Contact: Sydney Meyers
Director, Marketing & Consumer Experience
Beyond Monumental
sydney@beyondmonumental.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sold-Out 2026 CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental Marathon Set to Welcome Runners from All 50 States and 35+ Countries
The 19th annual event celebrates its earliest sellout in history, largest marathon field to date, and a weekend of elite competition, community celebration and Indianapolis pride.
INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 3, 2026 – The CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K will take place in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday, Nov. 7, following the earliest sellout in event history. The event will feature its largest marathon field for the third consecutive year, welcoming runners and walkers from all 50 states and more than 35 countries across three sold-out race distances.
Race weekend will feature competitive elite fields with the potential to challenge course records, a special appearance by professional runner and Monumental Half Marathon course record holder Emma Grace Hurley, and thousands of spectators and volunteers celebrating health, wellness and community throughout Indianapolis. Festivities begin with the two-day Monumental Health & Fitness Expo at the Indiana Convention Center.
A Record-Setting Weekend for Indianapolis
Celebrating its 14th consecutive sellout, the event continues to attract runners from across the country and around the world, reinforcing Indianapolis as a premier running destination.
Elite Competition on the Streets of Indy
A competitive elite field will pursue personal bests, course records and qualifying times for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon. The field features national talent and athletes with Indiana connections, while Monumental Half Marathon course record holder Emma Grace Hurley returns as an honorary guest.
Indianapolis Comes Together to Celebrate
Thousands of spectators, volunteers and neighborhood cheer groups will line the streets to support participants. From Monumental Yard Parties to lively cheer stations, residents are encouraged to join the excitement and showcase the Hoosier hospitality that makes race weekend special.
Monumental Health & Fitness Expo | Thursday, Nov. 5 – Friday, Nov. 6, 2026
Indiana Convention Center | Halls A & B
Free and open to the public, the Expo features official Brooks Running merchandise, sponsor activations, and health and wellness exhibitors.
- Thursday, Nov. 5: 4 pm – 7 pm
- Friday, Nov. 6: 11 am – 8 pm
Race Morning Schedule | Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026
Downtown Indianapolis
- 7:30 AM: Opening Ceremony
– Carlton Ray, Founder, Indianapolis Monumental Marathon
– Vop Osili, President, Indianapolis City-County Council
– Gary C. Bhojwani, Chief Executive Officer, CNO Financial Group
– Rocco Tarasi, Chief Marketing Officer, CNO Financial Group
– Jackie Rowatt, Brooks Running - 8:00 AM: Official Start of CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental Marathon & Half Marathon
- 8:40 AM: Official start of CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental 5K
- 8:55 AM / 8:57 AM: Anticipated Male/Female 5K Winner
- 9:03 AM / 9:10 AM: Anticipated Male/Female Half Marathon Winner
- 10:15 AM / 10:35 AM: Anticipated Male/Female Marathon Winner
Marathoners have 7 hours to complete the race. Closed roads will open as soon as possible.
Media parking is available throughout the Monumental Health & Fitness Expo and on Race Day. For credentials, parking details, and access to the hospitality and media room, please contact Sydney Meyers (sydney@beyondmonumental.org, 317-460-7169).
Race Weekend & Course Maps can be found here:
Media Information & Interview Opportunities
Media are invited to cover the Expo, race-day start and finish lines, elite competition and community celebrations.
Available for Interviews:
- Monumental Health & Fitness Expo – Thursday & Friday
– Jed Cornforth, President & CEO, Beyond Monumental (available upon request)
– Elizabeth Kinder, Director, Community Relations, CNO Financial Group (available upon request)
– IU Health Representatives (available upon request) - Race Day – Saturday
– Jed Cornforth, President & CEO, Beyond Monumental
– Gary C. Bhojwani, Chief Executive Officer, CNO Financial Group
— 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Please contact Sydney Meyers (sydney@beyondmonumental.org, 317-460-7169) for interview arrangements.
