Tag Archive for: elite runners

Austin Marathon Welcomes Elite Japanese Runners

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Elite runner exchange is a result of the Austin-Oita Sister City relationship

High Five Events announces the continuation of the Austin-Oita Sister City Committee (AOSCC) elite runner exchange for the 2018 Austin Marathon®. Daichi Tanaka and Junko Sakamoto will represent Japan and compete in the Austin Marathon on Feb. 18, 2018.

“I am both excited and honored to run in the 2018 Austin Marathon as a symbol of friendship between the sister cities of Oita and Austin,” said Tanaka.

Austin-Oita Sister City

2016 Austin Marathon Champion Hayato Sonoda (2:23:07).

Tanaka and Sakamoto both competed in the 2017 Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon, finishing in 2:32:13 and 3:07:29 respectively. As a part of the sister city exchange, two Austin runners, Erik Stanley and Hannah Steffan, participated in the 2017 Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon. Stanley completed the marathon in 2:31:38 and Steffan finished in 3:02:51. Hayato Sonoda (2:23:07) won the 2016 Austin Marathon and Yuki Kojina (2:30:06) finished in second place.

“Running is truly a global sport and we’ll continue to highlight that as this partnership grows,” said Jack Murray, co-owner of High Five Events. “We look forward to Junko and Daichi running a competitive race with the rest of the Elite Field.”

The Austin-Oita Sister City Committee was founded in 1990. It is a non-profit, volunteer organization that seeks to promote and heighten public interest in and appreciation of the culture, people, languages, business, and products of the greater Austin, Texas, area and the city of Oita, Japan, and its surrounding areas.

The Austin Marathon will celebrate its 27th year running in the capital of Texas on February 18, 2018. Austin’s flagship running event annually attracts runners from all 50 states and 20+ 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 marathon, half marathon, or 5K.

Austin Marathon Announces Third Round of Accepted Elite Runners

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High Five Events introduces the third round of accepted athletes 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.

Image of Anita Perez crossing the Chicago Marathon finish line.

Anita Perez at 2017 Chicago Marathon (2:44:04).

The third round of 2018 marathoners include:

  • Brian Harvey – Elite Athlete Program (2016 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier)
  • Whitney Thornburg – Elite Athlete Program (2017 United Airlines NYC Half – 1:16:29)
  • Travis Morrison – Elite Athlete Program (7th place 2017 Pittsburgh Marathon – 2:19:45)
  • Caitlin Batten – Elite Athlete Program (female champion 2015 Kiawah Island Marathon – 2:49:00)
  • James Sjostrom – Elite Field (10th place 2017 Columbus Half Marathon – 1:12:32)
  • Kyle Taylor – Elite Field (2nd place 2016 Best Damn Race Safety Harbor – 1:15:24)
  • Sky Canaves – Elite Field (female champion 2016 Hill Country Halloween Half Marathon – 1:25:21)

The third round of 2018 half marathoners include:

  • Anita Perez – Elite Athlete Program (2016, 2020 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier)
  • Anthony Solis – Elite Athlete Program (2016 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier)
  • Jennifer Angles – Elite Field (half marathon debut; ran XC and track for University of Kansas – ‘17)

“I was accepted into the 2017 Elite Athlete Program and looked forward to running the marathon earlier this year when I had to withdraw at the last minute due to a foot injury,” said Batten, whose marathon PR (2:49:00) was set at the 2015 Kiawah Island Marathon. “I love the city of Austin and am really excited to get another chance to run this year.”

Read about the first and second round of accepted elite runners. Including today, the marathon has accepted a total of eight runners into the Elite Athlete Program and 10 have been invited to participate in the Elite Field. The half marathon has accepted four runners into the Elite Athlete Program and 10 have been invited to participate in the Elite Field. Applications are arriving daily and more than 100 have already been submitted. The fourth 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.

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.

Austin Marathon Announces First Round of Accepted Elite Runners

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High Five Events announces the first 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 marathon 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.

The first round of 2018 marathoners include:

  • Joe Thorne – Elite Athlete Program (2017 Austin Marathon Champion – 2:32:05)
  • Matt Daniels – Elite Athlete Program (2016 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier)
  • Joseph Whelan – Elite Athlete Program (led Syracuse Orange to 2015 ACC Cross Country Championship)
  • Matt McCurdy – Elite Field (5th place 2017 Austin Marathon – 2:44:29)
  • Brandon Jauregui – Elite Field (2015 Santa Clarita Marathon Champ – 2:35:18 [marathon debut while undergoing chemotherapy; eventually defeated leukemia])
  • Patrick Aucoin – Elite Field (marathon debut, 1:11:30 half marathon PR)

The first round of 2018 half marathoners include:

  • Ryan Miller – Elite Athlete Program (2016 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier)
  • Jared Carson – Elite Field (3rd place 2017 Austin Marathon – 2:35:11)

“I’m really looking forward to being back in Austin for the 2018 Austin Marathon,” said defending champion Thorne. “High Five Events did a phenomenal job with the event in 2017 and I’m interested to see what they have in store for everyone this year.”

Applications are arriving daily and more than 50 have already been submitted. The second round of athletes will be announced 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 2018 Austin Marathon or half marathon, reimbursement eligibility, and standards bonuses.

“Re-launching the Elite Athlete Program added another layer of excitement on February 19, 2017,” said Jack Murray, co-owner of High Five Events. “The continued growth of this program is a focus of ours and doubling the prize purse and the new course will attract even more runners for 2018.”