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(c) 2025 Race Results Weekly all rights reserved. Published with permission. HOUSTON (18-Jan) -- Ryan Hall's USATF half-marathon record of 59:43 was set here in 2007 at the Aramco Houston Half-Marathon, and despite the introduction of "super shoes" in 2016, which use carbon plates to help propel runners forward, Hall's record has yet to be broken.  Hall, now 42, set that mark as a 24 year-old while making his half-marathon debut. "My plan was to just see how I felt," Hall told Race Results Weekly that day.  "I was just going with the race pace I could maintain." America's best road runners of the last decade --Dathan Ritzenhein, Galen Rupp, Leonard Korir, and Hillary Bor-- have been unable to break the record giving Hall's mark a mythical quality.  But a new crop of athletes are ready to try on the streets of Houston on Sunday, including Olympians Conner Mantz, Joe Klecker and Morgan Pearson.  For them Hall's record is definitely top of mind. "There were a lot of races to pick from, but the most exciting one for me was always Houston," Klecker said at a press conference yesterday.  The 28 year-old, who is coached by 2009 World Half-Marathon Championships bronze medalist Dathan Ritzenhein, is trying the distance for the first time and wants to run fast.  "I've seen the field and there's people in this race who have run faster than that record.  So, if I go in there and try to win, and if I feel good push for it, it's possible.  From the stuff I've done in training I believe it indicates that it's a doable goal." Klecker did his build-up with Pearson, an Olympic silver medalist in the triathlon mixed relay, who is a gifted runner.  Pearson, 31, ran a 1:01:08 half-marathon in Valencia last October a week after he wrapped up his triathlon season in Malaga.  He was clearly excited by the chance to run fast here.  He called his result in Valencia an "OK race" and would like to go faster. "I was left wanting more," Pearson said of his run in Valencia.  He added: "After Valencia, I hope to improve my time." Mantz, 28, the 2024 USA Olympic Trials Marathon champion who won the 2021 USATF Half-Marathon Championships in a personal best 1:00:55, was motivated to run here based in part on the strength of the field.  He had a terrific year in 2024 culminating in an eighth place finish at the Paris Olympic Marathon and a sixth place showing at the TCS New York City Marathon.  His time at New York of 2:09:00 was the fastest ever by an American on New York's tough course. "With this elite field there's a ton that's possible," Mantz said.  "With a field like this you can definitely get fast times and the American record could go down.  Part of the reason I wanted to come here was it's a fast course, and you have Morgan and Joe and plenty of other elite Americans running here.  I want to be in that race whether I'm ready or not." The other top Americans include Olympians Clayton Young (1:01:18 PB) and Hillary Bor (1:01:20), Diego Estrada (1:00:49), Frank Lara (1:01:00), and Futsum Zienasellassie (1:01:21).  The fastest international athletes are Jemal Yimer of Ethiopia (58:33 PB), Gabriel Geay of Tanzania (59:42), Abe Gashahun of Ethiopia (59:46), and Wesley Kiptoo of Kenya (1:00:43).  Yimer has won the race twice. Not to be overlooked is the possibility of a USA record on the women's side.  Last year, Weini Kelati came to this race and ran a national record 1:06:25 in her debut.  She's back this year and is ready to run fast. "It was my first half-marathon last year and I didn't know how it was going to be," said Kelati, whose last race was a 4:29 road mile in Hawaii in December.  She continued:  "I'm just really excited, and we'll see how well I can race because training has been really, really good.  And I'm just excited to be here." Amanda Vestri, who ran 1:08:12 in her half-marathon debut in Orlando last month, is also running here, but doesn't expect to be challenging Kelati, she said.  Other top Americans include Natosha Rogers (1:09:36 PB), Lindsay Flanagan (1:09:37), Lauren Hagens (1:09:41), and Susanna Sullivan (1:09:42).  The fastest international women are Buze Diriba of Ethiopia (1:06:24) and Jessica Warner-Judd of Great Britain (1:07:07). Cold and windy conditions are expected here for Sunday, which may slow the race down.  At the 6:45 a.m. start, the temperature should be about 35F/2C. The Aramco Houston Half-Marathon is a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race.  Race winners will receive $15,000 in prize money, and breaking the course records (59:22 for men and 1:04:37 for women, respectively) is worth a $15,000 bonus.  American record breakers can earn a bonus of $10,000. "I really don't know what's possible," said Mantz.  "It's a blast.  I love competing." PHOTO: Four of the top athletes entered in the 2025 Aramco Houston Half-Marathon (left to right): Conner Mantz, Joe Klecker, Morgan Pearson and Jemal Yimer (photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)

