Tag Archive for: elite field

2020 Ascension Seton Austin Marathon Opens Elite Athlete Program

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$26,000 Elite Athlete Program prize purse includes Austin Marathon, Austin Half Marathon, and Manzano Mile

High Five Events is accepting applications from elite runners for the 2020 Ascension Seton Austin Marathon presented by Under Armour’s Elite Athlete Program. Returning for its fourth year in a row, the Elite Athlete Program creates a competitive field of elite male and female runners while discovering emerging talent, pushing the entire talent pool to reach Olympic standards. Several Olympic Marathon Trials qualifiers have expressed interest in running the Austin Half Marathon as a tune-up for the Trials.

Heather Lieberg, 2019 Austin Marathon female champ, was a member of the Elite Athlete Program.

Heather Lieberg, 2019 Ascension Seton Austin Marathon female champ!

“After winning the Austin Marathon last year and being embraced by the Austin community, I can’t wait to come back and compete in the half marathon this year,” said Heather Lieberg, who was the 2019 Ascension Seton Austin Marathon female champ (2:42:27) with an Olympic Marathon Trials qualifying time. “The Austin Half Marathon will be my tune-up race for the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials!”

2020 field

Runners accepted to the 2020 Austin Marathon/Half Marathon Elite Athlete Program will compete for a $20,000 prize purse. The Austin Marathon prize purse will total $15,000 and award the top five male and female finishers. The Austin Half Marathon purse will total $5,000 and award the top three male and female finishers. An additional $6,000 is up for grabs for elite milers in the Manzano Mile presented by Dole®. Athlete’s applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until December 31, 2019.

“We had a specific vision for the Elite Athlete Program when we re-launched it four years ago,” said Jack Murray, co-owner of High Five Events. “Since then we’ve seen the competition grow, overall times get faster, Olympic Marathon Trials qualifiers, and emerging talent like Joey Whelan truly shine when given a chance to showcase their talents on Austin’s streets.”

Olympic Trials Qualifiers

Joey Whelan, the 2x (2018-19) Ascension Seton Austin Marathon champ!

Joey Whelan (2:17:03) won the 2019 Austin Marathon for the second year in a row. He also hit the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials B Standard. James Ngandu (1:04:32) and Caroline Rotich (1:13:24) won the Austin Half Marathon. Allison Macsas, 2017-18 Austin Marathon female champ, ran an Olympic Marathon Trials B standard qualifying time (2:43:11) in 2018.

Athletes accepted into the Elite Athlete Program must meet the program’s standards. Those that meet standards will receive a comped entry, standards bonuses, and comped entry to the 3M Half Marathon. They’re also eligible for hotel and transportation reimbursement up to $350. Runners who fall within a 10-15 minute window of Program standards could still be accepted into the Elite Field. Those runners will only receive a comped entry.

Athletes must be accepted into the Elite Athlete Program and start the race to be eligible for prize money and reimbursement. All athletes are subject to random drug testing pre- and post-race. Read more about program details, including eligibility standards, here. Interested athletes and coaches with questions can contact [email protected].

2020 will mark the Austin Marathon’s 29th year running in the capital of Texas. 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. Participants can register for the Austin Marathon website.

Austin Marathon Announces Fifth Round of Accepted Elite Runners

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Fifth round of elite runners will compete during race weekend for a prize purse that totals $26,000

High Five Events is excited to announce the fifth round of accepted athletes for the 2019 Ascension Seton Austin Marathon presented by Under Armour®. Returning for its third year in a row, this opportunity 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.

“After winning the Austin Marathon the past two years, I’m really excited to speed things up and take on the half marathon for the first time ever,” said Allison Macsas, who secured the Olympic Marathon Trials B standard at the 2018 Austin Marathon (2:43:11). “I think it’s important to regularly cycle through different race distances and the Austin Half Marathon will provide a fresh challenge with stiff competition.”

The fifth round of 2019 marathoners include:

  • Patrick Rizzo – male Elite Athlete Program (4x Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier)
  • Arturs Bareikis – male Elite Athlete Program (2nd place 2017 Madison Marathon – 2:23:14)
  • Khrystyna Bohomiahkova – female Elite Athlete Program (2:46:40 at 2018 Belfast City Marathon)
  • Mitchell Germann – male Elite Field (2018 Decker Challenge champion – 1:16:11)

The fifth round of 2019 half marathoners include:

  • Allison Macsas – female Elite Athlete Program (2017 – ‘18 Austin Marathon female champion – 2:43:11)
  • Julian Florez – male Elite Athlete Program (2nd place 2017 Victoria Half Marathon – 1:06:04)
  • Mike Lowe – female Elite Athlete Program (2nd place 2018 Shreveport Half Marathon – 1:04:54)
  • Kimi Reed – female Elite Athlete Program (1:14:43 at 2018 Bjorklund Half Marathon)
  • James Ngandu – male Elite Athlete Program (1:02:43 at 2018 Philadelphia Half Marathon)
  • Caroline Rotich – female Elite Athlete Program (1:10:34 at 2018 Boston Marathon)
  • Sipho Ngxongo – male Elite Field (2018 Koala Wellness Houston Half Marathon champ – 1:10:08)
  • Hope Hill – female Elite Field (2nd place 2018 Columbia Gorge Half Marathon – 1:24:06)
  • Alana Kopelson – female Elite Field (1:24:06 at 2018 NYC Half Marathon)
  • Kaitlyn Johnson – female Elite Field (1:20:10 at 2017 3M Half Marathon)
  • Kate Hails – female Elite Field (2:54:08 at 2015 Boston Marathon)
  • Fontaine Haskell – female Elite Field (1:23:35 at 2016 Tuscaloosa Half Marathon)
  • Ryan Taylor – male Elite Field (1:10:55 at 2018 Philadelphia Half Marathon)
  • Alex Dantzler – male Elite Field (1:20:01 at 2018 Decker Challenge)
  • Lindsey McDonald – female Elite Field (1:23:16 at 2016 Rock the Parkway Half Marathon)
  • Rebecca Marrou – female Elite Field (2018 Run the Alamo Half Marathon female champ – 1:24:18)
  • Tim Rackers – male Elite Field (1:06:46 at 2016 Dam to Dam Half Marathon)

