Kreft and Klima Won FirstEnergy Akron Marathon
Zach Kreft and Andrea Klima secured victories as thousands gathered in downtown Akron for the annual race.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Running
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Zach Kreft and Andrea Klima claimed top honors at the 2026 FirstEnergy Akron Marathon. The event drew approximately 8,000 runners who competed across marathon, half-marathon, and relay distances.
Why it matters
The marathon serves as a significant annual sporting event for Akron, drawing thousands of participants and spectators to the city's downtown area. The competition showcases regional talent across multiple endurance categories.
Zach Kreft completed the 26.2-mile course in 2:18:06, while Andrea Klima crossed the finish line in 2:42:06. Tobias Jones and Ashton Swinford set the pace for the half-marathon with winning times of 1:05:36 and 1:17:22 respectively.
The players
Zach Kreft
He is the winner of the 2026 men's full marathon.
Andrea Klima
She is the winner of the 2026 women's full marathon.
Ashton Swinford
She is the winner of the women's half-marathon at this event.
Tobias Jones
He is the winner of the men's half-marathon at this event.
Aaron Davidson
He finished second in the men's full marathon.
The details
Runners navigated the downtown Akron course while receiving support from crowds gathered along streets like High Street. The event featured a variety of race types, allowing athletes of different endurance levels to participate alongside elite marathoners.
Timeline
Sept. 26, 2026: The FirstEnergy Akron Marathon occurred.
Season Trajectory
This race continues the tradition of mid-autumn endurance events in Ohio, setting a pace for athletes transitioning to other regional competitions. The performance of these winners influences the local competitive landscape as runners prepare for upcoming marathons across the state.
The top-three podium finish for Aaron Davidson in the men's marathon highlights his current standing in the regional racing circuit. Participants and fans can use these results to track the form of leading local runners ahead of their next scheduled events.
The takeaway
Large-scale community races rely on both elite performance and mass participation to maintain their status as annual city highlights. Runners looking to improve their times can use these winning benchmarks as a target for their own training regimens.
What happens next
Ashton Swinford is scheduled to compete in the Columbus marathon in three weeks.
Further reading
For more information on the local endurance circuit, see Running.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Akron Beacon Journal.
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