(c) 2025 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Published with permission. (15-Jan) -- The reigning Olympic champion Sifan Hassan, the 2021 Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir, and current world record holder Ruth Chepngetich have all been contracted to run the TCS London Marathon on Sunday, April 27, organizers announced last night. Hassan, a Dutchwoman, won the Paris 2024 Olympic Marathon in a Games record 2:22:55.  She out-sprinted then world record holder Tigist Assefa of Ethiopia  who finished three seconds behind.  Hassan also won bronze medals in the 5000m and 10,000m at the Paris Games, an unprecedented triple for a woman. "Every moment in the race I was regretting that I ran the 5000 and 10,000," Hassan admitted that day.  "I was telling myself if I hadn't done that, I would feel great today. From the beginning to the end, it was so hard." Hassan won the TCS London Marathon in 2023, also in a sprint finish, in her debut marathon.  She has a personal best of 2:13:44, the European record and the third-fastest of all time. Jepchirchir, a Kenyan, won the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Marathon (held in Sapporo in 2021), and is the reigning London Marathon champion (she was also third in 2023).  Her 2024 winning time of 2:16:16 was a women-only world record, surpassing the 2:17:01 that compatriot Mary Keitany had run in London in 2017.  Jepchirchir was also the 2021 TCS New York City Marathon champion and the 2023 World Half-Marathon gold medalist. Chepngetich, also from Kenya, won last October's Bank of America Chicago Marathon in a jaw-dropping 2:09:56, a world record.  Chepngetich, the 2019 world marathon champion, would have finished 11th had she been entered in the men's division.  Unlike Hassan and Jepchirchir, Chepngetich has yet to win the London Marathon, finishing third in her only appearance in the special COVID-safe edition held in October, 2020, in St. James's Park. "The TCS London Marathon always brings together the best athletes in the world and I am sure this year will be as competitive as ever," Chepngetich said through a statement.  "Myself, Peres and the other women are strong, so it will be a competitive one and I want to prepare as best as I can and we will see if we can lower Peres's world record of 2:16:16 from last year. With the strength of the field, I think we can support each other and maybe the world record will fall." Certainly, the three women will have Paula Radcliffe's absolute London Marathon women's record of 2:15:25 in mind, a mark set in a mixed-sex race in 2003. "Ruth's world record at the Chicago Marathon last year was an incredible performance that re-defined what is possible in women's marathon running," said Spencer Barden, the TCS London Marathon elite athletes chief.  "So, we are delighted to welcome her back to the TCS London Marathon and are very excited to see her take on the Olympic champion Sifan Hassan, plus last year's champion and women's only world record holder Peres Jepchirchir here in London in what will be one of the great marathon contests." The TCS London Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, the premiere series of global marathons.  The race reported a record 53,790 finishers in 2024 making it the fourth-largest marathon in the world. PHOTO: Ruth Chepngetich after setting her world record at the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon (photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)

  Running USA is pleased to introduce a recent addition to the organization's Board of Directors, Jarod Matheney. Jarod is the Director of Experiential Event Operations & Logistics for ALSAC/ST. Jude and shares with our marketing director Leah Etling why you won't want to miss the upcoming 2025 Industry Conference presented by haku. Check out their conversation in the video below!

Get to know new Running USA member findarace.com in a new Five Questions interview with account executive Rosie Hislop (click the video to view). The UK-based platform has expanded to the United States and race organizers can find out how to claim their events on the site in this conversation. Welcome to Running USA!

