The pounding of sneakers on pavement filled the streets of Long Beach early Sunday morning. Over 18,000 runners worldwide had descended on the sunny Southern California city to test their limits in the 39th Long Beach Marathon. Among the crowds of runners was one young woman tackling the imposing 26.2-mile distance for the very first time. But by the end of the day, this marathon rookie would shock spectators and fellow racers alike with her astounding performance.

A recent Cal State Long Beach graduate was no stranger to running races around her hometown. However, toeing the starting line of her first-ever marathon was a daunting new challenge. Little did the 23-year-old know, she was on the verge of delivering a run for the ages that would see her outpace thousands of legacy participants. What transpired over those 26 miles announced the arrival of a new marathon talent and cemented her name in Long Beach race lore.

Dominating women’s division in marathon debut

In her first-ever marathon, recent Cal State Long Beach graduate Ryley Fick dominated the field to win Sunday’s women’s division of the 39th annual Long Beach Marathon. Crossing the finish line in 2:58:29, the 23-year-old Fick bested over 3,000 other female participants, including many experienced marathon veterans.

Fick, who ran track and cross-country for CSULB, only graduated this past spring. But despite her rookie status in the 26.2-mile distance, she ran with the poise of a seasoned pro, leading nearly the entire race. A Gardena native, Fick had the home-field advantage for her maiden marathon attempt. She used her familiarity with the Long Beach terrain to pull ahead early and never relinquish her lead.

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Veteran marathoners Makenzie Patten and Liz Arnold attempted to reel Fick in during the race’s later stages. But the upstart CSULB graduate had too much left in the tank. She expanded her lead over the final six miles to finish over two and a half minutes ahead of second place Patten. Arnold rounded out the women’s podium in third. But neither she nor Patten could match the speed and endurance of local standout Fick.

Thwarting legacy runners’ hopes

In addition to beating more experienced marathon runners, Fick also dashed the hopes of Long Beach’s “Legacy Runners.” This group has participated in every Long Beach Marathon since the first race 39 years ago. The Legacy Runners likely didn’t anticipate being upstaged by a first-time marathoner barely out of college. But Fick’s impressive performance was too much for even these seasoned veterans to overcome.

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Ryley Fick has undoubtedly set the bar high for her future marathoning career. And with youth still on her side, her potential in the 26.2 distance appears limitless. The CSULB graduate’s triumphant Long Beach Marathon debut will be one of the most memorable performances in the event’s long history. Her dominant showing suggests she has the potential to compete at the highest levels. But for now, she can bask in the glory of conquering the marathon distance in her hometown race.

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