Will Loevner had been close before but wasn’t able to break the winner’s tape in the Pittsburgh Marathon.
He was runner-up in 26.2-mile race two years ago and fifth last year.
On Sunday, no one stopped the Winchester Thurston graduate from realizing a dream.
Loevner completed the course in a winning time of 2 hours, 14 minutes, 52 seconds. The chilly morning air — it was 34 degrees at the 7 a.m. start before rising into the 40s and finally into the 50s — was welcomed by him and many of his elite full- and half-marathon runners.
The conclusion of his run caused him to reflect on many parts of his journey in running.
“I just remembered all the hard work I’ve done and all the miles training on those same streets that I ran today,” said Loevner, a member of the Pittsburgh Track Club who owns a personal marathon best of 2:12:59.
Will’s wife, Emma, and 15-month-old son, Finn, greeted him at the finish line, and their embrace was filled with emotion.
“That feeling was beyond compare, for sure,” Loevner said. “It was one of the most special moments of my life. Emma has done so much to support me in my training, so many mornings getting up before work and running, running through the bitter cold in the winter and so much more. There have been so many sacrifices, but to give them a hug, it was so very special and so worth it.”
More than 26,000 runners and walkers and 12 hand-cyclists — both the half and full marathons sold out — took to the streets as part of the largest Pittsburgh Marathon weekend in history. They set their paces in front of more than 100,000 spectators who lined the streets of multiple city neighborhoods.
Loevner said he welcomed the challenge from his elite competitors, including former U.S. Olympian Jared Ward, 37, who finished second — 12 seconds behind Loevner — and Kenyon Milton Rotich (2:17:09), the third-place finisher. Loevner took the lead for good with just 400 meters to go.
“I thought I was just going to start sprinting,” he said. “I couldn’t see the finish (line) yet, but I just took off. I made that turn hard, and I knew that I had it after that.”
Ward, who finished sixth in the marathon in the 2016 Summer Olympics, was right there battling with Loevner and Rotich, last year’s full marathon runner-up.
“It was fun pressing early with the half marathoners and then with Milton pushing on the uphills and Will and I trading off coming down the last 5K to 10K, pushing down the hills and into the flats.
“It was so much fun and just a great time with the crowds and the energy. Will ran a great race. It was awesome to be in a race like that with so much energy.”
Jane Bareikis was energized to complete a three-peat in the women’s full, and she knew there would be considerable competition.
But the American didn’t give an inch, let alone a mile, and cruised to a win in a time of 2:30:33, nine minutes clear of the runner-up, American Morgan Jensen. Bareikis was a little more than a minute off her personal best of 2:29:00.
“I was feeling much better overall today,” Bareikis said. “I also knew the course much better having run it before, and I was not getting through any injury. I was saying that if everything goes well, I should be able to win. This course was fast. The weather helped with how I was able to run. It wasn’t as bad as I was expecting.”
Bareikis said she was energized by the spectators and noticed many of them calling out her name as she passed. She said she’s looking forward to coming back next year for an attempt at a four-peat.
There was one new winner and one repeat champion in the half marathon.
Mohammed El Youssfi made the most of his Pittsburgh debut. The 28-year-old Moroccan won the 13.1-mile race in a time of 1:01:44, besting the field including American runner-up Aidan Reed (1:02:25).
El Youssfi was the fastest men’s elite entry having run a personal-best 59:21 in Houston earlier this year.
Youssfi said he appreciated the Pittsburgh hospitality throughout the weekend and was inspired by all of the spectators cheering and encouraging all the runners.
“I want to thank all the people who cheered me on to that win,” said Youssfi, who came close to reaching the course record of 1:01:21 set in 2023 by three-time men’s half-marathon champion Wesley Kiptoo.
“I love Pittsburgh and the roads here in the city. It was a very special moment for me when I crossed that finish line. I will come back next year. It was a lot of fun.”
Men’s 2025 half-marathon champion Dominic Ondoro finished fifth (1:03:27), and the 2024 champ, American Andrew Bowman, was sixth (1:03.38).
Buze Diriba Kejela was no stranger to the racing streets of Pittsburgh when she toed the start line Sunday morning. The 2023 women’s half marathon winner and a three-time Pittsburgh 10 Miler champion clocked a best time of 1:08:39.
She edged out the 2025 titlist, American Everlyn Kemboi, by 31 seconds. Kemboi ran a 1:09:10, nearly a minute faster than her winning time last year.
Three-time U.S. national champion and two-time Pittsburgh half-marathon champion Stephanie Bruce (2019, 2024) took fifth.
Kejela said the cool temperatures and warm reception from the spectators in each neighborhood again gave her energy as she maintained an average pace of 5:15 before hitting the victory tape on the Boulevard of the Allies.
Both Loevner and Bareikis took home $7,000 for their full-marathon victories, whereas Kejela and El Youssfi each pocketed $10,000 as part of the overall $102,000 prize purse.
Sunday’s marathon races capped a full weekend of race activities as more than 52,000 took part in 11 events. That included more than 11,000 for the Pittsburgh Kids Marathon.
Troy Schooley, CEO of P3R, the engine behind all of the weekend activities and events, was there to greet the runners, walkers and hand cyclists as they crossed the finish line. Some were in tears and some were smiling from ear to ear, but all were running for a purpose.
“So many of them set out on a journey six to nine months ago with wanting to get to that start line,” Schooley said.
“There was such a great vibe all morning. The exciting part is that there were people from all over the world. They took an unbelievable tour of our city. It was perfect running weather. So many people gave so much of themselves to make today and this entire weekend the best it’s ever been.”
2026 Pittsburgh Marathon results
Full marathon
Men
1. Will Loevner, 2:14.52
2. Jared Ward, 2:15.04
3. Milton Rotich, 2:17.10
4. Colin Martin, 2:18.16
5. Alex Diltz, 2:21.17
Women
1. Jane Bareikis, 2:30.34
2. Morgan Jensen, 2:39.23
3. Peyton McGovern, 2:57.07
4. Lauren Reasoner, 2:59.25
5. Arielle Hesse, 3:02:55
Half marathon
Men
1. Mohammed El Youssfi, 1:01:45
2. Aidan Reed, 1:02:26
3. Merga Gemeda, 1:02:43
4. Amanuel Mesel, 1:02:58
5. Dominic Ondoro, 1:03:28
Women
1. Buze Diriba Kejela, 1:08:39
2. Everlyn Kemboi, 1:09:11
3. Monicah Ngige, 1:10:37
4. Cleo Boyd, 1:12:26
5. Stephanie Bruce, 1:12:28
Hand-cycle
1. Marshall Tempest, 1:40.16
2. Tom Antolic, 1:47.58
3. Dan McCoy, 1:51.24
4. Nicholas Romano, 1:54.08
5. Thomas Wagner, 2:09.05