2017 Houston Half MarathonJan 4, 2017 by Dennis Young
Galen Rupp Is Racing The Houston Half Marathon
Galen Rupp Is Racing The Houston Half Marathon
Galen Rupp is racing the Houston Half Marathon on Sunday, January 15.
Galen Rupp is entered in next weekend's Houston Half Marathon, according to event organizers. The announcement instantly puts Ryan Hall's 59:43 American record in jeopardy. Hall's run 10 years ago--in the same Houston race--was one of the seminal moments in the history of American distance running, as it broke the old record by over a minute. Hall's record was set on Jan. 14, 2007, and Rupp will race in Houston on Sunday, Jan. 15. 59:43 is 4:33 mile pace for 13.1 miles.
​Watch Hall's 59:43 from 2007:
​
The Houston course is famously flat and fast, and the weather there is often good for long-distance racing this time of year. (Check out the official half-marathon course map on page 19 here; the weather is often between 45 and 65 degrees on race day.) Rupp's presumptuous pursuit of a fast time is part of an exciting foray into road racing that began in earnest 13 months ago for the 10,000m American record holder.​
Rupp ran a 61:20 half marathon last December and ran 60:30 on a non-record-legal course in New York in 2011. His two marathons last year were a 2:11 win at the U.S. Olympic Trials and a 2:10 bronze medal at the Olympics.
His biggest competition in Houston will likely be Ethiopia's Feyisa Lilesa, who beat Rupp for an Olympic silver medal and notably protested his home country's government as he crossed the line in Rio. But Lilesa and Rupp both struggled the last time they hit the roads. Lilesa ran a 2:15 fourth-place marathon in Honolulu last month, walking the last 100 meters.
And Rupp struggled with asthma issues en route to a 10th-place finish at the Manchester Road Race on Thanksgiving Day.
But if they're at their best, Rupp and Lilesa can go historically fast. Lilesa has the course record at 59:22, set in 2013. And a quick peek at my copy of Daniels' Running Formula says that a 26:51 10K is equivalent to a 59:01 half marathon. Rupp's 10K American record is 26:44.
Other notables in the men's half field are Yigrem Demelash Endale, who ran a 59:48 half and 26:51 10K in 2016 and Americans Leonard Korir and Luke Puskedra. Korir's half PB is 61:06, and Puskedra's is 61:29. Jordan Hasay, Kellyn Taylor, and Sara Hall are the best-known Americans in the women's field, which is highlighted by Olympic marathon bronze medalist Mare Dibaba.
It's the half-marathon debut for Hasay, who will be making her marathon debut with her Oregon Project teammate Rupp in Boston. And at 30, Taylor is emerging as one of the best long-distance runners in the country. She was fourth in the 10K at the Olympic Trials.
Men's half marathon
Women's half marathon
Men's marathon
Women's marathon
​Watch Hall's 59:43 from 2007:
​
The Houston course is famously flat and fast, and the weather there is often good for long-distance racing this time of year. (Check out the official half-marathon course map on page 19 here; the weather is often between 45 and 65 degrees on race day.) Rupp's presumptuous pursuit of a fast time is part of an exciting foray into road racing that began in earnest 13 months ago for the 10,000m American record holder.​
Rupp ran a 61:20 half marathon last December and ran 60:30 on a non-record-legal course in New York in 2011. His two marathons last year were a 2:11 win at the U.S. Olympic Trials and a 2:10 bronze medal at the Olympics.
His biggest competition in Houston will likely be Ethiopia's Feyisa Lilesa, who beat Rupp for an Olympic silver medal and notably protested his home country's government as he crossed the line in Rio. But Lilesa and Rupp both struggled the last time they hit the roads. Lilesa ran a 2:15 fourth-place marathon in Honolulu last month, walking the last 100 meters.
Walking last 100 meters with hands in 'X' in silent protest, Feyisa Lilesa finished 4th in 2:15:57 (unofficial) at @HNLmarathon #RRW pic.twitter.com/ELaWJAwzV1
— Chris Lotsbom (@ChrisLotsbom) December 11, 2016
And Rupp struggled with asthma issues en route to a 10th-place finish at the Manchester Road Race on Thanksgiving Day.
.@G_Rupp wore a mask to guard against an asthma attack at #MRR2016, but still had "an episode" according to Coach Salazar. He finished 10th. pic.twitter.com/7I93HoTBln
— David Monti (@d9monti) November 25, 2016
But if they're at their best, Rupp and Lilesa can go historically fast. Lilesa has the course record at 59:22, set in 2013. And a quick peek at my copy of Daniels' Running Formula says that a 26:51 10K is equivalent to a 59:01 half marathon. Rupp's 10K American record is 26:44.
Other notables in the men's half field are Yigrem Demelash Endale, who ran a 59:48 half and 26:51 10K in 2016 and Americans Leonard Korir and Luke Puskedra. Korir's half PB is 61:06, and Puskedra's is 61:29. Jordan Hasay, Kellyn Taylor, and Sara Hall are the best-known Americans in the women's field, which is highlighted by Olympic marathon bronze medalist Mare Dibaba.
