Kansas City natives seize the day at annual Garmin KC Marathon: meet the winners

Kansas City native Mary Katherine Andrews couldn’t wait to participate in the 2024 Garmin Kansas City Marathon.

Her seven-hour drive back to KC from Wisconsin included familiar scenery and time for reflection. Along the way, she visualized her upcoming 26.2-mile race and what it would be like to cross the finish line.

That visualization became reality Saturday morning.

Andrews, 29, was the fastest woman on a course that started and ended in front of the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, crossing the finish line in 2 hours, 47 minutes and 48 seconds.

Grace Morgan was second in the women’s field, finishing in 2:51:58, and Monica Prebeck was third at 3:00:30.

“It means so much,” Andrews said of being crowned the marathon’s female champion for 2024. “I grew up running in Kansas City and I love running around here. I love the city and I was really happy to come back here and run around my stomping ground.”

Andrews had never competed in the KC marathon before. But she was familiar with the layout of the course overall and the Country Club Plaza area in particular.

She attended Pembroke Hill School before moving north.

“It was a really fun way to come home,” Andrews said.

Andrews said she spent a significant time preparing for the marathon. She focused on running hills to build her endurance and core strength.

This year’s course extended northward toward West 6th Street and southward near East 75th.

Runners got a taste of the hilly terrain as they ran through/near Westport, the Paseo, Hyde Park and other areas around town.

Like Andrews, overall 2024 Garmin Kansas City Marathon winner Jacob Cofer brought local flavor to the finish line.

Cofer, 24, broke the iconic blue tape in 2 hours, 28 minutes, 30 seconds. He finished six minutes ahead of fellow St. Thomas Aquinas alum Michael Grasing (2:34:30) and third-place runner Ahmed Thabit (2:38:51) in the men’s 26.2-mile event.

Cofer, of Overland Park, ran cross country at Baker University after competing at Aquinas in high school. Grasing, who went on to compete for Truman State in college, was excited to finish in the top three with another former STA Saint.

Grasing said the course’s numerous hills made for a thrilling challenge throughout the race.

“It was a tough race and a lot of hills,” he said. “But it was a good race — good weather, good cheering and good atmosphere. I’m happy to get second place.”

Grasing took a conservative approach in the first half of the race. Then he relied on the hometown crowd down the final stretch.

“It was my hometown race and I was glad to do it,” he said. “I have never done it before and I was happy.”

This year’s KC marathon and related events attracted an estimated 8,000 participants. Along with the marquee full and half marathons, 5K and 10K events were contested Saturday morning.

All who took part received medals and were treated to barbecue and beverages afterward.

Before the sun rose, participants were greeted by KC mayor Quinton Lucas at the starting line. He posed for photos and met with folks before the race began.

The Garmin Kansas City Marathon is held annually on the third Saturday in October. Along with being a destination for locals, it caters each year to runners from across the country.

Including one very happy winner from Wisconsin.

“I would drive forever for this,” Andrews said. “Best day ever!”