Joe Whelan (runner)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
United States| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 13, 1990 Hamburg, New York, United States |
| Sport | |
| Country | United States |
Event(s) | Marathon, half marathon |
| College team | Syracuse University |
| Team | Bergen Elite |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) | Marathon: 2:09:41 Half Marathon: 1:04:22 |
Joe Whelan is an American distance runner who specializes in the marathon. He competed collegiately for Syracuse University before transitioning to long-distance road races. Whelan qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in 2020 and 2024.
Whelan grew up in Hamburg, New York and attended Hamburg High School. He was a standout cross country runner, winning the New York Class A state championship in 2008. He also qualified for the 2008 Footlocker National Cross Country Championship, where he placed 9th.[1]
Whelan stayed close to home for college, attending Syracuse University. He was an All-Region cross country runner and placed 55th at the 2012 NCAA Championship. On the track, Whelan recorded personal-best times of 14:21 in the 5,000 meters and 8:53 in the 3,000 meter steeplechase.[2] While at Syracuse, he was teammates with elite marathoners Martin Hehir and Colin Bennie.[3]
Career
After college, Whelan took a break from competitive running. He relocated to Texas where he worked as a ranch hand for his cousin’s rock milling company. He performed manual labor and operated heavy machinery for up to 10 hours per day in scorching heat.[4] Whelan logged training runs after the work day to clear his head and get away from the other workers, all of whom lived on the ranch with Whelan.[5]
During his time living in Texas, Whelan also was a volunteer assistant coach at the University of North Texas. He wasn’t paid as a volunteer, so he delivered pizzas at night to make ends meet.[5] Despite the challenges, Whelan was able to win the 2018 Austin Marathon in a time of 2:21.[6]
A few months later, Whelan clocked a time of 2:16:30 at Grandma’s Marathon, which qualified him for the 2020 United States Olympic Trials (marathon).[7]
In 2019, he moved back to Upstate New York and took on part-time work as a house painter, which afforded him more time to train for marathons.[4] Whelan improved his marathon best to 2:13:39 at the 2019 Grandma’s Marathon.[7] Despite having a goal of making the 2020 Olympic team, a hip injury prevented Whelan from competing at the 2020 Olympic Trials in Atlanta.[8]
He returned to marathon racing in 2022, notching a time of 2:15:36 at Grandma’s Marathon and 2:14:41 at the California International Marathon.[4] Whelan also won the Mohawk Hudson River Marathon in a course record time of 2:14:14. He had previously won the event in 2019.[9] All three results were fast enough to qualify Whelan for the 2024 United States Olympic Trials (marathon).[4]
On February 19, 2023, Whelan placed 2nd at the Austin Marathon. Shortly after completing the race, he proposed to his girlfriend at the finish line.[10] In the fall, Whelan won the Wineglass Marathon and placed 16th at the New York City Marathon.[4]
On February 3rd, 2024, Whelan placed 89th out of 200 men at the 2024 US Olympic Trials Marathon in Orlando, Florida.[11]
On April 21, 2025, Whelan competed as part of the professional field at the Boston Marathon. He clocked a new personal-best time of 2:12:16 to place 20th. He was the 8th American finisher and the fastest member of the Puma Project3 event, which earned him $3,000.[12][13]
On September 27, Whelan placed 26th overall at the Berlin Marathon.[14] On November 8, Whelan won the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon in a time of 2:12:29, which broke the previous course record of 2:15:41.[15][16] On December 7, Whelan placed second at the USATF Marathon Championship in Sacramento, CA with a career-best time of 2:09:41.[17]
On February 15th, 2026 Whelan won the Austin Marathon with a time of 2:13:18.[18] In April he finished 20th at the Hamburg Marathon in a time of 2:11:09. [19]