FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GO! St. Louis Marathon To Host Deep Professional Fields
For Sunday's Half Marathon
Course Records Expected to be Broken as
Athletes Vie for $10,000 Top Prize
ST. LOUIS, (MO) - April 3, 2013 - GO! St. Louis, a local not-for-profit
organization that specializes in providing fitness events and programs for
the region on a year-round basis, will host some of America's best
up-and-coming professional distance runners in Sunday's GO! St. Louis Half
Marathon presented by PNC Bank. This year's race features a top prize of
$10,000, the fourth-largest such award among half marathons in the United
States.
The women's field is expected to be a four-way battle between Americans
Addie Bracy, Meagan Krifchin, Tera Moody and Mattie Suver. All four
athletes come into the race in good form with Suver having just finished
26th at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Bracy having just set a
personal best over 5,000 meters (15:45.24), Moody having set a personal
best at 8,000 meters (26:43) and Krifchin having run a 1:12 half marathon
in New York City.
The men's field is highlighted by rising star Aaron Braun, who finished
fifth at last year's U.S. Olympic Trials over 10,000 meters in 27:41.54.
Braun debuted at the half marathon distance in January with a 1:02:52 at
the Aramco Houston Half Marathon. Challenging Braun will be his Team USA
Arizona teammates Matt Llano and Danny Mercado as well as Josphat Boit and
Craig Curley who each turned in top performances at the U.S. 15k
Championships on March 9. Zambia's Jordan Chipangama, an NCAA All- American
from Northern Arizona University, is also expected contend for the win.
"I'm so excited to see these amazing athletes compete this weekend," said
Nancy Lieberman, GO! St. Louis president. "The field that we have invited
are some of our sport's rising stars, and I think St. Louis will be in for
quite a show. I'm confident that they will enjoy our city and the
challenging race course."
ELITE MEN:
Aaron Braun, USA, 1:02:52, Josphat Boit, USA, 1:03:25, Matt Llano, USA,
1:03:26, Danny Mercado, USA, 1:04:02, Craig Curley, USA, 1:04:13, Daniel
Kirwa, Kenya, 1:04:22, Jordan, Chipangama, Zambia, 1:05:53, Makorobondo
Salukombo, Congo, 1:03:20 (20K), Curtis Suver, USA , Mike Aldrink, USA
ELITE WOMEN:
Maegan Krifchin, USA, 1:10:56, Tera Moody, USA, 1:12:30, Mattie Suver, USA,
1:13:14, Addie Bracy, USA, 1:14:09, Mary Akor, USA, 1:14:19, Tsehay Gebre
Getiso, Ethiopia, 1:14:19, Sarah Kiptoo, Kenya, 1:14:36, Hirut Guangal,
Ethiopia, 1:14:44, Melissa Gacek, USA, 1:18:58, Laura Kaulen, USA 1:19:00,
Valerie Hubbard, USA 1:19:30, Sydney Messik, USA 1:21:00
The elite fields for this year's race will be a major part of the entire
GO! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend. A select number of
athletes will make an appearance at the Students on the GO! Pasta Party on
Friday April 5 as well as a press luncheon on Saturday April 6 with all
elite athletes in attendance. Fans will be able to follow the elite race
via twitter: @GORUNSTL.
For additional information on the Elite Athlete program, including prize
structure and athlete interviews, visit
http://www.gostlouis.org/marathon-weekend/about/elite-athlete-program.html
The GO! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend is Missouri's largest
fitness event and attracts more than 25,000 participants and 50,000
spectators to St. Louis each spring with a weekend of events for all ages
and abilities. Activities include full and half marathons, marathon relay,
5k run/walk, children's fun runs and a mature mile.
Visit www.gostlouis.org
to learn more about the organization and the events
and programs offered.
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