Fort Worth’s Cowtown Marathon drew a record field of more than 29,000 runners this weekend for its 48th edition.
The two-day event, North Texas’ largest multi-event road race, attracted participants from across the U.S. and nine countries. Organizers billed it as a sold-out Boston Marathon qualifier featuring five certified distances spread across Saturday, February 28, and Sunday, March 1: a 5K, 10K, half-marathon, marathon, and ultra-marathon.
McKale Montgomery of Fort Worth etched her name in history Sunday by becoming the first woman to claim the ultra-marathon’s overall title. She clocked 3 hours, 33 minutes, 11 seconds to outpace every male entrant in the 18-year-old race. Dustin Darakhshan, 43, of Richardson, Texas, led the men in 3:34:02.
In the half-marathon, Sergio Men of Arlington, Texas, topped the men’s division at 1:07:02. Casey Novelo, 22, of Bedford, Texas, took second in 1:08:53, with Maxwell Murphy, 25, of Fort Worth third at 1:10:03.
Jennifer Pope of Plano paced the women’s half-marathon in 1:19:42. Katlyn Phillips of Allen followed in 1:22:20, and Megan Williamson of Denton placed third in 1:22:40.
Matt Campbell of Dallas posted the marathon‘s fastest time at 2:37:22. Brian Carroll of San Angelo, Texas, came second in 2:39:06, and Albert Marban of Dallas took third in 2:39:38.
Sadie Smith of Kirkwood, Missouri, led the women’s marathon in 2:59:37. Morgan Mengini of Austin, Texas, finished second at 3:07:50, with Kayla Straub of Newton, Kansas, third in 3:13:47.
Saturday’s shorter races produced these top results: Zachary Smith of Rhome, Texas, won the men’s 10K in 35:43.8, while Jessica Smith of Trophy Club, Texas, led the women in 39:15.1. Glen Shumaker of Boulder, Colorado, captured the adult men’s 5K in 16:48.4, and Kaitlin Walker of Fort Worth headed the women at 18:17.6.
Greyson Potter of Flower Mound, Texas, won the boys’ kids 5K, with Stella Simpson of Fort Worth topping the girls.
Proceeds supported the Children’s Activities for Life and Fitness (C.A.L.F.) Program, which awarded 2025 grants to more than 5,400 children for running shoes and race entries. The initiative has aided over 65,000 kids since 2009.
The 49th Cowtown Marathon weekend is set for February 26-28, 2027.
