In a year brimming with patriotic pride as the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, the 54th annual Chevron Houston Marathon delivered a moment of historic significance. For the first time since 2002, an American man claimed victory in this prestigious race. Just after 9 a.m. on Sunday, Zouhair Talbi crossed the finish line, not only securing the win but also setting a new course record with an astonishing time of 2:05:45. But here's where it gets even more compelling: Talbi’s journey to this triumph is as inspiring as the win itself.
Talbi, who emigrated to the U.S. in 2025 and joined the Army reserves, returned to the marathon as an American citizen, fulfilling a dream he’d held since arriving in the country. 'It was my first time carrying the U.S. flag, which has been a dream for me since I came to this country,' he said, draped in the American flag and wearing the iconic Stetson cowboy hat awarded to winners. His connection to this race runs deep—he previously won in Houston in 2024 with a personal best of 2:06:39 and has since represented his home country of Morocco in the Olympic marathon. Talbi’s recent victories, including a top 10 finish in the Boston Marathon and a win at the Bank of America 13.1 in Chicago, underscore his relentless pursuit of excellence.
The race itself was a nail-biter, with Talbi and 29-year-old Adane Kebede Gebre of Ethiopia trading leads throughout. Gebre finished just 31 seconds behind Talbi with a time of 2:06:16. 'I'm grateful for the competition,' Talbi admitted. 'That's when I dug deeper.' And this is the part most people miss: Talbi’s strategic patience, waiting to kick into gear until the latter portion of the race, proved to be the game-changer. When asked if he could go faster, Talbi smiled and replied, 'Maybe I'll come next time and try to go even faster.'
But here’s where it gets controversial: While Talbi’s victory is undeniably historic, it also raises questions about the dominance of international runners in U.S. marathons. Is this a one-off triumph, or the beginning of a resurgence for American long-distance runners? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
The women’s race was equally thrilling, with Great Britain’s Calli Hauger-Thackery claiming the Stetson cowboy hat as the champion with a time of 2:24:17. Her husband served as her pacer, and the two shared an emotional embrace at the finish line. Hauger-Thackery, who had initially planned to compete in the 2025 Aramco Houston Half Marathon before a bout with the flu altered her plans, praised the cooler temperatures that created ideal running conditions. Her win comes on the heels of her victory in the 2025 JAL Honolulu Marathon, solidifying her place among the world’s top runners.
While an American woman didn’t take the top spot, Sara Hall made waves by breaking the master’s record (for runners 40 and older) by nearly two minutes, finishing with a time of 2:26:42. In the Aramco Houston Half Marathon, Eritrea’s 22-year-old Habtom Samuel stole the show with a debut time of 59:01, shattering the previous course record. Samuel, the reigning NCAA Cross Country Champion, celebrated his victory with a brief sprint, proudly waving his country’s flag.
The women’s half marathon was equally intense, with Ethiopia’s Fantaye Belayneh edging out compatriot Tsigie Gebreselama by mere seconds, finishing in 1:04:49. While neither set a record, their times were nothing short of remarkable.
With 30,000 athletes from all 50 states and 52 countries participating, and 250,000 spectators lining the streets, the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon remain world-class events. The oldest runner this year? An inspiring 88-year-old, proving that age is just a number. If you missed ABC13’s live coverage, catch the replay at 6 p.m. Sunday—you might even spot yourself in the crowd! Watch wherever you stream ABC13.
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