Joel Reichow

Joel Reichow is an American distance runner who specializes in the marathon. He was an NCAA All-American at South Dakota State University before progressing to longer road races after college. Reichow competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials marathon in 2020 and 2024, and he was the top American finisher at the 2025 New York City Marathon.

Early life Reichow grew up in White Bear Lake, Minnesota and attended White Bear Lake High School. He was the state sectionals champion at 1,600 meters on the track and placed as high as fifth in the state for cross country. Reichow enrolled at South Dakota State University where he was coached by former professional runner Rod DeHaven. He was a two-time NCAA All-American in cross country and broke numerous school records, with personal-best times of 13:53 for 5,000 meters and 28:55 for 10,000 meters. Reichow graduated in 2016 with a degree in biology. Reichow did not achieve national-class results on the roads until moving up in distance to the half marathon in the fall of 2019. His 1:03:24 performance at the Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon qualified him for the 2020 United States Olympic trials (marathon). Reichow lowered his half marathon best to 1:02:38 at the 2020 Houston Half Marathon. It was his first attempt at the marathon distance, and he claimed he was still learning how to fuel properly during the race, which resulted in him choking on his gel pack.

Later in 2020, Reichow lowered his marathon best to 2:15:45 at the Marathon Project event in Arizona. Later in the year, Reichow lowered his marathon best to 2:10:37 at the Chicago Marathon. He took 18th place at the New York City Marathon later that year. In doing so he became the first person to ever win both the marathon and half marathon events at the Grandma's Marathon weekend in Duluth, Minnesota.

His best performance came later in the year when he earned fifth place at the 2025 New York City Marathon in a time of 2:09:56. He was the top American finisher ahead of notable competitors such as Charles Hicks, Joe Klecker, and Hillary Bor.

As of 2024, Reichow lives and trains in St. Paul, Minnesota. He works as a sales associate at Fleet Feet Minneapolis. In January 2026, he signed with Puma.