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Austin Marathon Accepts First Round of Elite Runners

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First round of elite runners competing for $26,000 prize purse

The Ascension Seton Austin Marathon presented by Under Armour introduces the first round of elite runners 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. The 29th annual Austin Marathon, owned and produced by High Five Events, will take place on February 16, 2020.

“I’m thrilled to join the Elite Athlete Program at the Austin Marathon,” said Keri McEntee, who ran an Olympic Trials qualifying 2:41:19 at 2019 Grandma’s Marathon. “I’m excited to compete against other elite runners, see the city, and enjoy some warmer weather!”

The first round of 2020 Austin Marathoners include: 

  • Keri McEntee – female Elite Athlete Program (2020 Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier – 2:41:19)
  • Daniel Bishop – male Elite Athlete Program (2018 St. George Marathon – 2:23:37)
  • Sarah Jackson – female Elite Field (2018 Austin Marathon – 2:58:41)
  • Adam Lazrus – male Elite Field (2018 Tunnel Lite Marathon – 2:37:31)
  • Valentyna Poltavska – female Elite Field (2019 Houston Marathon – 2:52:49)
  • Matt McCurdy – male Elite Field (2019 3M Half Marathon – 1:11:55)

The first round of 2020 Austin Half Marathoners include: 

  • Heidi Bock – female Elite Field (2019 Woodlands Half Marathon – 1:23:36)
  • Todd Mickey – male Elite Field (2019 Austin Half Marathon – 1:16:33)
  • Maura Tyrrell – female Elite Field (2nd place female, 2019 Myrtle Beach Half Marathon – 1:22:47)
  • Steve Purugganan – male Elite Field (2018 San Jose Half Marathon – 1:15:52)
  • Adam Moore – male Elite Field (2019 Ohio Cap City Half Marathon – 1:15:23)
  • Carolyn Menard – female Elite Field (2019 Urban Cow Half Marathon – 1:26:13)
  • Rebecca Marrou – female Elite Field (2018 Run the Alamo Half Marathon female champion – 1:24:18)
  • Julia Vegas – female Elite Field (2019 Austin Half Marathon – 1:26:28)

“The investments we’ve made into the Elite Athlete Program are beginning to bear fruit with the overall growth and several elites qualifying for the Olympic Marathon Trials,” said Jack Murray, co-owner of High Five Events. “The competition adds another layer of excitement to an already energetic Austin Marathon weekend.”

The prize purse breakdown follows: $15,000 for the marathon, $5,000 for the half marathon, and $6,000 for the Manzano Mile presented by Dole. 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.

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. Having start and finish locations just a few blocks apart, being within walking distance of many downtown hotels and restaurants, and finishing in front of the picturesque Texas State Capitol makes the Austin Marathon the perfect running weekend destination. Registration is currently open.

Austin Marathon Announces First Round of Accepted Elite Runners

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Elite runners will compete during race weekend for a prize purse that totals $26,000

Elite runners will compete for $26,000 at the 2019 Austin Marathon presented by Under Armour.

Jocelyn Todd accepts her award for finishing 3rd place at the 2018 Austin Half Marathon.

Introducing the first round of accepted elite runners for the 2019 Austin Marathon® presented by Under Armour®. Elite runners not accepted into the Elite Athlete Program are still invited to run in the Elite Field. Returning for its third year in a row, this opportunity creates a competitive field of male and female elite runners while discovering emerging talent, pushing the entire talent pool to reach Olympic standards. The Program’s Year Three prize purse totals $26,000. FloTrack’s live coverage highlights the competition amongst elite runners, following male and female marathoners and half marathoners.

“I’m excited to return to Austin again this year!” said Jocelyn Todd, 3rd place female at the 2018 Austin Half Marathon (1:17:19). “The steep competition, rolling course, excellent organization, and awesome crowd make the event a great component to my race schedule.”

The first round of 2019 marathoners include:

  • Daniel Bishop – Elite Athlete Program (3rd place 2018 Austin Marathon – 2:26:27)
  • Jameson Mora – Elite Athlete Program (2020 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier)
  • Beth Marzigliano – Elite Field (3rd place 2017 Run for the Red Marathon – 2:58:58)
  • Nadia Tamby – Elite Field (3:00:56 at 2018 LA Marathon)
  • Cole Toepfer – Elite Field (1:12:23 at 2018 Garry Bjorkland Half Marathon)
Elite runners will compete for $26,000 at the 2019 Austin Marathon presented by Under Armour.

Daniel Bishop crosses the 2018 Austin Marathon finish line in 3rd place.

