Wilmington Graduate Wins First Place at 2025 Columbus Marathon

Simon Heys

"I was excited. I definitely had a goal to try and compete to win... At any race, you have no idea who's going to be there... When I knew the weather was going to be really bad, I just wanted to go out there, and compete, and put myself in a position to try and win... The fact that that's what ended up happening was super exciting," stated Simon Heys, Wilmington College Graduate, Class of 2024, and 2025 Columbus Marathon Winner.

Heys competed in the Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon on October 19, 2025. The Columbus Marathon is dubbed "America's Most Meaningful Race" due to the presence of patients from the children's hospital at every mile offering high fives to the runners. Heys ran the 26.2-mile marathon in 2 hours, 21 minutes, and 16 seconds.

Heys grew up in Wilmington, Ohio, where he graduated from Wilmington High School in 2019. After completing his undergraduate degree at Wilmington College, Heys went on to earn his Masters in Organizational Leadership, where he partnered with the Clinton County Trails Coalition for his "immersive learning experience." Post graduation, Heys works for his family's multiple businesses by roasting coffee beans, and also for a traveling race timing company.

Despite enjoying baseball as a kid, Heys recounted advice from his dad, who stated that he could be "a good baseball player, but... a great runner." Heys later began running track his freshman year of high school and experienced his "coolest moment, where [he] thought [he] could be pretty darn good," at his first Cross Country National Championship in 2021, where he finished in fifth place.

Heys shared his gratitude for having "the right people throughout" his running career, including his supportive family, friends, and coaches. He recalled seeing his grandmother at the end of the Columbus Marathon as "such a cool moment." After the over two-hour race, Heys shared that he enjoyed chicken fingers and "a Dr. Pepper that tasted really good."

To continue his training, Heys currently runs almost every day and averages 100 miles each week, rotating his running shoes frequently, as he would otherwise go through one pair each month. His goal is to run at the Olympic Trials in 2028, where he would need a time of 2 hours and 16 minutes to qualify.

To learn more about the Columbus Marathon, visit columbusmarathon.com.