19-06-2013, 07:40 PM
DULUTH, Minn. - A pair of Olympians from last yearââ¬â¢s Summer Games in London head the list of Americans set to race in Saturdayââ¬â¢s USA Half Marathon Championships.
Meb Keflezighi and Abdi Abdirahman, both members of the 2012 Team USA marathon squad, will be among those competing for national titles and a share of an $82,000 prize purse, including first place awards of $12,000.
Keflezighi, 38, placed fourth in the 2012 Olympic marathon with a time of 2 hours, 11 minutes and 6 seconds. He was the silver medalist in the marathon at the 2004 Athens Olympics (2:11:29). Keflezighi has a personal best half-marathon time of 1:01:00 (2009, San Jose Rock ââ¬Ënââ¬â¢ Roll Half Marathon).
Abdirahman, 36, is the defending half-marathon national champion after winning last yearââ¬â¢s event ââ¬â also held in Duluth ââ¬â in 1:02:46 and has a best of 1:00:29 (2007, New York City Half Marathon).
For a complete list of those entered in the 2013 USA Half Marathon Championships field, click here: http://bit.ly/16EXstT.
Duluthââ¬â¢s history of hosting national championship road racing events includes the 2003 and 2004 USA Womenââ¬â¢s Half Marathon Championships. The city also hosted the 1987, 1990 and 1994 USA Womenââ¬â¢s Marathon Championships as part of Grandmaââ¬â¢s Marathon, which is currently the countryââ¬â¢s 14th largest marathon.
Grandmaââ¬â¢s Marathon Elite Field
In the 37th running of Grandmaââ¬â¢s Marathon, also scheduled for Saturday, favorites in the menââ¬â¢s field include Ethiopians Bazu Worku (PR 2:05:25, 2010) and Wegayehu Tefera (PR 2:08:25, 2010) and Kenyans Weldon Kirui (PR 2:09:06, 2010) and Ernest Kebenei (PR 2:10:55, 2011).
On the womenââ¬â¢s side, past champions Everlyne Lagat (2012) and Yihunlish Delelecha (2011) are returning to Duluth with hopes of claiming their second Grandmaââ¬â¢s Marathon victories.
Saturday, June 22, 2013
6:15 a.m. - USA Men's Half Marathon Championship
6:25 a.m. - USA Women's Half Marathon Championship
6:45 a.m. - Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon
7:45 a.m. - Grandmaââ¬â¢s Marathon (Wheelchair Start 7:40 a.m.)
Meb Keflezighi and Abdi Abdirahman, both members of the 2012 Team USA marathon squad, will be among those competing for national titles and a share of an $82,000 prize purse, including first place awards of $12,000.
Keflezighi, 38, placed fourth in the 2012 Olympic marathon with a time of 2 hours, 11 minutes and 6 seconds. He was the silver medalist in the marathon at the 2004 Athens Olympics (2:11:29). Keflezighi has a personal best half-marathon time of 1:01:00 (2009, San Jose Rock ââ¬Ënââ¬â¢ Roll Half Marathon).
Abdirahman, 36, is the defending half-marathon national champion after winning last yearââ¬â¢s event ââ¬â also held in Duluth ââ¬â in 1:02:46 and has a best of 1:00:29 (2007, New York City Half Marathon).
For a complete list of those entered in the 2013 USA Half Marathon Championships field, click here: http://bit.ly/16EXstT.
Duluthââ¬â¢s history of hosting national championship road racing events includes the 2003 and 2004 USA Womenââ¬â¢s Half Marathon Championships. The city also hosted the 1987, 1990 and 1994 USA Womenââ¬â¢s Marathon Championships as part of Grandmaââ¬â¢s Marathon, which is currently the countryââ¬â¢s 14th largest marathon.
Grandmaââ¬â¢s Marathon Elite Field
In the 37th running of Grandmaââ¬â¢s Marathon, also scheduled for Saturday, favorites in the menââ¬â¢s field include Ethiopians Bazu Worku (PR 2:05:25, 2010) and Wegayehu Tefera (PR 2:08:25, 2010) and Kenyans Weldon Kirui (PR 2:09:06, 2010) and Ernest Kebenei (PR 2:10:55, 2011).
On the womenââ¬â¢s side, past champions Everlyne Lagat (2012) and Yihunlish Delelecha (2011) are returning to Duluth with hopes of claiming their second Grandmaââ¬â¢s Marathon victories.
Saturday, June 22, 2013
6:15 a.m. - USA Men's Half Marathon Championship
6:25 a.m. - USA Women's Half Marathon Championship
6:45 a.m. - Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon
7:45 a.m. - Grandmaââ¬â¢s Marathon (Wheelchair Start 7:40 a.m.)