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First-time marathoner Benjamin Randall wins 2023 Colorado Marathon with new course record

Chris Abshire, Fort Collins Coloradoan
·4 min read

Benjamin Randall just wanted to run his first full marathon in under 2 hours, 40 minutes.

He hit that mark. With ease.

For good measure, Randall also set a new Colorado Marathon course record by more than a minute, winning the 2023 edition in 2 hours, 24 minutes and 6 seconds on Sunday morning in Fort Collins.

"It's unbelievable, really. Just euphoric, in a word," Randall said mere minutes after crossing the finish line, barely even breathing heavy.

Randall may have been running his first full marathon, but he's no stranger to intense race training and competition.

The 22-year-old Colorado State graduate student/teacher has competed with the CSU Triathlon club team and was a top-40 collegiate triathlete in the country, also qualifying for the 2022 Worlds 70.3 Ironman half triathlon.

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He credited that background for his impressive marathon debut, running at a robust 5:30 per mile pace on an overcast but mild morning that gave way to sun in town around 9 a.m.

"I’m a firm believer that triathlon is one way to just kickstart your aerobic engine," Randall said. "That’s a testament to what I did today."

Clad in his Gretna High School (Nebraska) running jersey, Randall broke away from the pack immediately in the Poudre Canyon and held a 10-plus minute lead by the final 10 miles.

He ultimately won the marathon's 21st edition by nearly 11 minutes and beat Michael Kraus' 2022 winning time by more than 12.

Benjamin Randall lays on the ground after finishing the Colorado Marathon on Sunday, May 7, 2023. Benjamin Randall finsihed in first place with a record time of 2:24:06.
Benjamin Randall lays on the ground after finishing the Colorado Marathon on Sunday, May 7, 2023. Benjamin Randall finsihed in first place with a record time of 2:24:06.

He briefly collapsed to the ground after crossing the finish line but quickly popped up to celebrate.

After learning his time was a new course record, a group of Randall's CSU running/triathlete teammates roared loudly as he embraced them.

Not bad for a first timer, who said most of his marathon-specific training came from triathlon running and setting a treadmill to a negative incline for his morning runs.

"I just found a groove," he said. "I was able to lock in that pace because it’s very downhill."

"I only started running my junior year of high school and didn’t really get into it until I moved here for undergrad at CSU. I really loved the triathlon and got fit from that and really liked running. So I've been competitively running for about three, three and a half years now."

Benjamin Randall of Fort Collins shows off his jersey around the 3 mile mark during the Colorado Marathon on Sunday, May 7, 2023. Benjamin Randall finsihed in first place with a record time of 2:24:06.
Benjamin Randall of Fort Collins shows off his jersey around the 3 mile mark during the Colorado Marathon on Sunday, May 7, 2023. Benjamin Randall finsihed in first place with a record time of 2:24:06.

Now, Randall is a Boston Marathon qualifier and a course-record holder. Just one more accomplishment for the self-described "adventure journalist" and renowned triathlete.

"I’m a little crazy and that comes with the triathlon," he said. "You learn to push yourself and don’t have boundaries. This was just a blast."

Duncan wins women's title

Lisa Duncan (Lafayette, Colo.) won the women's marathon, clipping the 3-hour mark with a winning time of 2:59:20.

Duncan was just under two minutes off last year's women's winner.

But like Randall, she dominated the field, finishing more than six minutes better than women's runner-up Liz Crain of Fort Collins.

The 41-year-old Duncan has a background in ultramarathon and trail running for more than a decade. She also won the 2022 Louisville (Colo.) Half Marathon in 1:33:20.

Duncan finished 30th overall.

Lisa Duncan crosses the finish line in first place with a time of 2:59:20 during the Colorado Marathon on Sunday, May 7, 2023 in Fort Collins, Colo.
Lisa Duncan crosses the finish line in first place with a time of 2:59:20 during the Colorado Marathon on Sunday, May 7, 2023 in Fort Collins, Colo.

Top Northern Colorado finishers:

OVERALL

  • Benjamin Randall, Fort Collins (1st, 2:24:06)

  • Matthew Drake, Fort Collins (5th, 2:36:59)

  • Alex Kellam, Fort Collins (16th, 2:52:46)

  • Peter Brandes, Niwot (26th, 2:59:02)

  • Ian Gauthier, Boulder (28th, 2:59:18)

  • Nicholas Mullen, Windsor (29th, 2:59:19)

  • Joshua Johnson, Fort Collins (34th, 2:59:58)

Matthew Drake, who placed 5th, comes down the final stretch to the finish line during the Colorado Marathon on Sunday, May 7, 2023. Matthew Drake finished with a time of 2:36:59 to place 5th overall.
Matthew Drake, who placed 5th, comes down the final stretch to the finish line during the Colorado Marathon on Sunday, May 7, 2023. Matthew Drake finished with a time of 2:36:59 to place 5th overall.

WOMEN'S COMPETITION

  • Lisa Duncan, Lafayette (1st, 2:59:20)

  • Liz Crain, Fort Collins (2nd, 3:05:29)

  • Taylor Bacon, Fort Collins (5th, 3:12:53)

  • Callan Knebel, Fort Collins (9th, 3:20:52)

  • Danielle Heath, Fort Collins (10th, 3:21:14)

  • Aubrey Powell, Longmont (12th, 3:22:25)

  • Bailey Risley, Erie (13th, 3:22:35)

  • Anna Wickersham, Fort Collins (15th, 3:23:24)

  • Ashtyn Rossman, Greeley (17th, 3:25:05)

  • Laurel Hagen, Greeley (18th, 3:27:32)

OTHER WINNERS:

  • Men's Masters (40+): Travis Koppenhafer, Alamosa (2:56:28)

  • Women's Masters (40+): Anna Wickersham, Fort Collins (3:23:24)

  • Male 19 and under: Daniel Hanna, Herndon, Virginia (2:43:24)

  • Female 19 and under: Sydney Moss, Asheville, North Carolina (4:42:46)

  • Half marathon: Rob Jenson, Timnath (1:13:50)

  • 10k: Douglas Nyarwoti, Greeley (34:02)

  • 5K: Stephen Pretak, Fort Collins (16:06)

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado Marathon 2023: Benjamin Randall sets new course record