(c) 2025 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Published with permission. (08-Jan) -- Hellen Obiri of Kenya and Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia will be back to defend their Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America titles on Monday, April 20, race organizers announced today.  Obiri, 35, the reigning Olympic Marathon bronze medalist, will be looking for her third consecutive Boston victory, a feat last accomplished by Ethiopia's Fatuma Roba from 1997 to 1999. "Defending a win is never easy, and to win the Boston Marathon twice in a row was hard, but I am happy to have done it," Obiri said through a media release.  The On Athletics Club athlete continued: "On race day I will again push for the win and hope to make it three in a row." Obiri --the only athlete in history to have won global titles in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track-- will have to overcome stiff competition to collect another win.  Elite athlete coordinator Mary Kate Shea has stacked the field with a total of 17, sub-2:23:00 women, the fastest being Ethiopians Amane Beriso (2:14:58) and Yalemzerf Yehualaw (2:16:52).  Other title contenders include Kenya's Irine Cheptai (2:17:51), Mary Ngugi (2:20:22), and Sharon Lokedi (2:22:45); Romania's Joan Melly (2:18:24); and Ethiopians Rahma Tusa (2:19:33), Buze Diriba (2:20:22), and Bedatu Hirpa (2:21:09). Several American woman hope to be in the mix for the podium, including Keira D'Amato (2:19:12), Sara Hall (2:20:32), Emma Bates (2:22:10), Dakotah Popehn (2:24:40), and Jess McClain (2:25:46).  Bates was the top USA woman last year, finishing 12th in 2:27:14 after missing last February's Olympic Trials Marathon with an injury.  The last American woman to make the podium in Boston was Jordan Hasay, who finished third in 2019. Lemma, 34, who has a personal best of 2:01:48, completely dominated the 2024 edition of the race.  The adidas-sponsored athlete bolted through the mostly-downhill first half alone in 1:00:19, and even though he slowed badly in the second half he still won by 41 seconds in 2:06:17. "I was very happy after winning the Boston Marathon last year, and in 2025 I know it will be an even bigger challenge to win again," Lemma said through a statement.  "I was unlucky, because of an injury, not to be able to participate at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and I was not completely ready at the Valencia Marathon last December, but I will be 100% ready next April because the Boston Marathon is a special event." Kenyan men have won the Boston Marathon 25 times, and two-time champion Evans Chebet hopes to get back on the top step of the podium.  Chebet, who has a personal best of 2:03:00, won back-to-back in 2022 and 2023 and finished third last year.  Also entered from Kenya are John Korir (2:02:44 PB) --the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion whose brother, Wesley, was the 2012 Boston champion-- and Albert Korir (no relation) who was the 2021 TCS New York City Marathon winner. The men's elite field is particularly deep.  Twenty-one men have run sub-2:09:00 (13 sub-2:07), and 16 countries are represented in the elite field, including four of the top six finishers of last year's Olympic Trials: Conner Mantz (2:07:47 PB), Clayton Young (2:08:00), C.J. Albertson (2:08:17), and Zach Panning (2:09:16).  Shadrack Biwott was the last American man to make the podium in Boston, finishing third in the horrible rainstorm in 2018. The Boston Marathon, founded in 1897 by the Boston Athletic Association, is the world's oldest marathon and proudly remains a bit of a throwback.  