The first round of 2019 half marathoners include:

  • Jocelyn Todd – Elite Athlete Program (2020 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier)
  • Rachel Baptista – Elite Athlete Program (2020 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier)
  • Ryan Root – Elite Athlete Program (2nd place 2018 Austin Half Marathon – 1:08:51)
  • Megan Smith – Elite Athlete Program (2:50:19 at 2017 Twin Cities Marathon)
  • Matt McCurdy – Elite Field (2018 Austin Marathon Masters Champion – 2:42:27)
  • Brooke Torres – Elite Field (1:25:22 at 2018 3M Half Marathon)
  • Callie Bartel – Elite Field (1:25:16 at 2017 Marquette Half Marathon)

The first round of 2019 Manzano Mile participants include:

  • Cameron Villarreal – Elite Field (2017 Charlie Thomas Invitational – 4:04.6)
  • James Heilman – Elite Field (4:26.8 at 2018 Texas A&M Aggie Twilight)

“The 2018 elite field provided competitive racing, highlighted by Allison Macsas qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials (2:43:11),” said Jack Murray, co-owner of High Five Events. “We’re excited about the growth of this program and look forward to many more elites running the streets of Austin.”

The prize purse breakdown follows: $15,000 for the marathon, $5,000 for the half marathon, and $6,000 for the Manzano Mile presented by Dole. Applications are arriving daily. More than 50 applications have been submitted. We will announce the second round of elite runners in a few weeks. Applications are still being accepted and elite marathoners 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 2019 Austin Marathon or half marathon, reimbursement eligibility, and standards bonuses.

PROfile: Daniel Bishop, 2018 Austin Marathon 3rd place male

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Daniel Bishop maintains an active life while churning out quality races

About: UPDATE – Since Austin, I ran the Salt Lake City Marathon finishing 2nd overall (2:31.20), the Utah Valley Marathon finishing 3rd overall (2:27:37), and the Deseret News Marathon finishing 2nd overall (2:31:15). Next on my schedule is the St. George Marathon (St. George, UT) on October 6th. It’s a fast race and my goal is to break 2:20 there this year. Next year, I hope to return to Austin again for the 2019 race! In my personal life, I recently got engaged and am getting married September 7th! As a result, I am in the throes of planning a wedding in addition to submitting another round of applications to medical school.

Graduated from the University of Utah, BS: Exercise and Sport Science. Currently working at Recreation Equipment Inc. (REI) and in a hematology research lab. I have run the Austin Marathon five times now and have been fortunate to finish top three in the past four years (2018 – 3rd, 2017 – 2nd, 2016 – 3rd, 2015 – 3rd). Aside from running I enjoy skiing, biking, and hiking; essentially anything that gets me into the mountains.

Training tip: Tailor your training to the course, Austin has some hills, so run those hills!

Race day tip: If you didn’t do it in training, don’t do it on race day.

Upcoming Races: St. George Marathon (10/6)

Returning for 2019 Austin Marathon: That’s the plan!

Social media: Facebook and Instagram

Austin Marathon Announces Second Round of Accepted Elite Runners

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High Five Events introduces the second round of accepted elite runners for the 2018 Austin Marathon®. Runners not accepted into 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 $20K with $15K for the marathon and $5K for the half marathon.

second round

Fuentes in the Bavarian Alps (2017).

The second round of 2018 marathoners include:

  • David Fuentes – Elite Athlete Program (2016 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier)
  • Jameson Mora – Elite Field (2016 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier)
  • Daniel Bishop – Elite Field (2nd place 2017 Austin Marathon – 2:33:02)
  • Pedro Manuel Lemus Reyes – Elite Field (2017 Houston Marathon – 2:37:31)
  • Julia Vegas – Elite Field (2017 REVEL Mt. Charleston Marathon – 2:58:22)

The second round of 2018 half marathoners include:

  • Amanda Scott – Elite Athlete Program (2012, 2016 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier)
  • Brooke Torres – Elite Field (2017 3M Half Marathon – 1:25:13 [currently undergoing treatment for melanoma cancer])
  • Luis Chavez – Elite Field (10th place 2017 Fargo Half Marathon – 1:14:46)
  • Ben Dickshinski – Elite Field (2016 USATF 20K Championships – 1:04:06)
  • Daniel Gollins – Elite Field (2016 Aramco Houston Half Marathon – 1:15:08)
  • Cate Barrett – Elite Field (female champion 2017 Orange Leaf Half Marathon – 1:25:18)
  • Erik McMillan – Elite Field (2nd place 2016 St. Louis Half Marathon – 1:13:52)

“I am excited to toe the line for my first ever Austin Marathon next year and hopefully come away with the win,” said David Fuentes, 3-time Austin Half Marathon champion.

Applications are arriving daily and more than 100 have already been submitted. The third 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. Read about the first round of accepted elite runners.