California runner wins two marathons in two weeks

Running a marathon can be quite taxing and take some time to recover. However, that was not the case for CJ Albertson of Fresno, Calif., who won the California International Marathon on Dec. 3 and followed it up with another marathon victory at the Baja California Marathon in Mexicali, Mexico, seven days later.

Albertson’s two wins are incredible, but what makes it even more impressive is that he ran under 2:12 twice. He clocked 2:11:12 at the California International Marathon (CIM), earning him a spot in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in February. Although his winning time was under the Olympic B selection standard of 2:11:30, the CIM course, being point-to-point, is deemed ineligible by World Athletics for potential Olympic qualification.

U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials moved two hours earlier due to heat concerns

Undeterred, the 30-year-old took matters back into his own hands, heading out to run another marathon seven days later, in a nearly identical time at the Baja California Marathon in Mexico. Albertson won the race in 2:11:08, breaking the course record by a minute. Kenyan runner Wilfred Nyatogo was with Albertson until the final kilometre, but ended up being disqualified after taking water from a motorcyclist, which is not allowed under World Athletics rules.

Albertson’s win marks the first time an American has won the Baja California Marathon in 42 years. His winning time also makes him eligible for selection to the U.S. Olympic Team if he finishes in the top three at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando on Feb. 3.

One week after winning the California International Marathon, it looks like CJ Albertson went to Mexico to get himself under 2:11:30 – which makes him eligible for selection for the U.S. Olympic team, if he finishes in the top three at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando… pic.twitter.com/FujxO2dZqO

— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) December 10, 2023

His back-to-back marathon performance shouldn’t come as a surprise; Albertson is also the current 50K world record holder, clocking 2:38:43 at the 2022 Ruth Anderson Memorial Endurance Run in San Francisco.

Albertson is one of 18 U.S. men who hold a time under the Olympic B standard of 2:11:30. The top three American men at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials who have run the standard will be selected for the U.S. Olympic Team for the Paris 2024 Olympics.