The 24th annual Akron Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay looped through the city Saturday, with thousands of runners pacing their ways through neighborhoods.

Winners of individual races included:

Zach Kreft of Sunbury won the overall men’s marathon division with a time of 2:18:06.

Zach Kreft of Sunbury won the men's division of the 2026 FirstEnergy Akron Marathon Saturday, Sept. 26. His time was 2:18:06.
Zach Kreft of Sunbury won the men’s division of the 2026 FirstEnergy Akron Marathon Saturday, Sept. 26. His time was 2:18:06. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)

Andrea Klima of Independence won the overall women’s marathon division with a time of 2:42:06 — she finished ninth among all marathon racers.

Tobias Jones from Grove City, Pennsylvania, won the men’s half marathon with a time of 1:05:36.

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Ashton Swinford of Hudson won the women’s half marathon with a time of 1:17:22 — she was the women’s marathon winner in 2025.

Women's half marathon winner Ashton Swinford of Hudson high fives 2nd place finisher Maura Lemon at the 2026 FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay Saturday. Swinford has won the last five Cleveland Marathons, and was the Akron Marathon winner last year in the women's division. Lemon won the Akron Marathon in 2024.
Women’s half marathon winner Ashton Swinford of Hudson high fives 2nd place finisher Maura Lemon at the 2026 FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay Saturday. Swinford has won the last five Cleveland Marathons, and was the Akron Marathon winner last year in the women’s division. Lemon won the Akron Marathon in 2024. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)

In the team relay division, the winners are:

AEC XC #1 won the men’s division with a time of 2:54:34.

Washed Up won the women’s division with a time of 3:16:56.

Team Coed won the co-ed division with a team of 2:48:55.

Runners prepare to step off from the starting line of the 24th annual FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon & Team Relay
Runners prepare to step off from the starting line of the 24th annual FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon & Team Relay on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Runners step off the starting line on South High Street in downtown Akron during the 24th annual FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon & Team Relay
Runners step off the starting line on South High Street in downtown Akron during the 24th annual FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon & Team Relay on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
A runner in a banana costume makes their way up North Portage Path in Akron's Merriman Valley during the 24th annual FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon & Team Relay
A runner in a banana costume makes their way up North Portage Path in Akron’s Merriman Valley during the 24th annual FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon & Team Relay on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
A runner progresses along East Mill Street toward downtown Akron during the 24th annual FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon & Team Relay
A runner progresses along East Mill Street toward downtown Akron during the 24th annual FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon & Team Relay on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Kate Kass of Akron hugs her cousin, Lili George, as she hands off from the second leg of the relay race to the third in downtown Akron. The two were part of a group of five cousins hailing from Dover, Uniontown, Akron and Columbus who ran separate legs of the relay during the FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay
Kate Kass of Akron hugs her cousin, Lili George, as she hands off from the second leg of the relay race to the third in downtown Akron. The two were part of a group of five cousins hailing from Dover, Uniontown, Akron and Columbus who ran separate legs of the relay during the FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay on Saturday, Sept. 26. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
Runners make their way north and south on the All-America Bridge as they participate in the Akron Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay on Saturday, Sept. 26.
Runners make their way north and south on the All-America Bridge as they participate in the Akron Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay on Saturday, Sept. 26. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
Abby Baratka, left, hugs her younger sister, Paige Baratka, as Angelica Mottiqua takes their photo downtown on East Market Street. Paige, from Pittsburgh, was running in her first Akron Marathon. Paige finished her race with a time of 4:55:29. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
A runner checks her watch as she makes her way north on South Broadway Street, just before the All-America Bridge. She was participating in the FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay Saturday.
Jessica Zangmeister of Fairview Park checks her watch as she makes her way north on South Broadway Street, just before the All-America Bridge. She was running in the half marathon in the FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay Saturday and placed 3rd in the women’s 35-39 division. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
Tobias Jones wins the men's half marathon at the 2026 FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay races Saturday, Sept. 26 in Akron. Jones, from Grove City, Pennsylvania, won the race with a time of 1:05:36.
Tobias Jones wins the men’s half marathon at the 2026 FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay races Saturday, Sept. 26 in Akron. Jones, from Grove City, Pennsylvania, won the race with a time of 1:05:36. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
Runners make their way along East Mill Street toward downtown Akron during the 24th annual FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon & Team Relay
Runners make their way along East Mill Street toward downtown Akron during the 24th annual FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon & Team Relay on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Sybil Lambert of Akron holds up a sign that says "Hit this for power up" as runners make their way back into downtown Akron after looping through North Hill and across the All America Bridge. Thousands of runners filled city streets as they participated in the Akron Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay on Saturday, Sept. 26. Lambert was out to support two friends who were running — Alexandra Humbert and Andrew Hayn.
Sybil Lambert of Akron holds up a sign that says “Hit this for power up” as runners make their way back into downtown Akron after looping through North Hill and across the All America Bridge. Thousands of runners filled city streets as they participated in the Akron Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay on Saturday, Sept. 26. Lambert was out to support two friends who were running — Alexandra Humbert and Andrew Hayn. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
Runners approach the intersection of North Portage Path and West Market Street in Highland Square during the 24th annual FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon & Team Relay
Runners approach the intersection of North Portage Path and West Market Street in Highland Square during the 24th annual FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon & Team Relay on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Mike Wirick warms up as he walks around on South Main Street in downtown Akron after running the half marathon as part of the FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay
Mike Wirick warms up as he walks around on South Main Street in downtown Akron after running the half marathon as part of the FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay on Saturday, Sept. 26. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
A runner takes a brief pause on Wiltshire Road in Northwest Akron during the 24th annual FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon & Team Relay
A runner takes a brief pause on Wiltshire Road in Northwest Akron during the 24th annual FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon & Team Relay on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Runners make their way down South Main Street toward the finish of the 2026 FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay faces Saturday.
Runners make their way down South Main Street toward the finish of the 2026 FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay faces Saturday. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
A runner progresses along East Mill Street toward downtown Akron during the 24th annual FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon & Team Relay
A runner progresses along East Mill Street toward downtown Akron during the 24th annual FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon & Team Relay on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)

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