Contact: Sydney Meyers
Director, Marketing & Consumer Experience
Beyond Monumental
sydney@beyondmonumental.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RECORD PARTICIPATION HIGHLIGHTS 2026 APEX BENEFITS MONUMENTAL KIDS 5K AT LUCAS OIL STADIUM
Record-setting event celebrates student achievement, healthy living and the impact of the Monumental Kids Movement
Indianapolis – September 19, 2026 – More than 2,000 students registered for Saturday’s Apex Benefits Monumental Kids 5K presented by Indiana University Indianapolis, marking the largest participation in the standalone event’s history.
Students representing more than 80 schools came together in downtown Indianapolis to celebrate weeks of training, healthy habits and hard work. Participants completed a 3.1-mile course through downtown before running through the Lucas Oil Stadium tunnel and crossing the finish line on the field.
The event serves as the largest annual culmination of the Apex Benefits Monumental Kids Movement (MKM) presented by Indiana University Indianapolis, a school-based running and wellness program that gives students the opportunity to train toward a 5K while learning about exercise, nutrition and healthy living.
During Saturday’s Opening Ceremony, Beyond Monumental presented $69,000 to support local schools and youth health and wellness programming. Over the past 18 years, Beyond Monumental and its partners have donated more than $1.7 million to support local schools and youth programming.
“To see this event reach more students than ever before is incredibly meaningful,” said Jed Cornforth, President & CEO of Beyond Monumental. “Every student on that course represents weeks of hard work, encouragement from their school community and an opportunity to discover what they’re capable of. We’re proud to celebrate that achievement with them at a finish line they’ll remember.”
Event Highlights
- Record Participation: More than 2,000 students registered for Saturday’s event, the most in the history of the standalone Apex Benefits Monumental Kids 5K.
- More Than 80 Schools Represented: Students from schools across Indianapolis celebrated the completion of weeks of training by taking on the 5K course through downtown.
- Supporting Local Schools: Beyond Monumental presented $69,000 to support participating schools and youth health and wellness programming, continuing an investment of more than $1.7 million over the past 18 years.
- A Stadium Finish: Students entered Lucas Oil Stadium through the tunnel before crossing the finish line on the field, surrounded by families, teachers, motivators, and supporters.
- Wellness Expo: Students and families continued the celebration inside Lucas Oil Stadium with a Wellness Expo featuring local organizations focused on health, wellness and active living.
Saturday’s event is the first of two fall finish lines for the MKM program. More than 400 additional students from Lawrence Township will complete their program at the Indy Half Marathon at Fort Ben 5K on October 3, bringing 2026 participation in the program to nearly 2,500 students across more than 80 schools.
Full results from the 2026 Apex Benefits Monumental Kids 5K can be found HERE.
The Apex Benefits Monumental Kids Movement presented by Indiana University Indianapolis is a school-based running club powered by a health and wellness curriculum that educates youth about the benefits of exercise, proper diet and healthy living. Students typically train for six to eight weeks before completing either the Apex Benefits Monumental Kids 5K presented by Indiana University Indianapolis or the Indy Half Marathon at Fort Ben 5K.
Beyond Monumental’s flagship event, the CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K, returns for its 19th running on Saturday, November 7, 2026. All three distances are sold out. Opportunities to get involved on race weekend, including volunteering and cheering, are available at monumentalmarathon.com.
####
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 premiere 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 Runners’ 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.