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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.”

2018 Austin Marathon Opens Elite Athlete Program

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The 2018 Austin Marathon® Elite Athlete Program application process is now open. In its second year since being reintroduced, the Elite Athlete Program focuses on creating a field of elite male and female runners with a competitive nature and discovering emerging marathon talent while helping the existing talent pool reach Olympic standards.

The 2018 Elite Athlete Program’s $20,000 prize purse is twice as much as last year’s total and will include prize money for the half marathon. The marathon prize purse will total $15,000 and award the top five male and female finishers while the half marathon purse will total $5,000 and award the top three male and female finishers. Athlete’s applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until December 31, 2017.

Former Austinite Joe Thorne (2:32:05) and Austinite Allison Macsas (2:48:16) both won the 2017 Austin Marathon; while South Africa’s Sphamandla Nyembe (1:11:36) and former Austinite Allison Mendez (1:21:42) won the half marathon.

The Austin Marathon is a world-class event,” said Thorne. “A scenic, yet challenging course through a host city that captivates all who visit is but one of the many reasons I’m looking forward to coming back to take part in the 2018 Austin Marathon. Outstanding staff with wonderful volunteers provide full support from start to finish – which truly places the entire event into a class second to none.”

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

To be eligible for reimbursement athletes must be accepted into the Elite Athlete Program and start the race. All athletes are subject to random drug testing pre- and post-race. Read more about program details, including eligibility standards, here. Interested athletes with questions can contact elites@youraustinmarathon.com.