Calli Thackery victorious on her McKirdy Micro Marathon Debut in New York

Britain’s Calli Thackery had a debut for the books after she crossed the finish line in 2 hours 22 minutes and 17 seconds to win the elite invitation-only McKirdy Micro Marathon at Rockland Lake State Park, in New York, on 14 October, 2023.

Designed to help fast runners improve speed, the field of 44 contestants – most of whom run to quality for the USA’s Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando, Florida, early February next year, the lone foreigner beat the field by six seconds to match the second-fastest time by a British woman over the distance.

“Thanks for all the good luck messages and all the support, it means more than you know. I will get around to responding to everyone, but for now I’m soaking this all in.”

Britain’s Calli Thackery, McKirdy Micro Marathon Champion

Thackery comfortably managed her win within the qualifying standards for the Olympics, with the USA’s Savannah Berry finished second, and Makenna Myler in third (recently in the news for the 5:17 mile she ran in March 2022, while nine months pregnant).

With this achievement, Thackery has match Charlotte Purdue, and is only behind Paula Radcliffe, on the all-time British women’s list over the distance.

Thackery is a star on the rise and is currently producing memorable performances. Just a few weeks ago she won The Big Half Half-Marathon in London during September, and finished seventh in the 21km distance at the World Road Running Championships in Latvia earlier this month.

Photo Caption: Long-distance runner Calli Thackery won the McKirdy Micro Marathon debut, and matched the second-fastest time by a British woman over the distance at Rockland Lake State Park, in New York, on 14 October, 2023, Photo: Callie Thackery on Instagram

Photo 2 Caption: “Thanks for all the good luck messages and all the support,” said Thackery, “It means more than you know.” Photo: Callie Thackery on Instagram

Photo 3 Caption: recently won The Big Half Half-Marathon in London in September, and finished seventh in the 21km distance at the World Road Running Championships in Latvia. Photo: Callie Thackery on Instagram