A Historic Victory for America's Marathon Runner
In a year that marks the 250th anniversary of the United States, the 54th annual Chevron Houston Marathon witnessed an extraordinary feat. An American man, Zouhair Talbi, emerged as the champion, breaking a 20-year drought since the last American victory in 2002. But here's where it gets controversial...
Talbi, with a remarkable time of 2:05:45, not only won the race but also set a new course record. He attributed his success to the pacers who kept him on track. The race was a thrilling battle between Talbi and Adane Kebede Gebre of Ethiopia, with lead changes keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. Gebre finished just behind Talbi with a time of 2:06:16.
Talbi shared with ABC13's Bob Slovak that Gebre's close pursuit fueled his determination to cross the finish line first. "I'm grateful for the competition; it pushed me to dig deeper," Talbi said. He explained his strategy, waiting for the right moment to make his move as they approached the latter stages of the race.
And this is the part most people miss... Talbi's journey to this victory is an inspiring one. He emigrated to the United States in 2025 and joined the Army reserves, returning to the Chevron Houston Marathon as an American citizen. "Carrying the U.S. flag was a dream come true for me," Talbi said, donning the iconic Stetson cowboy hat and draped in the American flag.
Talbi's connection with this race runs deep. He won in Houston in 2024 with a personal best of 2:06:39 and has since represented his home country, Morocco, in the Olympic marathon. His achievements include a top 10 finish in the Boston Marathon and a recent win at the Bank of America 13.1 in Chicago.
The Chevron Houston Marathon was a family affair for Talbi, as his wife, Elizabeth, also competed and improved her previous time.
On the women's side, Great Britain's Calli Hauger-Thackery claimed the Stetson cowboy hat as the women's champion with a time of 2:24:17. She embraced her husband, who served as her pacer, after crossing the finish line. Hauger-Thackery, an All-American at the University of New Mexico, praised the cooler temperatures, a welcome change from the humidity she experienced in Hawaii just a month ago, where she won the 2025 JAL Honolulu Marathon.
While an American woman didn't take the top spot, the U.S. still had a strong showing. Sara Hall broke the master's record (for those 40 and older) by an impressive two minutes.
In the Aramco Houston Half Marathon, Eritrea's Habtom Samuel, 22, made his half marathon and road race debut with a stunning victory, setting a new course record with a time of 59:01. Samuel, the reigning NCAA Cross Country Champion, runs for the University of New Mexico Lobos team.
The Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon are world-class events, attracting athletes from all 50 states and 52 countries. This year, 30,000 athletes participated in front of 250,000 spectators, continuing a tradition that began in 1972 at Memorial Park.
So, what do you think? Is this a sign of a new era for American marathon runners? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
