FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chevron Houston Marathon Maintains IAAF Silver Label,
Aramco Houston Half Marathon Elevated to Gold Label
HOUSTON (September 7, 2017) - The Chevron Houston Marathon and the Aramco
Houston Half Marathon have been awarded label status for 2018 by the
International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The Chevron
Houston Marathon has maintained its IAAF Silver Label Road Race status from
2017 and the Aramco Houston Half Marathon has been elevated to IAAF Gold
Label status for exceptional execution of IAAF label criteria at its
respective 2017 race.
For more than a decade, the IAAF has been awarding a designation referred
to as an IAAF Road Race Label to leading road races around the world. With
three different levels - gold, silver and bronze - status is determined on
various factors, including the elite field, anti-doping policies, IAAF
competition rules, broadcast services and timing.
The IAAF recognition of the Chevron Houston Marathon for 2018 marks the
fourth consecutive year as a label status recipient and the second year for
the Aramco Houston Half Marathon. "Each year we not only strive to produce
a world-class running event for our participants but also work diligently
to promote and educate our communities on social responsibility,
sustainability, health and wellness initiatives and all matters that help
advance running. Receiving IAAF label status is a step toward achieving
those goals," said Wade Morehead, Executive Director for the Houston
Marathon Committee.
The Chevron Houston Marathon and the Aramco Houston Half Marathon is one of
only two races in the world that holds IAAF Labels in both the marathon and
half marathon distances that conducts them on the same race weekend. The
Aramco Houston Half Marathon is also the only IAAF Label half marathon in
North America, while the Chevron Houston Marathon is one of only four IAAF
Label marathons in the U.S - the Boston Marathon, the Chicago Marathon and
the New York City Marathon are the other three.
The 2018 running of the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half
Marathon will take place on January 14, with the elite field to be
announced in the coming months.
For more information on the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston
Half Marathon, visit www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com.
About the Houston Marathon Committee, Inc.
Established in 1972, the Houston Marathon Committee, Inc. (HMC) is a
founding member of Running USA and annually organizes the nation’s premier
winter marathon, half-marathon and 5K. Over 250,000 participants,
volunteers and spectators make Chevron Houston Marathon Race Day the
largest single-day sporting event in Houston. Recognized by the IAAF, the
Gold Label Aramco Houston Half Marathon has held 16 U.S. Half Marathon
Championships and the Silver Label Chevron Houston Marathon has been the
race site for three U.S. Olympic Trials Marathons. For five consecutive
years, the events have garnered Gold Certification from the Council of
Responsible Sport and were also awarded the 2015 AIMS Green Award for
industry-leading sustainability initiatives. Race Weekend generates over
$50 million in economic impact for the region annually. In addition to its
economic impact, the HMC facilitates social responsibility through its Run
for a Reason Charity Program which has raised over $26 million since it’s
inception and the Houston Marathon Foundation, which serves the greater
Houston area through support of youth and community organizations that
promote access to and participation in running. The event is televised
annually with 2016 being the first time the race received national and
international syndication airing on ESPN3 and the Longhorn Network.
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