DALLAS, Texas — WVU Tech will be represented on a national stage this Sunday as three Golden Bears compete in the NAIA Marathon Classic, held in conjunction with the BMW Dallas Marathon on December 14 at 9 a.m.
Freshman Jan Fasius Ponsa and sophomores Peyton Asbury and Evan McElwayne earned their spots in the national field after meeting the NAIA's rigorous qualification standards, which include maintaining a high weekly mileage average over a 12-week period and completing multiple two-hour long runs.
This year's event marks the first time the NAIA Marathon Classic has been held in Texas, following two seasons at the California International Marathon. Approximately 120 collegiate runners from across the country will compete as part of the expanded elite field, making it one of the largest and most visible stages in collegiate distance running.
Fasius Ponsa qualified for the NAIA Marathon Classic unexpectedly but quickly embraced the opportunity as a defining challenge early in his collegiate career.
"Not a lot of people run a marathon this early, but I believe I need goals that make me a better runner," Fasius said. "The marathon is one of the greatest goals a runner can have."
After increasing his weekly mileage to as much as 70 miles per week, Fasius enters race day with clear goals.
"My biggest goal is to finish the marathon, but if I feel good, I'm going to try to run faster than three hours," he said.
Asbury will make her marathon debut in Dallas after qualifying through consistency and steady mileage increases throughout the fall.
"Learning that I was able to go made me excited and nervous," Asbury said. "A marathon is a lot of miles."
The sophomore views the experience as a chance to grow both as a runner and as a person.
"I said why not," Asbury said. "It's an amazing experience, and I told myself I need to start trying new things in life to get the best out of it."
Asbury's primary goal on Sunday is simple and meaningful.
"This is my first marathon, so I'm going for the experience," she said. "I just want to finish."
For McElwayne, qualifying for the marathon was both demanding and rewarding. The sophomore embraced the challenge of high-mileage training and time trials to earn his place in the field.
"Meeting the qualifying mileage was one of the hardest things I've ever done," McElwayne said. "Making it to a national event of any kind feels insane. I never thought I'd get this far when I first started running."
McElwayne enters the race focused on the experience, preparing to compete in his first-ever competitive marathon.
"I've never run a marathon competitively before, so just making it this far is already a huge accomplishment," he said. "This is really the victory lap."
About the Event
The NAIA Marathon Classic is unique among collegiate athletic organizations, as the NAIA remains the only governing body to sponsor a marathon event for student-athletes. The race serves as the NAIA's unofficial national championship marathon, with All-American honors awarded to the top eight men and women.
Sunday's race will follow the BMW Dallas Marathon course, which winds through downtown Dallas and around White Rock Lake before finishing in the city center.
WVU Tech's three competitors will take the starting line at 9 a.m. Sunday, representing the Golden Bears in one of the most challenging and meaningful events in collegiate distance running.
