Syracuse cross-country alum Martin Hehir wins The Marathon Project

When we last saw Syracuse Orange alums Martin Hehir and Colin Bennie they were surprising everyone with top-10 finishes at the US Olympic Trials Marathon last February. On Sunday the former Orange and current Reebok Boston TC teammates were among a group of professionals who were gathered in Chandler Arizona for The Marathon Project. This race was contested on a fast, flat course with pacers leading the field towards a 2:09 marathon.

At the 35k mark nine men were grouped together but Hehir took over the race and pulled away for a 10 second victory over Noah Droddy. Martin’s winning time of 2:08:59 was not only a two and a half minute personal best but it’s the seventh fastest time for an American male in the marathon. He also becomes the 5th American to run sub-4 for the mile and under 2:10 in the marathon....all done while Martin’s enrolled in medical school.

Bennie also had a huge pr as he took 3rd in a time of 2:09:38. The two members of Syracuse’s 2015 National Champions have set themselves up for consideration among the top Americans in the marathon and showed that Atlanta wasn’t a fluke.

Another Syracuse alum made her marathon debut in fine fashion yesterday. Paige Stoner who also runs for the Reebok Boston TC finished 7th in a time of 2:28:43. The women’s race was won by Sarah Hall in a time of 2:20:32, the 2nd-fastest American marathon of all-time.

Look for Paige, Martin and Colin to compete in the US Olympic Track and Field Trials this summer in the 10,000m and maybe the 3,000m steeplechase for Paige.