The course is hilly, point-to-point, and not record-eligible, a decidedly out-of-fashion approach with all of the emphasis on record-setting in the modern era of marathon running.  Also, no pacemakers are used, and besides a course record bonus of $50,000 the race does not offer any time bonuses.  The winners will receive $150,000 in prize money. "Boston annually brings together the world's best each April, and this Patriots' Day is no different," said Jack Fleming, CEO of the Boston Athletic Association.  "Coming off an Olympic year, top contenders from around the world have turned their attention to Boston and hope to etch their name into Boston Marathon lore with a victory." 2025 Boston Maraton Elite Athlete Lists (with personal best times): *Denotes Masters (40+) athletes WOMEN - Amane Beriso, ETH, 2:14:58 (Valencia, 2022) Yalemzerf Yehualaw, ETH, 2:16:52 (Amsterdam, 2024) Irene Cheptai, KEN, 2:17:51 (Chicago, 2024) Joan Melly, ROU, 2:18:24 (Seoul, 2022) Keira D'Amato, USA, 2:19:12 (Houston, 2022) Rahma Tusa, ETH, 2:19:33 (Houston) Edna Kiplagat, KEN, 2:19:50 (London, 2012)* Buze Diriba, ETH, 2:20:22 (Chicago, 2024) Mary Ngugi, KEN, 2:20:22 (London, 2022) Sara Hall, USA, 2:20:32 (Chandler, 2020)* Bedatu Hirpa, ETH, 2:21:09 (Amsterdam, 2024) Calli Hauger-Thackery, GBR, 2:21:34 (Berlin, 2024) Hellen Obiri, KEN, 2:21:38 (Boston, 2023) Emma Bates, USA, 2:22:10 (Boston, 2023) Sharon Cherop, KEN, 2:22:28 (Berlin, 2013)* Desiree Linden, USA, 2:22:38 (Boston, 2011)* Sharon Lokedi, KEN, 2:22:45 (Boston, 2024) Viola Chepngeno, KEN, 2:23:23 (Capetown, 2024) Sara Vaughn, USA, 2:23:24 (Chicago, 2023) Lindsay Flanagan, USA, 2:23:31 (Chicago, 2024) Stacy Ndiwa, KEN, 2:23:42 (Chicago, 2024) Gabby Rooker, USA, 2:24:29 (Chicago, 2024) Kellyn Taylor, USA, 2:24:29 (Duluth, 2018) Dakotah Popehn, USA, 2:24:40 (Chicago, 2023) Jackie Gaughan, USA, 2:24:40 (Sacramento) Nell Rojas, USA, 2:24:51 (Boston, 2023) Cynthia Limo, KEN, 2:25:10 (Hamburg, 2024) Lily Partridge, GBR, 2:25:12 (Valencia, 2023) Angie Orjuela, COL, 2:25:35 (Berlin, 2023) NR Jess McClain, USA, 2:25:46 (Orlando, 2024) Lauren Hagans, USA, 2:25:47 (Chicago, 2024) Tristin Colley, USA, 2:25:58 (Chicago, 2023) Annie Frisbie, USA, 2:26:18 (New York City, 2021) Stephanie Bruce, USA, 2:28:41 (Sacramento, 2024)* Anne-Marie Blaney, USA, 2:29:25 (Chicago, 2024) Annie Heffernan, USA, 2:30:26 (Sacramento, 2024) Kodi Kleven, USA, 2:30:43 (St. George, 2024) Hannah Lindholm, SWE, 2:31:18 (Seville, 2024)* Lindsey Bradley, USA, 2:31:46 (Indianapolis, 2024) Sarah Reiter, USA, 2:31:58 (Duluth, 2023) Diana Bogantes, CRC, 2:32:08 (Valencia, 2023) NR Jessie Cardin, USA, 2:33:34 (Chicago, 2022) Ashlee Powers, USA, 2:33:40 (Twin Cities, 2024) Kaylee Flanagan, USA, 2:34:03 (Berlin, 2024) Mimi Smith, USA, 2:34:24 (Chicago, 2023) Rachel Hannah, CAN, 2:34:33 (Toronto, 2024 Megan O'Neil, USA, 2:34:55 (St. Paul, 2024) Anna Benedettini, USA, 2:35:12 (Valley Cottage, 2023) Hailey Bowes, USA, 2:35:36 (Chicago, 2023) Rena Elmer, USA, 2:35:45 (Duluth, 2024)* Veronica Eder, USA, 2:35:46 (Orlando, 2024) Claire Benjamin, USA, 2:35:53 (Sacramento, 2023) Katy Fleuhr, USA, 2:35:55 (Chicago, 2023) Amanda Beach, USA, 2:35:59 (Indianapolis, 2024) Abby McNulty, USA, 2:36:00 (Sacramento, 2023) Sydney Devore, USA, 2:36:01 (NYC, 2023) Stephanie Rouse, USA, 2:36:20 (Sacramento, 2023) Brittney Hall, USA, 2:36:28 (Valley Cottage, 2023) Lucy Dobbs, USA, 2:36:33 (Indianapolis, 2023) Emily Sullivan, USA, 2:36:41 (NYC, 2024) Tabor Hemming, USA, 2:36:59 (Sacramento, 2024) Tammy Hsieh, USA, 2:37:00 (Sacramento, 2023) Sarah Czuprynski, USA, 2:37:21 (Sacramento, 2024) Erika Fleuhr, USA, 2:38:00 (Berlin, 2024) Margaret Vido, USA, 2:38:06 (Sacramento, 2023) Lianne Pagano, USA, 2:38:26 (Sacramento, 2023) Allie Hackett, USA, 2:38:54 (Duluth, 2023) Dot McMahan, USA, 2:38:34 (Orlando, 2024)* Kate Bazeley, CAN, 2:39:30 (Toronto, 2024)* Meriah Earle, USA, 2:39:46 (Orlando, 2024)* Laurie Knowles, USA, 2:41:05 (Duluth, 2024)* Melissa Perlman, USA, 2:42:50 (Chicago, 2025)* April Lund, USA, 2:43:35 (Indianapolis, 2023)* Amber Green, USA, 2:45:37 (St. George, 2023)* Amber Thielbar, USA, 2:45:45 (North Bend, 2024)* MEN - Sisay Lemma, ETH, 2:01:48 (Valencia, 2023) John Korir, KEN, 2:02:44 (Chicago, 2024) Evans Chebet, KEN, 2:03:00 (Valencia, 2020) Cybrian Kotut, KEN, 2:03:22 (Berlin, 2024) Haymanot Alew, ETH, 2:03:31 (Berlin, 2024) Daniel Mateiko, KEN, 2:04:24 (Valencia, 2024) Alphonce Felix Simbu, TAN, 2:04:38 (Valencia, 2024) Lelisa Desisa, ETH, 2:04:45 (Dubai, 2013) Victor Kiplangat, UGA, 2:05:09 (Hamburg, 2022) Asefa Boki, ETH, 2:05:40 (Amsterdam, 2024) Tebello Ramakongoana, LES, 2:06:18 (Xiamen, 2025) NR Abel Kipchumba, KEN, 2:06:49 (Berlin, 2022) Albert Korir, KEN, 2:06:57 (New York City, 2023) Tsegay Weldlibanos, ERI, 2:07:25 (Sacramento, 2024) Patrick Tiernan, AUS, 2:07:45 (Houston, 2024) Conner Mantz, USA, 2:07:47 (Chicago, 2023) Clayton Young, USA, 2:08:00 (Chicago, 2023) Rory Linkletter, CAN, 2:08:01 (Seville, 2024) C.J. Albertson, USA, 2:08:17 (Chicago, 2024) Amanuel Mesel, ERI, 2:08:17 (Valencia, 2013) Erenjia Jia, CHN, 2:08:32 (Berlin, 2024) Zach Panning, USA, 2:09:16 (Chicago, 2024) Colin Bennie, USA, 2:09:38 (Chandler, 2020) Reed Fischer, USA, 2:10:14 (Chicago, 2024) Tesfu Tewelde, ERI, 2:10:21 (St. Paul, 2024) Wesley Kiptoo, KEN, 2:10:28 (Chicago, 2023) Johannes Motschmann, GER, 2:10:39 (London, 2024) Nathan Martin, USA, 2:10:45 (Duluth, 2023) Ryan Ford, USA, 2:11:08 (New York City, 2024) Colin Mickow, USA, 2:11:22 (Chandler, 2020) Turner Wiley, USA, 2:11:55 (Chicago, 2024) Yemane Haileselassie, ERI, 2:11:59 (Honolulu, 2024) Robert Miranda, USA, 2:12:07 (Sacramento, 2024) Charlie Sweeney, USA, 2:12:23 (Chicago, 2024) Will Norris, USA, 2:12:33 (St. Paul, 2024) JP Flavin, USA, 2:12:34 (Chicago, 2024) Joseph Whelan, USA, 2:13:29 (Duluth, 2019) Ilie Corneschi, ROU, 2:13:39 (Berlin, 2022) Erik Linden, USA, 2:14:15 (Sacramento, 2024) Ryan Eiler, USA, 2:14:22 (Boston, 2024) Josh Kalapos, USA, 2:14:26 (Orlando, 2024) Lyle O'Brien, USA, 2:14:29 (Orlando, 2024) Ben Kendell, USA, 2:15:11 (Chicago, 2024) Jacob Heslington, USA, 2:15:12 (Orlando, 2024) Primoz Kobe, SLO, 2:15:37 (Rotterdam, 2022)* Tim McGowan, USA, 2:15:49 (Sacramento, 2024) Andrew Bowman, USA, 2:15:50 (Pittsburgh, 2024) Mason Jones, USA, 2:15:54 (Indianapolis, 2023) Louis Serafini, USA, 2:15:55 (Duluth, 2022) Yudai Fukuda, JPN, 2:15:57 (Gold Coast, 2024) Thomas Toth, CAN, 2:15:57 (Valley Cottage, 2023) Mitch Ammons, USA, 2:16:01 (Valley Cottage, 2023) Hiroaki Furukawa, JPN, 2:16:14 (Kumamoto, 2024) Grant O'Connor, USA, 2:16:17 (Boston, 2024) Aaron Davidson, USA, 2:16:30 (Duluth, 2023) Alex Milne, GBR, 2:16:30 (London, 2023) Kevin Kirk, USA, 2:16:33 (Twin Cities, 2024) Michael Blaszczyk, USA, 2:16:43 (Sacramento, 2023) Joost Plaetinck, USA, 2:16:47 (Sacramento, 2023) Kyle Johnson, USA, 2:16:59 (Duluth, 2024) Prescott Leach, USA, 2:17:28 (Sacramento, 2023)* Jesse Davis, USA, 2:17:30 (Indianapolis, 2023)* Dustin Bybee, USA, 2:19:48 (St. George, 2023)* Jonathan Kotter, USA, 2:20:08 (St. George, 2023)* David Cisewski, USA, 2:20:53 (Chicago, 2023)* Juan Vidal Ribero, ESP, 2:22:14 (Valencia, 2023)* Sam Morse, USA, 2:22:15 (Boston, 2024)* Pablo Villalobos Bazaga, ESP, 2:22:32 (Seville, 2024)* Iain Hunter, USA, 2:23:45 (St. George, 2023)* Muktar Edris, ETH, Debut / 1:00:52 HM Barry Keane, IRL, Debut/ 1:02:35 HM PHOTO: Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia and Hellen Obiri of Kenya are the 2024 Boston Marathon champions (Photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)