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Austin Marathon Announces Fourth Round of Accepted Elite Runners

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 Third Round of Accepted Elite Runners

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

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

“The Austin Marathon is an incredible race and I take any opportunity I have to toe the line and test myself here,” said Becki Spellman, 4-time Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier (2008, ‘12, ‘16, ‘20). “I love the city, the crowd support, and the race; it always feels like my home away from home!”

The third round of 2020 Austin Marathoners include: 

  • Bryan Morseman – male Elite Athlete Program (2018 Glass City Marathon – 2:23:23)
  • Asia Shah – female Elite Field (2017 CIM – 2:57:41)
  • Elena Oslund – female Elite Field (2019 Eugene Half Marathon – 1:21:58)
  • Kyle Allen – male Elite Field (2019 Halfsy Half Marathon – 1:12:40)
  • William Bertrand – male Elite Field (2019 Austin Marathon – 2:29:28)

The third round of 2020 Austin Half Marathoners include: 

  • Becki Spellman – female Elite Athlete Program (2018 Richmond Half Marathon – 1:14:56)
  • Caren Maiyo – female Elite Athlete Program (2019 PSPB Delhi Half Marathon- 1:14:19)
  • Allen Sumrall – male Elite Athlete Program (4th place, 2019 Austin Half Marathon – 1:06:54)
  • Michael Morris – male Elite Athlete Program (2:19:33 – 2019 CIM)
  • Benjamin Sathre – male Elite Athlete Program (2018 Houston Marathon – 2:15:06)
  • John Kingstedt – male Elite Athlete Program (2019 Valencia Marathon – 2:17:56)
  • Jen Frankmann – female Elite Athlete Program (2018 Houston Marathon – 2:44:15)
  • Kathryn Fluehr – female Elite Athlete Program (2018 Indy Half Marathon – 1:14:00)
  • Alex Lee – male Elite Field (2019 Las Vegas Half Marathon – 1:17:48)
  • Mitch Ammons – male Elite Field (2019 3M Half Marathon – 1:16:39)
  • Natasha van der Merwe – female Elite Field (2019 3M Half Marathon – 1:23:26)
  • Nicholas Chase – male Elite Field (2019 Florida Shamrock Half Marathon – 1:17:12)
  • Bree Schrader – female Elite Field (2019 Houston Half Marathon – 1:20:05)
  • Alan Zhou – male Elite Field (2019 Chicago Marathon – 1:33:49)
  • Melissa Morey – female Elite Field (2018 Des Moines Half Marathon – 1:24:05)
  • Tyler Morey – male Elite Field (2019 Des Moines Half Marathon – 1:10:34)

The third round of 2020 Manzano Milers include:

  • James Ngandu – male Elite Field (2019 Austin Half Marathon champ – 1:04:32)
  • Anna McDonald – female Elite Field (3rd place, 2019 Manzano Mile – 4:53.89)
  • Bryce Richards – male Elite Field (2019 Ryan Shay Mile – 4:12.88)
  • Oscar Garcia – male Elite Field (2018 BU Season Opener – 4:32.67)
  • Lizzie Bird – female Elite Field (Stretford (GBR) 1500m – 4:16.32)
  • Jesse Chettle – male Elite Field (2019 Manzano Mile – 4:33.93)
  • Brian Llamas – male Elite Field (2019 Music City Distance Carnival – 4:12.41)
  • Michael Davila – male Elite Field (2019 Long Island Mile – 4:10.26)
  • Samuel Murphy – male Elite Field (2019 Run for the Water 5K champ – 15:40)
  • Dylan Doss – male Elite Field (6th place, 2019 Manzano Mile – 4:18.87)

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 and second 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 Second Round of Accepted Elite Runners

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

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

Image of Jessica Allen running in a recent race. She is one of the runners accepted with the second round of elite runners for the 2020 Austin Half Marathon.

Jessica Allen was accepted to the Austin Half Marathon Elite Athlete Program.

“I am so excited to run the streets of Austin as my final tune-up race before the Olympic Trials marathon,” said Jessica Allen, who ran an Olympic Trials qualifying 2:41:34 earlier this year. “I always hope to set a personal record when I toe the line, but more than that I want to get used to the level of pain I will need to be comfortable with to achieve my goals at the Trials.”

