DETROIT, Mich.—Andrew “Andy” Bowman of Ferndale, Michigan, won his third consecutive Detroit Free Press Marathon presented by MSUFCU on Oct. 18, setting an event record with an unofficial time of 2:12:11. Bowman’s finish broke the 46-year-old record of 2:13:07 set by Greg Meyer in 1980. Meyer, a Grand Rapids native and University of Michigan alumnus, went on to win the 1983 Boston Marathon, while his Detroit course record stood for nearly five decades.
Bowman became just the second runner in the race’s history to win three consecutive men’s titles, joining Doug Kurtis, who won six straight from 1987 to 1992. His performance also earned him an Olympic Trials qualifying time for March 2028, marking the first time a Detroit Free Press Marathon participant has achieved the qualifying standard on the course.
The 49th annual race began at 7 a.m. and covered 26.2 miles through Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, crossing two international borders via the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. Bowman averaged 5:02 per mile and finished more than six minutes ahead of the runner-up at Campus Martius Park.
Bowman’s wife, Sydney Devore-Bowman, a former Detroit Marathon champion and Olympic Trials qualifier, also competed Sunday. She finished fourth among women in the International Half-Marathon in 1:18:26 before meeting her husband at the finish line.
Reflecting on the final stretch along Lafayette Street, Bowman said he drew motivation from the race experience and the family waiting for him.
“You’re still in one of the greatest marathons in the Midwest and it’s a beautiful day, so what is there to be upset about?” Bowman says. “You’re still running to your wife, your son, and your family, and I couldn’t be happier.”
In the women’s marathon, Allison Sherman of Lake Orion, Michigan, won in 2:43:31, nearly six minutes faster than her previous personal best of 2:49:15. She finished almost five minutes ahead of runner-up Dianne Fisher of Rocky River, Ohio, who clocked 2:48:26. University of Michigan law student Mary Heinen of Ann Arbor, Michigan, placed third in 2:49:51 in her marathon debut, followed by fellow first-time marathoner Sophia Potter of Marquette, Michigan, in 2:50:42.
Ross Roberson of Zionsville, Indiana, finished second in the men’s marathon in 2:18:30, followed by Noah Verlinde in 2:19:09, William Cadwell of South Haven, Michigan, in 2:20:39, and Matthew Carter in 2:25:50.
“Greg Meyer’s record has stood for 46 years, and I can’t think of anyone I’d rather see break it than Andy,” says Aaron Velthoven, race director and vice president. “He’s a Detroit-area runner who has made this race his own, and to do it with his wife and son there to meet him at the finish line makes it even more special. Congratulations to Andy, to Allison, and to every runner who had a tremendous race through Detroit and Windsor today. We’re honored to add their names to our leaderboard of champions.”
In the International Half-Marathon, JP Flavin of Rochester Hills, Michigan, a member of the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project, won the men’s race in 1:03:49, ahead of Tom Oates of Denver, Colorado (1:04:14) and Andrew Cusmano of Portland, Oregon (1:04:50). Hansons-Brooks teammate Megan O’Neil, also of Rochester Hills, Michigan won the women’s race in 1:14:54, followed by Julia Pleskaczyńska (1:15:09) and Joanna Stephens of Dallas, Georgia. (1:18:11).
Masters marathon champions were Steven Mance of Washington, D.C., in 2:28:47, and Fisher in 2:48:26. In the International Half-Marathon, Jon Priebe of Ann Arbor, Michigan, won the men’s masters division in 1:12:50, while Sarah Kasabian-Larson of Alma, Michigan, won the women’s division in 1:23:56. All results remain unofficial.
Recognized by USA Today’s Readers’ Choice Awards as the best marathon in 2024 and 2025, the Detroit Free Press Marathon is Michigan’s largest race. It is also the only marathon in the world to feature two international border crossings and an underwater mile.
The race promotes health, community involvement, and world-class competition and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2027.
Registration is open for the inaugural Motor City Half Marathon, scheduled for April 2027, at motorcityhalf.com.
