Kisoryo set to return to NAIA Marathon Classic

DALLAS, Texas -- The NAIA Marathon Classic moves to Dallas, Texas, this year, and Griffin Kipchumba Kisoryo will be the lone Bruin entrant in the third edition of the event. Kisoryo was the Bruin's sixth runner on the men's cross country team, which recently finished as the third-place team at the Frontier Conference Cross Country Championship meet on November 7 in Billings, Mont.

The event will be held in conjunction with this year's Dallas BMW Marathon, after two years in Sacramento with the California International Marathon. The event serves as the NAIA's unofficial national championship marathon. The marathon is currently classified as an emerging sport by the NAIA. The top eight male and female finishers will be awarded NAIA Classic All-American awards. Bellevue's Madison Nelson placed third in each of the previous two races. Team awards will also go to the top two teams of three members.

Kisoryo ran to a 30th-place finish last December in his first-ever attempt at the 26.2-mile run. He recorded a time of 2:44:15, a 6:15-minute-per-mile pace. Having the experience of one marathon behind him, he hopes to improve on that time in Dallas. In his debut, he started conservatively and was running his fastest miles at the end.

Qualifications for the Classic took place from August to November (12 weeks). Student-athletes who wanted to be considered for entry had to run an average of 40 miles per week during that 12-week training period. Secondly, during those 12 weeks of training, the student-athlete had to complete a minimum of two 2-hour runs to ensure that they are able to complete the 26.2-mile race.

Coach Craig Christians shared his thoughts heading into the Classic: "It's fantastic that Griffin has chosen to represent us again. Experience is a valuable asset in the marathon, and having that experience, I know that Griffin has tailored his training to meet the demands of the race by covering up to 75 miles per week. I'm really excited to see his results. Interest in the marathon remains strong, and it has set the NAIA apart from other collegiate associations. I'm glad that Bellevue is a part of the event."

The Marathon Classic is being held as a stand-alone event for the third time this year. A group of NAIA coaches, including Bellevue's Craig Christians, spearheaded the effort to keep the marathon alive as an opportunity for NAIA student-athletes and found a partner this year in Dallas. Dallas BMW offered 120 starting spots in its established race, which will take place on December 14. The sold-out race saw over 3,400 finishers in 2024.