The distance running world was forever changed on April 26, 2026.
31-year-old Kenyan Sabastian Sawe became the first man to ever break the sub-2-hour marathon mark in official competition at the London Marathon, clocking a 1:59:30. Finishing 11 seconds behind and also achieving the once seemingly impossible feat was Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha.
And somehow, even on a day that will go down as one of the wildest the long-distance running world has ever seen, Notre Dame still managed to make headlines.
At the Glass City Marathon in Toledo, Ohio, former Irish track star Vinny Mauri became the fourth-fastest marathoner in U.S. history in his first ever attempt at the distance. Mauri ran 2:05:54, an average pace of 4:48 per mile.
Mauri’s effort places him among the top American distance runners of all time and seals his spot for the Olympic trials.
Just last school year, Mauri was in his second graduate season with the Irish running the 5k. Initially at Arizona State for his undergraduate years, he made the most of his two years in South Bend and became one of the top distance runners in school history. He finished his Notre Dame career top 10 in the mile, 5k and 3000m.
However, despite his success, the idea of Mauri becoming a world-class marathoner just a year after graduation seemed absurd.
In an interview with the Runner’s World magazine following his miraculous feat, it was revealed Mauri hung up the shoes after graduation, returned home and quickly realized he needed to be back on the trails. So, he took a part-time job at the running store and got to work. With an affinity for long runs, Mauri hit the trails every day. Soon enough, marathon prep was well underway.
But even then, 2:05? Ludicrous. That places him with the likes of Conner Mantz – a two-time national champion in the 5k at BYU, turned marathon savant.
A talented runner, there was no doubt Mauri could post an impressive time. In fact, sub 2:16 – the Olympic Qualifying standard – was a near surefire, especially considering his impressive 4:45 per mile pace in the half marathon.
A 2:05 though? Come on now. That’s out of this world. Mauri was a good runner in college, but he was nowhere near the level of Mantz and other guys who make up the top of the list.
It would take a perfect day for Mauri to achieve such a time. Perhaps a better-than-perfect day.
Vinny Mauri, through the divine luck of the Irish and old-school method of racing, received just that sort of day.
Mauri’s blazing time is an athletic feat of brilliance. In a country where approximately 400,000-500,000 people run the marathon each year, Mauri is the fourth fastest of all time. Let that sink in.
Although Sawe and Kejelcha rightfully stole all the international attention this weekend, it was Mauri’s gutsy performance on the roads of Toledo, Ohio, that won over the hearts of Americans.
As Mauri said in another interview with the CITIUS MAG Podcast on YouTube, the course had no clocks. Mauri explained he was just relying on his average pace and current pace on his watch. When he reached the finish line, it took him a second to realize the clock said 2:05 and not 2:09. It was then that he realized he had just ran the fastest marathon debut in American history.
The most unbelievable part of his story is that he is just getting started.
Mauri ran alone from the very first mile, without the benefit of a pack to push his pace. During the cold Ohio winter, he trained on Planet Fitness treadmills. Now, with potential sponsors likely lining up at his door, he can devote his full attention to training for the Olympic-qualifying race. And if his next marathon places him among elite competitors who can push him even further, his ceiling becomes even higher. Who knows? Maybe one day he will become the first American to break the elusive sub-2-hour barrier.
For now, he’ll relish this moment of making history in his marathon debut.
