she documents her training journey on social media along with her husband, Adam. Their join Instagram account, @thewoodsrun, has more than 116,000 followers. Training amidst beautiful backdrops in Utah, they share training details but also plenty of fun moments before and after their runs. Make no mistake, though, Wood is here to compete. She represents her native Peru—she spent her childhood there and is the great-granddaughter of Luis Gálvez Chipoco, known as the "father of Peruvian athletics." A sub 2:30:00 debut would make her one of the fastest Peruvians of all time.

Lanni Marchant (CAN - 2:28:00) - Marchant has had a long and successful career as one of Canada’s top marathoners over the last 15 years. A former ice skater, she also holds a dual law degree from the University of Ottawa and Michigan State University. Her personal best of 31:46 for 10,000 meters, 1:10:47 for the half marathon and 2:28:00 for the marathon make her one of the most accomplished athletes in the field.

Alia Hansen (USA - 2:30:41) - Alia is a TMP alum, having run the event in 2020 where she finished 14th in a personal best of 2:30:41. Hansen was a four-time NCAA Division II All American at Chico State University and has been a staple of the Roots Running Project team as a pro. She is coached by her husband, the team’s founder—Richie Hansen—who will be running in the Gold Wave Marathon on Saturday.

Brittney Feivor-Smith (USA - 2:30:51) - A doctor of Physical Therapy, Feivor-Smith is a graduate of Marquette University where she was a standout performer for the Golden Eagles. Like so many athletes at The Marathon Project, she has a full time job but manages to put in the work to be able to race at a very high level—with a personal best in the marathon of 2:30:51.

Sofia Camacho (MEX - 2:31:29) - Camacho is a non-binary runner, a drag artist, a running coach, and more. Born in Boca Raton, Florida, Camacho went to high school at the American School of Paris in France before returning to the United States to attend college at Columbia University in New York City. They represent Mexico in international competition. For more, check out this profile from Runner’s World titled, The Incandescent Rise of Sofia Camacho.

Rachel Hannah (CAN - 2:34:33) - The reigning Canadian national champion in the marathon, Hannah is a six-time Canadian champion overall and an accomplished athlete across all disciplines including cross country—she represented Canada at the 2013 and 2015 World Championships. Hannah is a registered dietician and a sports nutrition consultant as well. She talked about her decision her life, her running career, and her goals for TMP on a recent episode of The Inspired Soles Podcast with Carolyn Coffin. Listen HERE.

Jaci Smith (USA - 2:36:34) - A member of the United States Air Force, Smith serves her country while still training at a high level as a member of the Hansons Brooks Distance Project team. Smith had an outstanding collegiate career at the Air Force Academy where she was an NCAA All American in cross country and track. More recently, she won the Route 66 Half Marathon as a tune-up for TMP.

Jessica Waytchowicz (USA - 2:33:02) - Waytchowicz has enjoyed a successful run at the 26.2 mile distance including a victory at the 2022 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon and runner-up finish in 2024 where she set her personal best of 2:33:02. In her “day job” she serves as the owner and creative director of Peakside Media in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Briana Boehmer (USA - 2:33:20) - Boehmer has an interesting history in endurance sports. She ran cross country and track at the University of Colorado and then the University of Wisconsin before moving to the Triathlon post-collegiately. After a long and successful career in that sport, she moved back to running and debuted in the marathon at age 42 at the California International Marathon where she ran 2:33:20—a then masters course record.