Champaign’s Jaime Marcos carves out Illinois Marathon repeat victory

A strong early push propelled Jaime Marcos to his second straight Illinois Marathon victory, finishing over three minutes ahead of the field. Here's a look at the top ten finishers.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Finishing the fourth mile, Martin O'Connell, Jonnathan Fernandez, Caleb Kerr, and Jaime Marcos run as the lead pack down Washington Street in Urbana. All five runners held on to finish in the top five at the 2025 Illinois Marathon.


CHAMPAIGN - The morning started under heavy clouds, the air crisp with a northwest breeze sweeping across the University of Illinois campus. Runners gathered near the State Farm Center bundled against the chill, puddles from the overnight rain glistening under gray skies. For Jaime Marcos, though, there was little doubt about the task ahead.

A year after claiming his first Illinois Marathon title, Marcos returned Saturday with a mission: defend the crown and leave no doubt. He delivered in dominant fashion, crossing the finish line inside Memorial Stadium in 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 23 seconds — more than seven minutes faster than his 2024 winning time.

Jon Kang of Des Plaines

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Jon Kang runs up the gentle incline on Logan Street in Champaign on his way to a 2:37:31 finish. Hailing from Des Plaines, he finished eighth overall and third in his division.
The Champaign resident of just a year, established his command of the race early, covering the halfway point in 1:10:59, a full two and a half minutes ahead of his pace last spring. By the time the sun finally broke through the clouds an hour into the race, bringing a welcome burst of warmth to the thousands of fans lining the streets of Champaign, Savoy, and Urbana, Marcos was firmly in control.

Martin O’Connell of Madison, Wisconsin, finished second in 2:26:04, while Caleb Kerr of Zionsville, Indiana, secured third just five seconds later at 2:26:09. Both kept tight pace over the flat, fast course but were unable to close the early gap Marcos had built.

Chicago’s Jonnathan Fernandez, 25, claimed fourth place at 2:30:34 — a near-repeat of his strong 2024 performance, where he finished third overall in 2:30:47.

Bailey Roybal, a 21-year-old from Waverly, Iowa, clocked 2:33:04 to round out the top five.

Among the notable returners, Trevor Giampa of Lisle, Illinois, improved on his 2024 finish. The 23-year-old finished sixth Saturday in 2:33:57, trimming nearly six minutes off last year’s 2:39:51 time when he placed seventh.

Brian Martin of Wheaton (2:35:50), Jon Kang of Des Plaines (2:37:31), Lucas Lacambra of Urbana (2:40:30), and Jan Strubar of Chicago (2:40:31) completed the top ten, each navigating the slick early conditions before the course dried under the afternoon sun.


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Photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks