Seven Koalas Complete Inaugural NAIA Marathon

SACRAMENTO, Calif.- Seven Columbia College Cross-Country athletes (four men and three women) completed the Inaugural NAIA Marathon on Sunday.

Both teams claimed fifth place in the event; Columbia was the only school that saw more than three men finish the event for a 100% finish rate.

To train for the 26.2-mile course from Folsom Lake to the Capital Building in downtown Sacramento, the Koalas spent a lot of time training as they would for a regular cross-country season while adding some different methods. Both teams added in 22-mile training sessions regularly while also learning about sports psychology for long endurance events.

The teams also applied sports nutrition principles before, during, and after the race. They also helped to improve their running using biomechanical principles on a treadmill with a multi-view camera system in George's Gym throughout the fall semester.

Columbia College Athletics congratulates Dorde Racic, Patrick Timmerman, Kaden Reeder, Kristian Sanchez, Angeline Kravitz, Mina Shull, and Ainhoa Colino for an outstanding season and for finishing the Inaugural NAIA Marathon.

With their finish Patrick Timmerman, Dorde Racic, and Kaden Reeder have also qualified for the 2025 Boston Marathon.