July 8, 2026 (Utica, NY) – This year’s Boilermaker Road Race will crown new champions in the
15K presented by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield for both the men’s and women’s fields, as last
year’s winners will not return to the course this weekend.
The elite field is set to see an exceptional group of athletes. A standout in the men’s field is
Hillary Bor, a two-time Olympian and one of America’s most accomplished distance runners.
Bor, who represented Team USA in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at both the 2016 and 2020
Olympic Games, brings an impressive resume that includes multiple U.S. national titles and
years of international competition. Joining Bor is fellow American standout Futsum
Zienasellassie, one of the nation’s top road racers and a former NCAA champion. Reid
Buchanan, fresh off a win at Bloomsday, is also a contender for the top spot.
The women’s race is equally stacked with international talent, led by Tsigie Gebreselama of
Ethiopia, a World Championship silver medalist in cross-country and one of the premier distance
runners in the world. Annie Heffernan and Jackie Gaughan are top contenders as well to place, as
they return to the Boilermaker course.
Men’s Open Wheelchair Division winner Miguel Jimenez Vergara is slated to return to defend
his title, but he comes up against two-time winner Joshua Cassidy. The Women’s Wheelchair
Open Division champion for the last two years, Hoda Elshorbagy, returns to defend her title.
In its fourth year, the Triple Crown Series (TCS) is a points-based championship series aimed at
developing and growing the sport of wheelchair racing. The series combines the results of the
Boilermaker 15K, the Peachtree 10K, Grandma’s Marathon, and the Cedartown 5K to crown a
winner out of 34 participants. The top three across the five categories also receive additional
prize money for competing.
“We have an incredible field of elite athletes for this year’s Boilermaker,” said Boilermaker Race
Director Jim Stasaitis. “Every year on the second Sunday in July, Utica, NY, becomes the center
of the road racing world. The ability of everyday runners to match up against the best athletes on
the planet is something truly unique to our sport.”
Stasaitis noted the importance of spectators along the course for both the elite field and the
amateur athletes as they navigate the streets of Utica.
“We’re hoping to see a full crowd line the streets of our course to share in the excitement this
Sunday,” Stasaitis remarked. “Every year, professional athletes are amazed by the crowd support
that they receive. It’s something that makes our race very unique and special.”
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PHOTO CAPTIONS
John Korir crosses the finish line to win the 2025 Boilermaker 15K presented
by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. The 49
th
running of the Boilermaker Road
Race will take place on Sunday, July 12, 2026.
Recognized as the “Best 15K in the USA”, the Boilermaker Road Race is in its 49
th year. The
Boilermaker, a proud member of the PRRO Circuit, is the premier event of Boilermaker Weekend.
The race consistently attracts elite runners from all over the world, including Olympians and world
record holders, and features distance running’s most enthusiastic fans and the sport’s best post-race
party, hosted by The F.X. Matt Brewing Company. To register for other Boilermaker events, visit the
official Boilermaker website at boilermaker.com. Hotel accommodations and information about other
local attractions can also be found on the site.