It's the half-marathon debut for Hasay, who will be making her marathon debut with her Oregon Project teammate Rupp in Boston. And at 30, Taylor is emerging as one of the best long-distance runners in the country. She was fourth in the 10K at the Olympic Trials.
Full half-marathon and marathon fields are below.
Men's half marathon
Bib | Name |
---|---|
1 | Feyisa Lilesa Gemechu |
2 | Galen Rupp |
3 | Yigrem Demelash Endale |
4 | Samsom Gebreyohannes Gezahai |
5 | Leonard Korir |
6 | Hiskel Tewelde Ghebru |
7 | Daniel Salel Loyioyio |
8 | Silas Kipruto |
10 | Fikadu Tsadik |
11 | Temesgen Ejeressa |
12 | Weldon Kirui |
13 | Ben Chelimo Somikwo |
14 | Luke Puskedra |
15 | Aaron Braun |
16 | Bazu Worku Hayla |
17 | Tadese Tola Woldegeberel |
18 | Girma Mercheso |
19 | Jordan Chipangama |
20 | Ben Bruce |
21 | Scott Smith |
22 | Bayron Piedra |
23 | Ismail Ssenyange |
24 | Sean Quigley |
25 | George Alex |
26 | Scott Fauble |
27 | John Crain |
28 | Aaron Dinzeo |
29 | Robert Molke |
30 | Ryan Rutherford |
31 | Phillip Reid |
32 | Eric Ashe |
33 | Tyler Andrews |
34 | Tom Anderson |
35 | Andrew Epperson |
36 | Parker Stinson |
37 | Noah Droddy |
38 | Luis Orta |
39 | Kiya Dandena |
40 | Patrick Rizzo |
41 | Ryan Dohner |
42 | Jonathan Peterson |
43 | Thomas Toth |
44 | Jovanny Godinez Rodriguez |
45 | Eric Loeffler |
46 | Luis Vargas |
47 | Pardon Ndhlovu |
48 | Matthew Sonnenfeldt |
49 | Ian Butler |
50 | Kevin Lewis |
51 | Darren De Reuck |
52 | Michael Crouch |
Pacer | Tyler Mueller |
Pacer | Carlos Trujillo |
Women's half marathon
Bib Number | Name |
---|---|
101 | Mary Wacera |
102 | Mamitu Daska |
103 | Mare Dibaba Hurssa |
104 | Hiwot Gebrekidan Gebremaryam |
105 | Veronicah Nyaruai Wanjiru |
106 | Gladys Yator |
107 | Diane Nukuri |
108 | Muliye Dekebo Haylemariyam |
109 | Jordan Hasay |
110 | Aliphine Tuliamuk |
111 | Tigist Demisse |
112 | Sara Hall |
113 | Nazret Weldu Gebrehiwet |
115 | Madai Perez |
116 | Dera Dida Yami |
117 | Kellyn Taylor |
118 | Joan Aiyabei |
119 | Beverly Ramos |
120 | Alia Gray |
121 | Elvin Kibet |
122 | Susanna Sullivan |
123 | Natasha LaBeaud |
124 | Kelsey Bruce |
125 | Anna Weber |
126 | Joanna Thompson |
127 | Erin Burrett |
128 | Maria Elena Calle |
129 | Rosie Edwards |
130 | Emma Polley |
131 | Jamie Cheever |
132 | Amanda Scott |
133 | Kristen Arendt |
134 | Ana Maria De Vries |
135 | Kayla Atkinson |
136 | Kristin Louderback |
137 | Bria Wetsch |
Men's marathon
Bib Number | First Name |
---|---|
1 | Birhanu Gedefa Chimdesa |
2 | Abayneh Ayele Woldegiorgis |
3 | Abrha Milaw Asefa |
4 | Dominic Ondoro |
5 | Yitayal Atnafu Zerihun |
6 | Andualem Shiferaw |
7 | Elkanah Kibet |
8 | Robert Cheseret |
9 | Birhanu Dare Kemal |
10 | Tim Young |
11 | Stephen Kersh |
12 | Semereab Gebrekidan |
13 | Jason Witt |
14 | Will Nation |
15 | Colin Leak |
16 | Meng-Tsung Chu |
17 | Gregory Leak |
18 | Aron Rono |
19 | Jonny Hay |
20 | Brian Atkinson |
42 | Jack Lippincott |
Pacer | Calum Neff |
Pacer | William Firfth |
Women's marathon
Bib Number | First Name |
---|---|
101 | Birkutayit Degefa |
102 | Meskerem Assefa Wondimagegn |
103 | Sechale Dalasa Adugna |
104 | Rahma Tulsa Chota |
105 | Mary Davies |
106 | Mulu Melka |
107 | Becky Wade |
108 | Sarah Crouch |
109 | Serkalem Abrha |
110 | Yenenesh Tilahun Dinkesa |
111 | Hanna Nosekno |
112 | Rocio Cantara |
113 | Hiruni Wijayaratne |
114 | Nicole Dimercurio |
115 | Colleen De Reuck |