The fifth round of 2019 Manzano Mile presented by Dole participants include:

  • Dana Mecke – female Elite Field (2018 Manzano Mile female champ – 4:47.08)
  • Jake Edwards – male Elite Field (3:58.26 at 2018 Westchester Mile)
  • Joshua Traynelis – male Elite Field (4:02.9 at 2016 UAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship)
  • Jessica Purtell –  female Elite Field (former Baylor track, 800m PR – 2:07)
  • Tansey Lystad –  female Elite Field (4:49.77 at 2017 Northwest Summer All-Comers Meet)
  • Jesse Chettle – male Elite Field (4:35 at 2017 Ad Astra Running Irish Mile)

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.  Read about the first, second, third, and fourth round of accepted elite runners. The application process is closed.

Austin Marathon Announces Fourth Round of Elite Runners

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Fourth round of elite runners will compete during race weekend for a prize purse that totals $26,000

High Five Events is excited to announce the fourth round of accepted athletes for the 2019 Ascension Seton Austin Marathon presented by Under Armour®. Returning for its third year in a row, this opportunity 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.

“I’m excited to return to Austin and compete for the win,” said Joey Whelan, whose 2018 Austin Marathon victory launched an extremely successful running year, including qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials. “This is the best time of year to train for a marathon in Texas. I’m looking forward to putting in the hard long runs and testing myself against the 2019 elite field.”

The fourth round of 2019 marathoners include:

  • Joey Whelan – male Elite Athlete Program (7th place 2018 Grandma’s Marathon – 2:16:28)
  • Nick Edinger – male Elite Athlete Program (8th place 2018 Pittsburgh Marathon – 2:18:32)
  • Patrick Geoghegan – male Elite Athlete Program (1:06:04 at 2018 Monumental Half Marathon)
  • Blair Teal – male Elite Athlete Program (2018 Outer Banks Marathon champion – 2:22:30)
  • Hyvon Ngetich – female Elite Field (3rd place 2015 Austin Marathon – 3:04:02)

The fourth round of 2019 half marathoners include:

  • Guor Maker – male Elite Athlete Program (2016 Olympics [South Sudan] – 2:22:45)
  • Andrew Leahey – male Elite Field (3rd place 2018 Oklahoma City Half Marathon – 1:13:46)
  • Natasha van der Merwe – female Elite Field (2017 Decker Challenge female champ – 1:26:27)
  • JR Creekmore – male Elite Field (2018 Jonas Cattell Memorial 10 mile champ – 53:42, half marathon debut)
  • Ericka Mason – female Elite Field (3rd place 2018 Cowtown Half Marathon – 1:23:40)
  • Todd Mickey – male Elite Field (2x individual All-Big 12 [indoor mile and 1000m], half marathon debut)
  • Ann Lokiles – female Elite Field (2x Ohio Valley XC Champion (2015 – 2016), half marathon debut)

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.  Read about the first, second, and third round of accepted elite runners. The fifth round of athletes will be announced soon. 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.

Austin Marathon Announces Third Round of Elite Runners

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Third round of elite runners will compete during race weekend for a prize purse that totals $26,000

High Five Events is excited to announce the third round of accepted athletes for the 2019 Ascension Seton Austin Marathon presented by Under Armour®. Returning for its third year in a row, this opportunity 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.

“I am very honored to have been accepted into the Austin Marathon’s Elite Athlete Program,” said Heather Lieberg, 2016 and 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier. “This will be my first time visiting Texas and I’m training hard to make my race day one to remember. See you soon Austin!”

The third round of 2019 marathoners include:

  • Heather Lieberg – female Elite Athlete Program (2:40:38 at 2017 CIM)
  • Carter Norbo – female Elite Athlete Program (2:48:35 at 2017 Chicago Marathon)
  • Mizael Carrera – male Elite Athlete Program (2:19:29 at 2017 NYC Marathon)
  • Sphamandla Nyembe – male Elite Athlete Program (2017 Woodlands Marathon Champ – 2:21:26)
  • Alexandra Conway – female Elite Field (4th place at 2018 Hartford Marathon – 2:51:39)

The third round of 2019 half marathoners include:

  • Tom Anderson – male Elite Athlete Program (2020 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier)
  • Ryan Miller – male Elite Athlete Program (2020 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier)
  • Julia Rhie – female Elite Field (2:52:59 at 2018 Chicago Marathon)
  • Chris Cabret – male Elite Field (1:14:23 at 2017 Orlando Half Marathon)
  • Bobby Thompson – male Elite Field (1:12:57 at 2017 Monumental Half Marathon)

The third round of Manzano Mile presented by Dole® participants include:

  • Rebecca Evans – female Elite Field (4:27.00 at 2018 Occidental Invitational)
  • Matthieu Campbell – male Elite Field (2018 Boulder Road Runners Track Meet Champ – 4:25.3)
  • Anna McDonald – female Elite Field (4:47.74 at 2018 Husky Classic)
  • Matthew Winkler – male Elite Field (2018 Gibsons Sea Cavalcade Mile Champ – 4:19.7)
  • Christine Thorn – female Elite Field (4th place at 2018 SDSU Indoor Classic – 5:00.33)

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.  Read about the first and second round of accepted elite runners. The fourth round of athletes will be announced soon. 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.