The second round of 2020 Austin Marathoners include: 

  • Mark Pinales – male Elite Field (2017 3M Half Marathon champ – 1:06:51)
  • Eliud Mwangi – male Elite Field (2017 Napoli City Half Marathon – 1:01:21)
  • Ryan Normand – male Elite Field (2019 Grandma’s Marathon – 2:29:13)
James Ngandu crosses the 2019 Austin Half Marathon in first place. He is one of the runners accepted with the second round of elite runners for the 2020 Austin Half Marathon.

James Ngandu is seeking his second Austin Half Marathon victory in as many years.

The second round of 2020 Austin Half Marathoners include: 

  • James Ngandu – male Elite Athlete Program (2019 Austin Half Marathon champ – 1:04:32)
  • Gonzalo Parra – male Elite Athlete Program (2nd place, 2019 Austin Half Marathon- 1:05:36)
  • Jessica Allen – female Elite Athlete Program (2019 Grandma’s Marathon – 2:41:34)
  • Anita Perez – female Elite Athlete Program (2018 Grandma’s Marathon – 2:29:39)
  • Taylor Dare – female Elite Athlete Program (2019 Grandma’s Marathon – 2:42:17)
  • Hattie Schunk – female Elite Field (2019 San Antonio Half Marathon – 1:23:56)
  • Sierra Snyder Elcock – female Elite Field (2019 Austin Half Marathon – 1:26:34)
  • Cheryl Serena – female Elite Field (2018 El Paso Half Marathon female champ – 1:27:47)
  • Ben Munguia – male Elite Field (2019 3M Half Marathon – 1:16:39)
  • Melinda DuBose – female Elite Field (2018 Richmond Half Marathon – 1:26:11)

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. Read about the first 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. 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, 3M Half Marathon Invite Elites to Austin for Final Trials Tune-Up

Elites are invited to run Austin’s streets for their final Olympic Marathon Trials tune-up

The Ascension Seton Austin Marathon presented by Under Armour and 3M Half Marathon presented by Under Armour invite elite runners to Austin for a final Olympic Marathon Trials tune-up. 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials qualifiers are invited to run one of Austin’s two most beloved half marathons, fine-tune race strategy, and finalize hydration/nutrition plans. The 3M Half Marathon takes place on January 19th, that’s 41 days before the Trials. The Austin Half Marathon takes place on February 16th, that’s 13 days before the Olympic Marathon Trials. The Austin Half Marathon offers prize money and FloTrack live-streams coverage of the entire event. High Five Events operates both events.

Austin Half Marathon – February 16th

“Winning the 2019 Austin Marathon was awesome and a moment I will not forget,” said Heather Lieberg, 2019 Austin Marathon female champ (2:42:27). “ I can’t wait to participate in the half marathon as a tune-up race for the Trials in Atlanta. I know it’ll be a confidence builder!”

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. Interested athletes can review the program’s standards and submit an application on the website. High Five Events. owns and produces Austin Marathon. James Ngandu (1:04:32) and Caroline Rotich (1:13:24) won the 2019 Austin Half Marathon.

3M Half Marathon – January 19th

“Austin Half Marathon is the perfect final tune-up heading to the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials because it simulates what Olympic hopefuls will run in Atlanta,” said Joey Whelan, 2018-19 Austin Marathon and 2018 3M Half Marathon champ. “3M Half Marathon provides a fast course where elites who might want a longer recovery period can test race-day strategies.”

The 3M Half Marathon, produced by High Five Events, boasts one of the fastest 13.1-mile courses in the country and will celebrate its 26th year running in 2020. Runners will enjoy a point-to-point course that features a 300+ ft. elevation drop from start to finish. There is no official Elite Athlete Program nor is prize money awarded. Elites that wish to run must meet standards set forth by the Austin Marathon and email info@3mhalf.com. Michael “Slim” Morris (1:07:19) and Jessica Harper (1:14:23) won the 2019 3M Half Marathon.