From left to right, Elizabeth Chikotas, third place, Morgan Nokes, first place, and Grace Clements, second place, stand on the podium after the Deseret News half marathon in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Melissa covers University of Utah gymnastics and high school sports, and has been a Deseret News contributor since 2004.
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Former UVU star Morgan Nokes raced her way to the Deseret News women’s half marathon title Friday with a 1:09:55 finish.
Nokes was followed by Grace Clements (1:10:34) and Elizabeth Chikotas (1:11:07), the latter of whom was last year’s half marathon winner.
“I don’t really know what my future holds with running,” said Nokes. “I’d like to run professionally, so I’m trying to get some good races in, some good times in that can eventually spark someone’s attention. Today was tough and fun.”
The win will help Nokes build up her résumé, as the field Friday was competitive like always.
Nokes wrapped up a nice career at UVU that included earning All-America honors in cross country her final season. She took some time off from running prior to that to give birth to her son, Theo. The bright-eyed 17-month-old was there Friday to cheer on his mom.
“I remember saying good night to him last night, and was like, ‘I’m going to run fast for you and I love you,’” Nokes said.
Run fast she did, as Nokes kept pace with the competitive field early on and then was able to move ahead around mile eight or nine, she thought.
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Lydia Bell, left, and Madalyn White cheer as they near the finish line in the Deseret News Half Marathon at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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Kevin Kirk nears the finish line in second place as he competes in the Deseret News Half Marathon at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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Abby Jacobson and Andria Huskinson run in the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Kevin Kirk, the second place runner of the half marathon, boosts his son, Cooper Kirk, into the air during the Deseret News Marathon in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
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From left to right, Jordan Cross, third place, Ethan Shuley, first place, and Kevin Kirk, third place, pose for a photo after the Deseret News half marathon in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
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Ethan Shuley, 28, crosses the finish line in first during the Deseret News half marathon in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
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Ethan Shuley nears the finish line in first place in the Deseret News Half Marathon at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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Ethan Shuley nears the finish line in first place in the Deseret News Half Marathon at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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Ethan Shuley crosses the finish line in first place in the Deseret News Half Marathon at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
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Sophie Betts, Eden Bingham, Ilhean Rondon and Darla Bingham cheer on runners during the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Deseret News Half Marathon runners start out at the top of Emigration Canyon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Mitchell Williams carries an American flag in the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Runners take off from the starting line of the Deseret News Half Marathon at the top of Emigration Canyon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Thomas Hatathli runs in the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Joe Dutson runs through downtown while participating in the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Runners make their way down Emigration Canyon during the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Runners take off from the starting line of the Deseret News Half Marathon at the top of Emigration Canyon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Raivio Manzer hands out drinks at an aid station during the Deseret News Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Runners pass discarded cups while participating in the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Runners make their way down Emigration Canyon during the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Deseret News Half Marathon runners start out at the top of Emigration Canyon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Runners make their way down Emigration Canyon in the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Runners make their way down Emigration Canyon in the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Colin Silver carries an American flag in the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Alysia Rosentrater runs in the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Runners make their way down Emigration Canyon during the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Runners head down South Temple during the Deseret News Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret Ne
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Runners make their way down 200 East during the Deseret News Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Runners head down South Temple during the Deseret News Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Runners take off from the starting line of the Deseret News Half Marathon at the top of Emigration Canyon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Runners make the final stretch down 900 South during the Deseret News Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Michael Kowalski runs in the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Jared and Kelsey Adamson run in the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Runners get hydrated at an aid station while running the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Mary Karlson hands out drinks at an aid station while runners make their way down Emigration Canyon in the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Robbie Stone runs in the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Runners make their way down Emigration Canyon during the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Grace Evans runs in the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Runners make their way down Emigration Canyon during the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret Ne
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Pamela Ellis runs in the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Raivio Manzer hands out drinks at an aid station during the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Runners turn off South Temple onto 200 East during the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Runners make a turn toward downtown during the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Keith Levitt runs through downtown while participating in the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Pamela Ellis runs in the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
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Lillie Nguyen and Jo Pauline Piña run in the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret Ne
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Keith Levitt runs in the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret Ne
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A mile marker guides runners in the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret Ne
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Alexis King runs in the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret Ne
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Amy Jo Moore and Larissa Crawford run in the Deseret News Half Marathon in Salt Lake City on Pioneer Day, Friday, July 24, 2026. | Spenser Heaps for the Deseret News
“Elizabeth took it from the start. She’s a really powerful runner, and I just decided that I would go with her and honestly just try to hang on,” Nokes explained.
“I was feeling good and kind of kept trying to push as fast as I could and finish strong. This is my first half, and it’s obviously really hard.”
For Nokes, she’s exploring distances and races — along with finishing up a master’s degree in public administration this summer — and she’s not doing it alone as she has a big cheerleader in her corner in her husband, Joey.
Joey Nokes understands the running world as well as anyone, as he was a national champion runner with BYU’s cross country team.
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“He’s a good motivator for me and a really good inspiration,” said Morgan Nokes. “I think he’s one of the reasons why I started to take running more seriously and really dive into my potential as a runner with what paces I could hit. I’m so grateful for him.”
Friday was not an easy race by any means for Nokes, but one that showed she can continue to find success as her career evolves.
“The course was a lot more downhill than I expected. My legs are kind of cooked just from that,” Nokes said. “But, honestly, it’s nice to have that a little bit, too. It’s kind of fun to start off at a little bit of a faster pace and kind of use that momentum to continue the race.”
