Folders |
Olympian, Six National Champions to Lead Star-Studded Field at 2019 USATF Half Marathon Championships in Pittsburgh on Sunday, May 5Published by
Olympian, Six National Champions to Lead Star-Studded Field at 2019 USATF Half Marathon Championships in Pittsburgh on Sunday, May 5 PITTSBURGH – The 2019 USATF Half Marathon Championships in Pittsburgh will feature a star-studded field including an Olympian and six national champions. The national title event will be held in conjunction with the 11th annual DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon weekend of events, May 3-5. Women’s Division "I can't wait to get back to the USATF Half Marathon Championships in Pittsburgh for the second straight year,” Hall said. “After a runner up finish last year, I'm anxious to test my fitness against a great field and compete for the national title.” Hall will face tough competition from Emma Bates, the 2018 USA Marathon Champion. Bates has had an impressive 2019 so far and has set new personal bests in both the half marathon (1:11:13) and the 10 Mile (52:18). Also toeing the start line is Stephanie Bruce, the 2018 USA 10K Champion and runner up at the 2018 USATF Marathon Championships. 2016 U.S. Rio Olympian Leonard Korir leads this year’s men’s field. The 2017 USA Half Marathon champion has a half-marathon personal record of 59:52, the third fastest all-time performance by an American. Korir has raced well in Pittsburgh and won the EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler in 2014 and 2016. He’s ready to dominate the streets again after finishing a disappointing fifth in last year’s race. “I am excited to come compete in Pittsburgh again this year,” Korir said. “I like the city and want to have a good race. Last year was not that good of a race for me because of injuries. I am healthy this year and looking forward to a good competition.” Joining Korir are Brogan Austin, the 2018 USA Marathon Champion, and Stanley Kebenei, the 2016 USA 15K Champion. Andrew Colley, who won bronze in last year’s race with a time of 1:02:40, and Futsum Zienasellassie, who has a half-marathon personal best of 1:03:10, are other athletes to watch. This year’s USATF Half Marathon Championships – the 32nd for the men and 23rd for the women – offers a prize purse of $85,000. The top 15 finishers in the male and female Open divisions will earn guaranteed prize money, including $15,000 each for the national champions. There will also be additional money available through performance time and record bonuses. “Pittsburgh is in for a treat this year as some of America’s best runners will be racing our streets in pursuit of a national title,” said Patrice Matamoros, P3R CEO. “Pittsburgh is already known for being one of the biggest sports cities with football, baseball and hockey, and we are proud to add running to that list. Pittsburgh fans are the best in the country, and we have no doubt they will line the streets to support these talented athletes.” Entered in the men’s and women’s fields as of April 24, 2019 are:
The 2019 USATF Half Marathon Championships will start at 6:55 a.m., ten minutes before the elite and mass start of the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon. For more information about the USATF Half Marathon Championships, visit: pittsburghmarathon.com/ The USA Half Marathon Championships are part of the USATF Running Circuit, a road race series featuring USATF Championships from one mile through the marathon. The series consistently attracts the best American distance runners with more than $500,000 to be awarded annually in total prize money. For more information about the USA Half Marathon Championships, visit USATF.org. P3R shares a common goal with the USATF Running Circuit: to showcase, support and promote American athletes in the running industry. With support from SportsPITTSBURGH, P3R looks forward to increasing exposure and racing opportunities for emerging U.S. runners in the City of Pittsburgh when hosting the 2019 USATF Half Marathon Championships for men and women. About the Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon, Inc. (P3R) FACEBOOK: P3Revents TWITTER: @P3REvents INSTAGRAM: P3REvents About USA Track and Field USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the country’s No. 1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States. For more information, visit: usatf.org About the USATF Running Circuit The USATF Running Circuit is a USATF road series featuring USATF championships from one mile through the marathon and consistently attracts the best American distance runners with more than $500,000 to be awarded in total prize money. The mission of the USATF Running Circuit is to showcase, support and promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USATF Running Circuit and its races have provided more than $9 million to U.S. distance runners. More news |