Norwalk's Danna Herrick pulled away from training partner Casey McDermott at the 20-mile mark and won the IMT Des Moines Marathon on Sunday, October 18, covering the 26.2-mile course in 2 hours, 43 minutes and 46 seconds on a cool, sunny morning.
The victory came in the race's 25th running, and it gave the 39-year-old mother her first IMT marathon title two years after she won the event's half marathon. Evan Jamrozy of Romeoville, Illinois, won the men's race in his marathon debut, finishing in 2:23:37, according to Yahoo Sports.
A hometown win built on friendship
Herrick, who competed at Truman State and now runs her own company, Imara Performance Physical Therapy, has built a reputation in Iowa's running community as much for her joy as her speed. Her Facebook page is filled with race photos of her smiling and waving to spectators.
On Sunday, she and McDermott, a former Drake University runner, wore matching mint green to represent the colors of Herrick's company. Herrick said she knew a fit McDermott would be hard to beat, and she admitted her ideal outcome was different from the one that played out.
“To be honest, my dream vision was to see her break the tape and for me to be coming around the corner after her,” Herrick said. “I didn't tell her that. Today wasn't her day and I think she's frustrated. That girl is fit. None of us have seen her ceiling in the marathon. I'm past my prime, she is not.”
McDermott, 37, finished second for the second straight year in 2:45:38.
“That was such a fun 26.2 run,” Herrick said. “When you run in your hometown, it's like 'home team advantage.' Today wasn't about getting the best out of myself. It was celebrating the longevity and really wanting Casey to pop a good one.”
Record within reach at age 40
Herrick turns 40 in less than two weeks, and the timing cost her a spot in the Iowa record book. Her winning time would have broken the state's all-time 40-and-over marathon record of 2:45:17, set by Jenny Schulze at the Twin Cities Marathon in 2015. Herrick said she will likely take a shot at the record in 2027.
“I've said this from day one: If I didn't love it, I wouldn't do it,” Herrick said. “I think something that I'm most proud of, even though I'm not the fastest Iowa woman, is my longevity.”
Sunday marked her 18th career marathon over 16 years of racing.
Jamrozy dominates in marathon debut
Jamrozy, 24, made the men's race a one-runner show early. The recent Lewis University graduate, who assists with the school's cross country program, built a lead of more than two minutes by the 5.8-mile checkpoint and stretched it to 4:24 after 10.3 miles by stringing together a series of 5:20 miles.
His margin at the finish was 9:09, though the closing miles tested the first-timer.
“My whole body is starting to cramp,” Jamrozy said at the finish line in the new Market District southeast of downtown Des Moines. “From 22 to the finish was a grind. I started to feel my calves go at mile 24. It was hard. I haven't felt that before.”
Jamrozy is the second Fitness Sports Distance Project athlete to win the men's title in three years, joining Kallin Carolus Khan, the 2024 champion. He said the $1,000 top prize will help pay bills after his summer marriage while he pursues a full-time college coaching job.
“This was the first try to see what the marathon felt like,” Jamrozy said. “The build wasn't perfect so to be able to run 2:23, I think if I can find a fast, competitive course in the spring, I'll give it a rip. The end goal is to hopefully run an OTQ at some point next year.”
The men's race guaranteed a new champion because three-time defending titlist Cody Baele of Des Moines chose to run the