Austin Marathon Announces Third Round of Accepted Elite Runners

Third round of elite runners competing for $23,200 prize purse

The Ascension Seton Austin Marathon presented by Under Armour introduces the third round of accepted athletes for 2020. This program, in its fourth year, creates a competitive field of elite male and female runners while discovering emerging talent, pushing the entire talent pool to reach Olympic standards. FloTrack’s live coverage highlights the competition amongst the elites, following male and female marathoners and half marathoners. Elites are listed below along with their qualifying time. The 29th annual Austin Marathon, owned and produced by High Five Events, will take place on February 16, 2020.

“The Austin Marathon is an incredible race and I take any opportunity I have to toe the line and test myself here,” said Becki Spellman, 4-time Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier (2008, ‘12, ‘16, ‘20). “I love the city, the crowd support, and the race; it always feels like my home away from home!”

The third round of 2020 Austin Marathoners include: 

• Bryan Morseman – male Elite Athlete Program (2018 Glass City Marathon – 2:23:23)
• Asia Shah – female Elite Field (2017 CIM – 2:57:41)
• Elena Oslund – female Elite Field (2019 Eugene Half Marathon – 1:21:58)
• Kyle Allen – male Elite Field (2019 Halfsy Half Marathon – 1:12:40)
• William Bertrand – male Elite Field (2019 Austin Marathon – 2:29:28)

The third round of 2020 Austin Half Marathoners include: 

• Becki Spellman – female Elite Athlete Program (2018 Richmond Half Marathon – 1:14:56)
• Caren Maiyo – female Elite Athlete Program (2019 PSPB Delhi Half Marathon- 1:14:19)
• Allen Sumrall – male Elite Athlete Program (4th place, 2019 Austin Half Marathon – 1:06:54)
• Michael Morris – male Elite Athlete Program (2:19:33 – 2019 CIM)
• Benjamin Sathre – male Elite Athlete Program (2018 Houston Marathon – 2:15:06)
• John Kingstedt – male Elite Athlete Program (2019 Valencia Marathon – 2:17:56)
• Jen Frankmann – female Elite Athlete Program (2018 Houston Marathon – 2:44:15)
• Kathryn Fluehr – female Elite Athlete Program (2018 Indy Half Marathon – 1:14:00)
• Alex Lee – male Elite Field (2019 Las Vegas Half Marathon – 1:17:48)
• Mitch Ammons – male Elite Field (2019 3M Half Marathon – 1:16:39)
• Natasha van der Merwe – female Elite Field (2019 3M Half Marathon – 1:23:26)
• Nicholas Chase – male Elite Field (2019 Florida Shamrock Half Marathon – 1:17:12)
• Bree Schrader – female Elite Field (2019 Houston Half Marathon – 1:20:05)
• Alan Zhou – male Elite Field (2019 Chicago Marathon – 1:33:49)
• Melissa Morey – female Elite Field (2018 Des Moines Half Marathon – 1:24:05)
• Tyler Morey – male Elite Field (2019 Des Moines Half Marathon – 1:10:34)

The third round of 2020 Manzano Milers include:

• James Ngandu – male Elite Field (2019 Austin Half Marathon champ – 1:04:32)
• Anna McDonald – female Elite Field (3rd place, 2019 Manzano Mile – 4:53.89)
• Bryce Richards – male Elite Field (2019 Ryan Shay Mile – 4:12.88)
• Oscar Garcia – male Elite Field (2018 BU Season Opener – 4:32.67)
• Lizzie Bird – female Elite Field (Stretford (GBR) 1500m – 4:16.32)
• Jesse Chettle – male Elite Field (2019 Manzano Mile – 4:33.93)
• Brian Llamas – male Elite Field (2019 Music City Distance Carnival – 4:12.41)
• Michael Davila – male Elite Field (2019 Long Island Mile – 4:10.26)
• Samuel Murphy – male Elite Field (2019 Run for the Water 5K champ – 15:40)
• Dylan Doss – male Elite Field (6th place, 2019 Manzano Mile – 4:18.87)

The prize purse breakdown follows: $15,000 for the marathon, $5,000 for the half marathon, and $3,200 for the Manzano Mile presented by Dole Packaged Foods. Runners not accepted into the Elite Athlete Program are still invited to run in the Elite Field. Runners that are not accepted to the Elite Athlete Program or the Elite Field are not eligible for prize money. Read about the first and second round of accepted elite runners.

The Austin Marathon will celebrate its 29th year running in the capital of Texas in 2020. Austin’s flagship running event annually attracts runners from all 50 states and 30+ countries around the world. The start and finish locations are just a few blocks apart. They are within walking distance of many downtown hotels and restaurants. The finish line is in front of the picturesque Texas State Capitol. Austin Marathon is the perfect running weekend destination. Registration is currently open.