Cockram won her third consecutive Williams Route 66 Half Marathon Sunday morning, but after she crossed the finish line, something happened that would set this victory apart from others.

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Cockram's boyfriend, Carl Salazar, got on his knees and surprised her with the big question at the finish line.

Nerves were high for Salazar, and not just because of the engagement.

"(Cockram's) had some knee problems recently, and I thought there might be a chance she might drop out," Salazar said.

The two University of Tulsa students plan to return to the race as husband and wife next year.

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Mathew Palmer, a former Delta Air Lines employee, at his home in Atlanta on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025.  Palmer was fired less than two weeks after writing a post on social media about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. (Natrice Miller/AJC)