High Five Events introduces the fifth round of accepted athletes for the 2018 Austin Marathon®. Runners who do not qualify for the Elite Athlete Program are still invited to run in the Elite Field. The Elite Athlete Program’s focus is to provide a clean and competitive environment, discover emerging talent, and help the existing talent pool reach Olympic standards. The Program’s Year Two prize purse totals $20,000, with $15,000 for the marathon and $5,000 for the half marathon.

The fifth round of 2018 marathoners include:

• Allison Macsas – Elite Athlete Program (2017 Austin Marathon female champion – 2:48:16)
• Craig Leon – Elite Athlete Program (7th place at 2017 US Marathon Championships [CIM] – 2:13:41)
• Arturs Bareikis – Elite Athlete Program (2nd place at 2017 Madison Marathon – 2:23:14)
• Carter Norbo – Elite Athlete Program (ran 2:48:35 at 2017 Chicago Marathon)
• D’Ann Arthur – Elite Athlete Program (2nd place at 2016 OC Marathon – 2:46:50)
• Drew Johnson – Elite Field (ran 1:14:14 at 2017 Garry Bjorkland Half Marathon)
• Brent Martin – Elite Field (4th place at 2017 Akron Marathon – 2:28:10)

The fifth round of 2018 half marathoners include:

• Allison Mendez-Cleaver – Elite Athlete Program (2017 Austin Half Marathon female champion – 1:21:42; 2016 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier)
• Patrick Smyth – Elite Athlete Program (8th place at 2016 Olympic Trials Marathon – 2:15:26; 2012 and 2016 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier)
• Alfred Kiplagat – Elite Athlete Program (4th place at 2016 Germantown Half Marathon – 1:06:44)
• Jarrett LeBlanc – Elite Athlete Program (ran 1:04:19 at 2015 US Half Marathon Championships; 2016 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier)
• Jason Ayr – Elite Athlete Program (3rd place 2017 Hartford Marathon – 2:20:36)
• Heather Zytkewicz – Elite Field (8th place at 2017 San Antonio Half Marathon – 1:26:45)
• Jonathon Lira – Elite Field (ran track and cross country for Texas Tech)

“There is nothing quite like racing on hometown roads full of familiar faces, especially when your hometown race is a top-notch production,” said Macsas, also a 2012 and 2016 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier. “Austin Marathon weekend always feels like a big party for the local running community and my 2017 win was a major highlight of my year – I couldn’t be more excited for the chance to line up and try to do it again!”

Read about the first, second, third,and fourth rounds of accepted elite runners. Including today, the marathon has accepted a total of 13 runners into the Elite Athlete Program and 17 others have been invited to participate in the Elite Field. The half marathon has accepted 13 runners into the Elite Athlete Program and 16 others have been invited to participate in the Elite Field. Applications are arriving daily and more than 100 have already been submitted. The sixth round of athletes will be announced next week. Applications are still being accepted and elite runners can apply on the Austin Marathon’s website. Athletes that meet the program’s standards and are accepted will be given one comp entry to the 2018 Austin Marathon or half marathon, reimbursement eligibility, and standards bonuses.