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Austin Marathon Announces Fourth Round of Accepted Elite Runners

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

The Ascension Seton Austin Marathon presented by Under Armour introduces the fourth 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.

“I’m pumped to run the Austin Half Marathon as my final big workout leading into the Olympic Marathon Trials,” said Rory Tunningley, two-time Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier (2016 and ‘20). “In  Austin, I can simulate racing on the hills that are in my own backyard and know I’m ready for the rolling hills in Atlanta.”

The fourth round of 2020 Austin Marathoners include: 

  • Hannah Steffan – female Elite Athlete Program (2019 CIM – 2:55:20)

The fourth round of 2020 Austin Half Marathoners include: 

  • Rory Tunningley – male Elite Athlete Program (2019 Grandma’s Marathon – 2:16:25)
  • Igor Olefirenko – male Elite Athlete Program (2019 London Marathon- 2:11:55)
  • Bijan Mazaheri – male Elite Athlete Program (2019 Chicago Marathon – 2:15:26)
  • Neringa Kaulinaite – female Elite Athlete Program (2020 Houston Marathon – 2:47:45)
  • Kevin Kochei – male Elite Athlete Program (2019 Mercedes Half Marathon champ – 1:05:41)
  • Dominic Korir– male Elite Athlete Program (2020 Houston Half Marathon – 1:01:45)
  • Ezekiel Chebotibin – male Elite Athlete Program (2019 Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon – 2:09:58)
  • Becky Hendee – female Elite Field (2016 Autumn Color Run Half Marathon – 1:21:13)
  • Crystal Kent – female Elite Field (2017 Outer Banks Half Marathon – 1:24:36)
  • Yahia Elsayed – male Elite Field (2019 Philadelphia Half Marathon – 1:09:39)
  • John Ross – male Elite Field (2020 3M Half Marathon – 1:11:58)

The fourth round of 2020 Manzano Milers include:

  • Nicholas Romanow – male Elite Field (2018 Schrader Mile – 4:26.33)
  • Tyler Smith – male Elite Field (2018 Black and Gold Invitational (1500m) – 4:01.73)

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, second, and third 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.

Austin Marathon Announces Sixth Round of Accepted Elite Runners

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High Five Events introduces the sixth 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.

sixth round

Zachary Ornelas at 2017 Boston Marathon (2:24:40).

The sixth round of 2018 marathoners include:

  • Bryan Morseman – Elite Athlete Program (2nd place at 2017 Run for the Red Marathon – 2:22:08)
  • Girma Segni – Elite Athlete Program (ran 2:23:51 at 2017 New York City Marathon)
  • Wendes Gray – Elite Field (ran 1:31:47 at 2016 Holiday Half Marathon)
  • Alex Kramer – Elite Field (ran 1:13:48 at 2017 Cambridge Half Marathon)
  • Mitchell Germann – Elite Field (2nd place at 2017 Decker Challenge – 1:17:10)
  • Zachary Ornelas – Elite Field (ran 2:24:40 at 2017 Boston Marathon)

The sixth round of 2018 half marathoners include:

  • Luke Humphrey – Elite Athlete Program (2008, 2012, 2016 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier)
  • Sabrina Lopez – Elite Athlete Program (ran 2:41:16 at 2017 California International Marathon)
  • Samantha Roecker – Elite Athlete Program (2nd place female at 2017 Hartford Marathon – 2:38:14)
  • Nicole Aish –  – Elite Field (2nd place at 2017 Virginia Beach Half Marathon – 1:19:46)
  • Crystal Kent – Elite Field (3rd place at 2017 San Antonio Marathon – 3:15:30)
  • Anthony Holshouser – Elite Field (2nd place at 2017 Route 66 Half Marathon – 1:14:11)
  • Kaitlyn Johnson – Elite Field (ran 1:20:10 at 2017 3M Half Marathon)
  • Natasha Van der Merwe – Elite Field (2017 Decker Challenge female Champion – 1:26:27)
  • Brittni Hutton – Elite Field (ran 35:20 at 2017 Portland Track Festival 10K)
  • Hernan Rozemberg – Elite Field (ran 1:16:09 at 2017 3M Half Marathon)
  • Braden Perry – Elite Field (ran collegiately at Weber State University)

“I am excited to return to Austin for the Austin Half Marathon,” said Humphrey, who has been a member of the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project since 2004. “I am using the Austin Half Marathon to test my fitness after coming back from a fall marathon. This is the perfect race for me to compete and challenge in the lead group!”

Read about the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth rounds of accepted elite runners. Including today, the marathon has accepted a total of 15 runners into the Elite Athlete Program and 23 others have been invited to participate in the Elite Field. The half marathon has accepted 16 runners into the Elite Athlete Program and 25 others have been invited to participate in the Elite Field. 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.