Houston Marathon 2026: Mantz Out, Levins vs. Linkletter Rivalry Ignites
TRENDINGELITE & INDUSTRY NEWS
Houston has always been the "Space City," but in the running world, it’s known for launching stars into orbit. It was on these very streets just one year ago that Conner Mantz delivered a performance for the ages, clocking a blistering 59:17 to shatter the American Record. That run proved once and for all that Houston’s flat, sea-level tarmac is the fastest in North America.
However, as the official 2026 professional fields were finalized, a glaring omission changed the entire complexion of the race: Conner Mantz will not be back to defend his title. While Mantz recently signaled a shift toward the Boston Marathon after a minor injury timeout, his absence leaves a massive power vacuum in Houston.
On Sunday, January 11, we won't be watching a victory lap—we will be watching a wide-open war between Olympic legends, a fierce Canadian rivalry, and the most dangerous group of "debutantes" in the history of the event.
One Morning, Two World-Class Races
To understand this weekend, you have to understand the layout. Houston is unique in hosting two World Athletics Gold Label races simultaneously. While they share the first 7.6 miles of the course, they are two very different battles:
The Aramco Houston Half Marathon (13.1 Miles): The "Speed Trap." Starting at 6:45 AM, this race features the world's fastest half-marathoners and the most anticipated pro debuts.
The Chevron Houston Marathon (26.2 Miles): The "Grind." Starting at 6:55 AM, this is the tactical masterpiece where veteran endurance meets new American citizenship.
1. The Aramco Half Marathon: The "Canadian Civil War"
While the American headlines focus on the absence of Mantz, the international story of the weekend is the "Battle for the North." Canada’s two greatest distance runners, Cam Levins and Rory Linkletter, are set for an epic rematch in Houston.
Just last August, Linkletter edged out Levins by a single second to take the Canadian Half-Marathon Championship. Now, they return to the site of their greatest successes. Levins currently holds the Canadian record (1:00:18), but Linkletter—who set his personal best of 1:00:57 here—is in the form of his life.
Elite Women’s Half Marathon Field
Tsigie Gebreselama (ETH): Personal Best: 1:04:21. The 12th fastest woman in history; she is the heavy favorite to break the Houston course record.
Veronica Loleo (KEN): Personal Best: 1:06:40. Coming off a massive 2025 season where she won the Boilermaker 15K and Lilac Bloomsday.
Taylor Roe (USA): Personal Best: 1:07:22. The reigning U.S. Half Marathon Champion and the top American seed in a very deep domestic field.
Amanda Vestri (USA): Personal Best: 1:07:25. Finished 4th here last year; she is one of the most consistent and rapidly improving road racers in the U.S.
Dakotah Popehn (USA): Personal Best: 1:07:42. Formerly Dakotah Lindwurm; the top American woman from the Paris Olympic Marathon returns to the roads after her historic 12th-place finish.
Honami Maeda (JPN): Personal Best: 1:08:28. The Japanese national record holder in the marathon (2:18:59) bringing world-class speed to the half distance.
Elite Men’s Half Marathon Field
Vincent Ngetich (KEN): Personal Best: 59:09. The fastest man in the field and the heavy favorite to take the title.
Galen Rupp (USA): Personal Best: 59:47. The 4-time Olympian and American legend looking to prove he is still a force at the half-marathon distance.
Hillary Bor (USA): Personal Best: 59:55. A 2-time Olympian and steeplechase star who has successfully transitioned to elite road racing.
Cam Levins (CAN): Personal Best: 1:00:18. The North American record holder in the marathon; he uses Houston as his primary speed test every year.
Habtom Samuel (ERI): DEBUT. The 2025 NCAA Cross Country Champion. This is the most anticipated half-marathon debut in years.
2. The Chevron Marathon: A New Era of American Hopes
In the full 26.2-mile Chevron Houston Marathon, the narrative shifts to citizenship and legacy. Zouhair Talbi, the 2024 champion and current course record holder (2:06:39), returns—but this time, as a U.S. citizen. Talbi, who became a citizen in March 2025, aims to be the first American man to win Houston since 2002.
He is joined by Biruktayit Degefa, a three-time Houston champion who is also now competing as a U.S. citizen. Degefa has a legendary record in Houston: in seven finishes, she has never placed lower than fourth.
Elite Women’s Marathon Field
Calli Hauger-Thackery (GBR): Personal Best: 2:21:24. The second-fastest British woman in history. She is making a brave, quick turnaround just five weeks after winning the Honolulu Marathon.
Biruktayit Degefa (USA): Personal Best: 2:21:34. A 3-time Houston champion and course legend. Now competing as a U.S. citizen, she has never finished lower than fourth in seven appearances here.
Janet Ruguru (KEN): Personal Best: 2:23:00. A formidable competitor who has consistently run at the front of major international fields; she'll be the primary challenger to the top two seeds.
Tejinesh Tulu (ETH): Personal Best: 2:24:37. A rising Ethiopian talent looking to make a major breakthrough on Houston's notoriously fast and flat course.
Carolin Garrett (USA): DEBUT. The most anticipated American debut in the full marathon field this year.
Sara Hall & Fiona O’Keeffe (USA): PACERS. Having the former American record holder (Hall) and the 2024 Olympic Trials Champion (O'Keeffe) will be present.
Elite Men’s Marathon Field
Zouhair Talbi (USA): Personal Best: 2:06:39. The defending champion and course record holder. Now a U.S. citizen, he’s looking to become the first American man to win Houston since 2002.
Adane Kebede (ETH): Personal Best: 2:06:54. The 2023 Cape Town Marathon champion. He is the biggest threat to Talbi’s course record and brings incredible tactical experience.
Yemane Haileselassie (ERI): Personal Best: 2:08:25. Last year’s runner-up. He’s returning with a chip on his shoulder after a second-place finish in Honolulu just last month.
Shadrack Kimining (KEN): Personal Best: 2:08:29. The third-place finisher from 2025. He knows this course perfectly and is a master of even-split racing.
Teshome Mekonen (USA): Personal Best: 2:10:16. A former 1:00:02 half-marathoner who has successfully transitioned to the full distance and finished 3rd here in 2023.
Ethan Gregg (USA): DEBUT. A standout collegiate talent making his highly anticipated transition to the professional marathon ranks.
Seeing Sara Hall and Fiona O’Keeffe on the pacing list is significant. Sara Hall previously held the American Half Marathon record on this course, and Fiona O’Keeffe is the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon champion. Their presence as pacers suggests the lead pack is targeting a very fast time—likely chasing the course record of 2:19:12.
Editor’s Strategy Analysis: The Mile 7.6 "Split"
Because the races start just 10 minutes apart, the early miles will be a massive, high-speed pack of elite athletes. The most critical moment of the morning happens at Mile 7.6, where the courses diverge. The Aramco Half runners will veer off for their final sprint, while the Chevron Marathoners must settle in for the long haul. Fans can check the Official 2026 Course Map to see the exact location of the split near Mandell Street.
How to Watch
Aramco Half Start: 6:45 AM CST
Chevron Marathon Start: 6:55 AM CST
Live TV: ABC13 Houston (Coverage begins at 6:30 AM)
Streaming: ESPN+ (National)
Live Leaderboard: Official Tracking & Results