Illinois Alumni Magazine

A publication for the alumni of the university

Illini Take Chicago

The Wheelchair Athletes fill the Chicago Marathon Podium
By: Jessica Skogh
On Sunday October 12, in the wheelchair division of the Chicago Marathon, former Illini took
home first place finishes in the mens and womens race. Josh George and Tatyana McFadden
spent months preparing for this race, and crossed the finish line with Illini pride.
In its 37th year, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon annually attracts approximately 45,000
participants, including world-class elite runners wheelchair athletes, and an estimated 1.7 million
spectators.
As a result of its national and international draw, the iconic race raises millions of dollars for a
variety of charitable causes while generating $253 million in annual economic impact to its host
city, according to a report by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaigns Regional
Economics Applications Laboratory (R.E.A.L.).
I-L-L I-N-I
George crossed the finish line and took home the first place medal in the most competitive
wheelchair race ever, according to race officials. Bank of America reports that the last 300
meters was a sprint for the finish line, with ten other men trailing behindall within eleven
seconds of each other. Eleven men made the turn from Roosevelt onto Columbus drive in the last
leg of the race Defending champion Ernst Van Dyk (Russia) was close, but no one could stop
George in his last minute sprint. It was quite a race, said George. It was the biggest pace Ive
ever raced with in the Chicago Marathon. Any time someone tried to move, there were guys
there to respond to it, George said.
On the womens side, Tatyana McFadden made history with her fourth consecutive first place
Chicago finish out of five races in the past six years. This win was important as it marked her
eleventh overall wheelchair win. This tops her record from 2013, where she was the first athlete,
male or female, to win four World Marathon Majors in one year (Boston, London, Chicago and
New York).
The Fighting Illini
Several current University of Illinois students also completed the marathon and took the podium.
Arielle Rausin, a junior in business, finished her race in 2:06:08, taking third place for her
division, and eighth place for women in chairs. I am so happy that I did it. Not only did I finish
this race for the second time in four years, but I was able to shave off a complete hour on my

time. Im honored that I was able to train down on campus and set a new personal record,
said Rausin.
Overall, there were 19 Illini competing in the race. They traveled as a team from Champaign to
Chicago and supported each other through every mile. Its a unique experience to have this
many people from one organization do something like this. Of course Im glad that we are all
friends and our medals will be worn with Illini pride, Rausin said.
These athletes are very active in the adaptive sport programs on campus. To further support the
athletes that raced in the Chicago Marathon, learn more about the University of Illinois adapted
athletics program. For updates, future schedules and scores, visit
www.illinoiswheelchairbasketball.com.