This month’s 13 Fast Facts takes a trip down memory lane. Here’s a quick glance back at the first thirteen winners of the men’s and women’s Houston Marathon.

  1. Danny Green won the men’s race in the 1972 Houston Marathon in 2:32:33, while Tanya Trantham won the women’s in 5:11:55.
  2. In 1973, Juan Garza won the men’s race in 2:37:47 and Nancy Laird won the women’s race in 4:29:09.
  3. There was no race in 1974 (the December event was moved to January 1975). The 1975 men’s race saw a tie between ’73 winner Juan Garza and Clent Mericle in 2:35:00. Dorothy Doolittle won the women’s race in 3:31:34.
  4. Jeff Wells won the 1976 men’s Houston marathon in 2:17:46, while Marsha Johnson won the women’s race in 3:37:04.
  5. Clent Mericle won his second Houston Marathon title in 1977, crossing the line in 2:27:46. In that same year Dorothy Doolittle also won her second Houston Marathon title when she finished in 3:00:34.
  6. The 1978 Houston Marathon saw Ron Tabb win the men’s race in 2:17:15, while Peggy Kokernot won the women’s race in 3:01:54.
  7. Tom Antczak won the 1979 Houston Marathon in 2:15:28 and Sue Peterson won the women’s race in 2:46:17 becoming the first woman to run sub-3:00 at the Houston Marathon.  
  8. Ron Tabb won his second Houston Marathon in 1980 when he crossed the finish line in 2:13:36. Vanessa Vajdos won the 1980 women’s race in 2:44:45.
  9. Former American record holder Bill Rodgers won the 1981 Houston Marathon in 2:12:19, while Patti Catalano won the women’s race in 2:35:27.
  10. Benji Durden won the 1982 Houston Marathon, covering the 26.2 mile course in 2:11:11 as Laurie Binder won the women’s race in 2:40:57.
  11. In 1983, Haliu Ebba won the men’s Houston Marathon in 2:12:17 and Ingrid Kristiansen won the women’s marathon in 2:33:27.
  12. Kristiansen won her second-consecutive title at the Houston Marathon in 1984 when she won the women’s race in 2:27:51, becoming the first woman to break 2:30 at the Houston Marathon. Charlie Spedding won the men’s race in 2:11:54.
  13. Marty Froelick won the 1985 Houston Marathon in 2:11:13, while Sylvia Ruegger won the women’s race in 2:28:36.