SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The 2023 California International Marathon took place this past Sunday in northern California, where the best of the best long distance runners from all around the country and extended world participated in one of the largest single races there is to offer with over 9,000 competitors hitting the course.
To see the results of the NAIA participants at the 2023 California International Marathon, click HERE.
In addition to the traditional marathon-style races, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics held their inaugural marathon championship during the event, where Corban University Men's Cross Country student-athlete Robert Swoboda captured the individual crown by a staggering seven and a half minutes over his second-place counterpart.
"The marathon has been an NAIA event for many years and Rob just barely missed the all-time record," Warriors' assistant coach Stuart Eagon shared regarding the program leader in virtually every category. "We are very proud of him, and we believe he will be an elite American marathoner in years to come. It is very exciting that he was at Corban when he ran his first marathon."
Coach Eagon continued with his analysis by sharing, "Rob has been a huge blessing for our university, winning the first ever individual national championship in 2022 via the 10,000 meter race, and now his NAIA marathon National Championship, both of which have raised the profile of our institution greatly. We feel very blessed to have qualified in November as a team for our first-ever NAIA Championships in men's cross country as well. All glory to God for the doors he has opened for Rob and for our university."
Swoboda crossed the finish line of the 26.2 mile race in two hours, 19 minutes and 23 seconds, which was good enough to finish 43rd overall out of the thousands of participants. With his hopes set on qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Trials during his first ever marathon, he came up just a minute and 23 seconds shy of the qualifying mark, giving him plenty of room for improvement to hit the passing grade before the final date arrives this upcoming year.
The Ukiah, California native returned to his home state in style after an unbelievable run he had through the 2023 cross country season, one that included a Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Individual Championship, a fourth-place finish in the NAIA National Championships, was named the CCC Men's Runner of the Year, USTFCCCA West Region Runner of the Year, and was dubbed a two-time All-American by the NAIA and USTFCCCA. On a weekly basis, Swoboda earned four different CCC Runner of the Week awards, and was honored as the NAIA Runner of the Week on two of those occasions. He will undoubtedly have his name etched into the Corban record books for years to come and has spent the past six years of his life dedicating his craft to his teammates, his coaches, his Savior, and to Corban University.