San Diego County residents continued to represent, with a local reclaiming his 5K champion title for the fifth year in a row
CARLSBAD, Calif. – The 35th annual Carlsbad Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K returned on Jan. 18 for another year of winter racing on the Southern California oceanfront. The event drew nearly 8,000 runners who experienced clear and warm winter weather with scenic coastal views. The race offered three distances, the full marathon (26.2 miles), half marathon (13.1 miles) and 5K (3.1 miles) all starting at The Shoppes at Carlsbad. The marathon distance featured an 18-mile stretch along the Pacific Ocean, the half marathon showcased the beachfront for 8 miles, and the 5K runners followed a scenic out-and-back route that passed the Buena Vista Lagoon.
San Diego resident Jose Herrera, the men’s marathon champion and overall first-place finisher, completed the 26.2 miles in 2:36:47. He was followed by the men’s marathon second-place finisher and Carlsbad resident Alex Drozd and third-place finisher Aric Reza. The women’s marathon course was led by Mckaylie Caesar, who finished in 2:52:21. The second and third-place finishers for the women’s marathon were Macy Putman and Kristen Maxwell.
The men’s half marathon division was led by Amelio Chio, who finished with a time of 1:07:49, followed by second and third-place finishers, Xavier Smith and Moises Marquez. The women’s half marathon division was led by San Diego resident Katelyn Yunker, who finished with a time of 1:20:53, followed by second and third-place finishers, Taylor Thompson and Libby Bowling, another San Diego resident.
The men’s 5K division was led by returning champion Eddie Ramos, who claimed his fifth Carlsbad 5K win in a row with a time of 15:30, while Stefanie Cullingford led the women’s 5K division with a time of 17:52.
“This weekend celebrates the beauty of running and of the City of Carlsbad while showcasing the best of this coastal community,” said Christine Adams, Co-owner and CEO at In Motion Events, producer of the Carlsbad Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K. “It takes countless partners, volunteers and community members to create this special experience for our participants, and their efforts make the atmosphere so special year after year.”
This year’s race was also presented with a Letter of Recognition from the California Secretary of State, that was read by Mayor Pro Tem Priya Bhat-Patel at the half marathon start line before she herself joined into the race corral and took part in the Carlsbad Half Marathon.
The Carlsbad Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K is a part of In Motion Events’ SoCal Triple Crown race series, which also includes the GOVX San Diego Half Marathon & 5K in March, and the America’s Finest City Half Marathon & 5K in August. This trio offers a variety of courses and scenery throughout San Diego County, providing athletes with a fun and unique running experience in distinct parts of the City of San Diego and county. Athletes who participate in each race in the same calendar year, no matter the distance they participate in, are awarded a SoCal Triple Crown medal to celebrate their accomplishment of completing the race series. This past year, over 1,330 athletes completed the three-event challenge and participation is expected to grow in 2026.
Participants of the event had the opportunity to take on the Double Down Challenge, which required completing both the 5K and the half marathon for a total of 16.2 miles. Finishers earned three medals, one for each race distance and a third Double Down medal to mark the accomplishment. More than 180 runners registered for this year’s challenge. The weekend of events also included the Kids Marathon Mile at LEGOLAND® California Resort on Saturday, January 17. The event saw a 60% increase in registration with more than 1,600 participants taking part in the kids run and enjoying the park in a unique and exclusive setting before it opened to guests. A portion of each registration for the Kids Marathon Mile was donated directly to Merlin’s Magic Wand, the official charity partner of the event.
For more information about In Motion Events, please visit www.inmotionevents.com and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
ABOUT THE CARLSBAD MARATHON, HALF MARATHON & 5K AND IN MOTION EVENTS
The Carlsbad Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K is a scenic winter race that covers over 18 miles of breathtaking ocean views with outstanding course support and entertainment. The race is produced by In Motion Events, a full-service, turnkey event marketing and management firm based in San Marcos. The family-owned and operated business has been working with Southern California-based races and events since 1981. In Motion Events’ mission is to produce the very best running and walking events possible that are a credit to their company, to their sponsors and to the community in which they are held. For more information on In Motion Events, visit www.InMotionEvents.com.