Dallas, Texas - Sunday, December 14, four Freed-Hardeman University runners took the starting line at the 54th BMW Dallas Marathon, which was also the host of this year's NAIA Marathon National Championship, namely the NAIA Marathon Classic. For three of these runners, this marathon took place just over a month after the end of their cross country season, for Eliza Poe, just 24 days since she competed at the NAIA National Championships. Having little time to focus solely on marathon training, these athletes had to mix in longer runs with their normal cross country training, making this marathon even tougher.

Eliza Poe, Megan Lampley, Elizabeth McKeeby, and Barrett Poe braved the cold, Dallas weather with a temperature of 30 degrees and a wind chill of 18 degrees at start time. Eliza Poe was able to finish her first marathon in three hours, 4 minutes, and 44 seconds, an average mile of 7:03 for 26.2 miles, for a seventh place finish in the women's NAIA National Championship. Megan Lampley finished in three hours, 15 minutes, and 42 seconds to finish in 14th place. Elizabeth McKeeby ran a sub-four-hour marathon, an official time of three hours, 58 minutes, 41 seconds. Barrett Poe was the lone male runner representing the Lions, and he finished his first marathon in two hours, 46 minutes, and 29 seconds for a 29th place NAIA finish. He ran the 26.2 miles at an average pace of 6:21!

Eliza Poe, Lampley, and Barrett Poe were all able to qualify for the Boston Marathon with their finishing times!!