Notable Elite Athletes Scheduled to Compete
Marathon
Men:
- Awet Beraki: Rochester Hills, MI – Hansons-Brooks Original Distance Project athlete, 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, and 2023 NCAA Division II National Champion in the 5,000m.
- Tom Brady: Highland Park, IL – Former University of Michigan standout, two-time Big Ten 10,000m Champion, three-time NCAA All-American, and runner-up at the 2025 Detroit Free Press Marathon.
- Curtis Eckstein: Batesville, IN – Returning Monumental Half Marathon standout, finishing second in 2025 and fifth in 2022. NCAA Cross Country All-American and former Purdue University record holder.
Women:
- Lindsey Bradley: Heath, TX – 2024 CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental Marathon Champion, current women’s marathon course-record holder, and 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier.
- Jennifer Pope: Plano, TX – 2022 CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental Marathon Champion and 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier.
- Andie Cozzarelli: Chattanooga, TN – 2016 CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental Marathon Champion and 2026 Glass City Marathon Champion, where she qualified for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.
- Caroline Cole: Nashville, TN – 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier and former NCAA Division II national championship qualifier.
Half Marathon
Men:
- Zach Panning: Washington, MI – Fort Wayne, IN native; sixth at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, 10th at the 2024 Chicago Marathon, and 13th at the 2023 World Athletics Championships Marathon.
- Brian Barraza: Lafayette, CO – Former University of Houston standout, two-time NCAA Track All-American, and multiple-time school-record holder.
- Matt Richtman: Bozeman, MT – 2025 Los Angeles Marathon Champion and the first American to win the event in 31 years. Two-time NCAA Cross Country All-American at Montana State University.
Women:
- Kassie Parker: Waverly, IA – 2026 Bloomsday Champion and USATF 4 Mile Champion.
- Jessica Gockley-Day: Richfield, MN – U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier in the 10,000m, 2025 Rothman Orthopaedics 8K Champion, and 1:09:00 half marathon personal best at the 2026 Houston Half Marathon.
- Mikayla Reed: Indianapolis, IN – Top-five finisher in the women’s 10,000m at the 2026 USATF Outdoor Championships.
- Annamaria Kostarellis: Rochester, NY – 2024 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials qualifier, NCAA All-American at Baylor University, and Baylor school-record holder in the 10,000m.
Elite fields will chase new event records (Half: 1:02:25 Men, 1:08:26 Women; Full: 2:15:41 Men, 2:31:49 Women).
For live updates and information on race day, follow @IndyMonumental.
All three race distances are officially sold out, and waitlists are now closed. Community members can still be part of the excitement by volunteering, cheering along the course or supporting participants throughout race weekend. For more information, please visit monumentalmarathon.com.
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About Beyond Monumental
Beyond Monumental, the 501(c)3 non-profit responsible for the CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, provides the Indianapolis community with a complement of activities built around their premier event that promotes healthy living & fitness for all ages. Beyond Monumental gives back to the Indianapolis community by supporting youth programming that reinforces healthy lifestyles for young people, with an emphasis on working with urban students and Indianapolis Public Schools, donating over $1.7 million since inception. The CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental Marathon is a top 15 marathon in the US and is nationally recognized by Runner’s World as one of “Ten Great Marathons for First Timers”. The 19th annual running is scheduled for Nov. 7, 2026. For more information, please visit beyondmonumental.org.
About CNO Financial Group
CNO Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: CNO) secures the future of middle-income America. CNO provides life and health insurance, annuities and financial services through our family of brands, including Bankers Life, Colonial Penn, Optavise and Washington National. Our customers work hard to save for the future, and we help protect their health, income and retirement needs with 3.3 million policies and $39.3 billion in total assets. Our 3,200 associates, 5,100 exclusive agents and more than 6,500 independent partner agents guide individuals, families and businesses through a lifetime of financial decisions. For more information, visit CNOinc.com.