Top Performances at US Half Marathon Championships

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 20, 2014




Top Performances at US Half Marathon Championships Lead to Five U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifiers


(Colorado Springs, CO) - With a myriad of rewards and opportunities on the line, five ADP runners came up smiling at the Sunday's U.S. Half Marathon championships in Houston, TX.


Wendy Thomas (adidas/BRC) posted her highest U.S. championship finish ever with a 4th-place and a personal best of 72:29, while teammate Mattie Suver finished 6th with a respectable 73:06. Thomas picked up $5,000 in prize money and a $1000 time bonus, while Suver earned $2000 plus $750 in bonuses. With top-10 finishes, both are in the pool of candidates for selection to Team USA which will compete in the IAAF World Half Marathon Champions in Copenhagen, Denmark in March. While both women had earned 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifying marks in the fall, Thomas with her marathon "A" standard of 2:36:01 and Suver's with a "B" standard of 2:41:18, both again exceeded the other qualifying standard based upon the half-marathon distance.


In the men's race, Joe Gray (Scott Sports) posted a nearly two-minute personal best of 63:42 and picked up $1,000 in bonuses, while Brandon Birdsong (adidas/BRC) debuted at 64:21earning $750 in bonuses along with Daniel Tapia (Mizuno) who was just off his personal best at 64:32. All three qualified for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials with their performances.


In other half marathon news, Jess Petersson (Marathon Sports) won the Rock 'n Roll Arizona Half Marathon by nearly three minutes in a solo effort. Petersson has already been selected by her native Denmark to compete in the upcoming World Half Marathon Championships.
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Elliott to Compete in New Balance Games Mile


(Colorado Springs, CO) - Matt Elliott (Brooks) will open up his 2014 campaign at Saturday's New Balance Games One Mile Run Invitational at the Armory in New York City. Elliott, who finished 4th in the 1500-meters at the 2013 U.S. Outdoor Track & Field Championships and later posted a World Championships "B" standard in the event will be looking to improve upon his 3:57.16 best and meet the U.S. and World Indoor Championships standards of 4:01.20 and 3:58.00, respectively.


On the same day, a squad comprised of U.S. outdoor 800-meter qualifier Dey Dey (adidas/BRC); NCAA DIII 800-meter champion Robert Willett; sub-4:00 miler Kyle Heath (U.S. Army WCAP); Anthony Mallory; Edwin Sang and Mack McLain (adidas/BRC) will also kick off their 2014 track seasons with 800-meters and a 4x400 at the Air Force Invitational in Monument, CO.
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ABOUT AMERICAN DISTANCE PROJECT
The American Distance Project is a non-profit organization whose primary goal is the development of American distance runners to be internationally competitive. The ADP is located on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, taking advantage of incredible training resources in and around Colorado Springs and Woodland Park. The ADP thanks its sponsors and donors including Action Potential Physical Therapy, New York City Road Runners, and USATF Foundation. For more information, visit www.AmericanDistanceProject.com


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