After coronavirus cancels Japan Marathon, Frisco runner turns financial loss into Cowtown win
Maddie Jenkins was ready to fly to Japan to run the Tokyo Marathon, one of the largest races in the world.
She had trained, paid for the race, bought plane tickets with her fiance and reserved a hotel.
And then two weeks ago, Tokyo officials limited the event to elite runners only after new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in the country.
Jenkins was out more than $800 and looking for a race.
“I’m like, ‘Shoot, what do I do now? I’ve been training,” said Jenkins, who moved to Frisco from Cleveland two years ago. “I saw Cowtown was on the same day. So why not do this one?”
Cowtown probably won’t be an afterthought anymore. Jenkins won the women’s division Sunday with a time of 2:53:50. Luciana Bartholomew, 38, of Aledo, finished second with a time of 3:01:57 and Hannah Devries, 26, of Dallas, finished third with a time of 3:06:22.
Jenkins, who was one of eight runners to switch from Tokyo to the Cowtown, was hoping to finish among the top three and set a new personal record. She did both and then some.
“I really liked it,” she said. “It’s really well run. There’s a lot of support on the course. Miles 10 through 18 suck — up hill and in the wind — but 18 to 24 are downhill so that was good.”
The win took a little bit of the sting out of the Japan news. Although she’s still like to be reimbursed for the race fees.
“It was rough, but this is good. I wouldn’t have been able to win the Tokyo Marathon,” she said.
2020 Cowtown Marathon Women’s results
Course record, 2014 (2:42:31)
1. Maddie Jenkins, Frisco, 26, Time 2:53:50
2. Luciana Bartholomew, Aledo, 38, Time 3:01:57
3. Hannah Devries, Dallas, 26, Time 3:06:22
This story was originally published March 1, 2020 at 5:45 PM.
