Emma Grace Hurley, 28, achieved a remarkable feat at the Chicago Marathon, clocking in at 2:20:47. This performance not only secured her seventh place overall but also established the fastest marathon debut by an American runner.
Her average pace of 5:22 significantly surpasses the previous American debut record of 2:22:10 set by Fiona O’Keeffe, who won the 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials. This acceleration also positions Hurley as the sixth-fastest American in the history of the marathon distance.
In the race, fellow American runners also shone: Dakotah Popehn finished 12th overall with a personal best time of 2:24:00, while Elena Hayday came in 13th at 2:24:57. For their commendable performances, Hurley earned $15,000, Popehn $12,000, and Hayday $10,000.
With her personal pacer Caleb Kerr by her side, Hurley opened strong, completing the first 5K in 16:24—a brisk 5:17 pace. Their goal was a sub-2:20 finish, and they hit the halfway mark at 1:09:50.
During the post-race press conference, Hurley reflected on her experience. She noted an effort to increase her pace at mile 19, which resulted in a 5:15 split, but the bright sun and heat presented challenges over the final miles, ultimately causing her to slow.
“It was a little toasty over the last six miles. I lost it a bit,” Hurley admitted. Nevertheless, she closed the last 10K at a pace of 5:28, finishing enthusiastic as the crowds cheered her on. “It’s a great place to start. I’m very happy with it,” she said.
Hurley's entry into marathon running was met with high expectations stemming from her previous successes, including winning the 2024 USATF Running Circuit and achieving a half marathon debut time of 1:08:26. This transition to longer events was spurred by a newfound confidence in her speed and endurance.
The anticipation around her marathon debut grew after a near-second place finish at the USATF Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta, where an unfortunate detour hampered her progress. However, she soon rebounded by setting a record for the American 8K with a time of 24:29.
In September, another peak performance in Copenhagen solidified her status with a personal best of 1:06:23 at the USATF Half Marathon Championships, further intensifying the buzz around her.
Handling the mounting pressure with poise, Hurley expressed both excitement and curiosity leading up to the race. “I’ve heard the chatter out there,” she said, emphasizing her genuine enthusiasm over nervousness, which stems from a long-term training philosophy with her coach, Andrew Begley.
Begley believed that Hurley had the potential to run a 2:20 marathon under ideal conditions but focused on a top-10 finish rather than strict time goals. They sought a learning experience from the race to guide future training.
Post-race, Hurley aimed to reflect on the lessons learned during the marathon, notably the importance of pacing and patience in the later stages of the race.
Despite these challenges, her optimism remains high. “I was excited before today, and I’m even more excited after today,” Hurley stated, confidently eyeing her future in competitive distance running.
With this successful debut, Hurley's name is being discussed alongside Olympic candidacy considerations for 2028, a goal that she and her coach have pursued for years. Looking ahead, she plans to spend the spring focusing on shorter races while potentially tackling another marathon in the fall.
The Chicago Marathon also saw new qualifiers for the 2028 Olympic Trials, including Kelby Laughner (2:35:41), Alli Sefanov (2:35:50), and Sarah Chandler (2:36:06), adding further excitement to the ongoing marathon discussion.
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Cindy is a freelance health and fitness writer, author, and podcaster who’s contributed regularly to Runner’s World since 2013. She’s the coauthor of both Breakthrough Women’s Running: Dream Big and Train Smart and Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries, a book about the psychology of sports injury from Bloomsbury Sport. Cindy specializes in covering injury prevention and recovery, everyday athletes accomplishing extraordinary things, and the active community in her beloved Chicago, where winter forges deep bonds between those brave enough to train through it.
