Stoner Wins U.S. Marathon Championship

Syracuse alum Paige Stoner won the U.S. Championship in the women’s marathon on Sunday, setting a new course record at the California International Marathon in the process.

Stoner, who crossed the line in 2:26:02, was one 1:39 faster than Lauren Hurley, who took second. In addition to Stoner, fellow ‘Cuse alum Maegan Krifchin was seventh in 2:29:21.

Stoner is a five-time ACC Champion at ‘Cuse and five-time USTFCCCA All-American. She is Syracuse’s top finisher ever in women’s cross country, taking 17th in 2017 at the NCAA Championships. She is also the lone ACC individual cross country champion in the women’s team’s history. Since graduating, she has competed in everything from the steeplechase to the marathon at the championship level.

For Krifchin, it was her third marathon in 32 days. She ran 2:40.52 at the New York City Marathon on Nov. 6, followed by 2:31.41 at the Philly Marathon on Nov. 20, before today’s personal best in Sacramento.

Krifchin has been a strong competitor in marathons for the better part of the last decade, finishing seventh at the 2016 US Olympic Marathon Trials. She won the Philadelphia Half Marathon in 2015 as well and took second this year at the event.. She was also a runner-up in the 2012 U.S. Half Marathon Championships and was the top American finisher at the World Half Marathon Trials later that year.