FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rewriting the Record books at the 2018 Chevron Houston Marathon and
Aramco Houston Half Marathon
HOUSTON (January 14, 2018) – Exciting finishes, upset victories, American
records, Olympic Trials qualifying times and personal bests highlighted a
day that marked another poignant step in the city's recovery from the
devastation of Hurricane Harvey in August.
In the 16th year of the Houston Half Marathon, late entrant Jake Robertson
of New Zealand won in 1:00:01, the third-fastest time in race history,
while Ruti Aga of Ethiopia won the women's race in 1:06:39—not only the
second-fastest time in race history, but also the second-fastest time ever
run on U.S. soil. The winners each earned a first-place prize of $20,000,
plus time bonuses. Huddle's record-breaking performance means that both the
men's and women's American records have been set here in Houston.
Setting an American record in the Aramco Houston Half Marathon was Molly
Huddle, whose time of 1:07:25 in finishing seventh broke the mark of
1:07:34 set by Deena Kastor in 2006. En route, she also broke American
records at 10 miles and 20K pending ratification.
In the 46th year of the Houston Marathon, Bazu Worku, 27, of Ethiopia came
back from a 23-second deficit at 40K to win here for the third time,
breaking the tape in 2:08:30. Finishing second for the third consecutive
year was Yitayal Atnafu of Ethiopia, in 2:09:07.
Atnafu, 24, ran the 18th mile in 4:30, the fastest of the day, to pull away
from the field, and appeared to have the race in hand before fading in the
final kilometers and being caught by his training partner. Worku also won
here in 2013 and 2014.
"I was having a plan," said Worku through a translator. "At 25K I was doing
my pace, and at 35K." After catching up with Atnafu just past 40K, he said,
"I knew that I was winning."
Finishing in sixth (2:15:52) as top American was Wilkerson Given, a local
favorite, coached by Danny Green, the winner of the first ever Houston
Marathon in 1972. Given was among three men running times that qualified
them to compete in the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon.
For the women, Biruktayit Degefa, 27, of Ethiopia won in 2:24:51 after a
spirited battle with countrywoman Belaynesh Oljira, runner-up in 2:24:57.
It was Degefa's fifth-consecutive appearance here at the Chevron Houston
Marathon, a streak that included a win in 2016 and a second-place finish
last year.
"When I come to Houston, I feel it is special joy, because I consider
Houston as my hometown," she said through a translator. "As if I'm coming
to a family. I came here very prepared, and I knew that I would be winning
today." Both male and female marathon winners each earned a first-place
prize of $45,000, plus time bonuses.
Sarah Crouch was the top American, seventh in 2:35:22, while Hiruni
Wijayaratne, eighth in 2:36:35, set a women's national record for Sri
Lanka. Including Crouch, seven American women qualified to run in the 2020
U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon.
The half marathon saw Robertson, who has lived and trained in Kenya since
he was 17, pull away from Guye Adola just before 20K. He kept the hammer
down through the finish, trying to dip under the magic 60-minute mark
before winning in a time that tied his personal best.
"Wow … the best in the world," he said afterward. "The whole caliber of the
field, I'm speechless. It's an amazing feeling."
Finishing as top American was Sam Chelanga, sixth in a personal best
1:00:37, while Bernard Lagat, 43, set an American masters record, winning
the masters division in 1:02:00 and placing 15th overall. Lagat's time is
also the fastest ever run in the world by a 43-year-old, according to the
Association of Road Racing Statisticians.
The women's half marathon was both fast and deep. Before Mary Wacera
shattered the event record for the Aramco Houston Half Marathon by running
1:06:29 in 2016 for the fastest half marathon ever on U.S. soil, the event
record was 1:08:26. In today's race, a remarkable seven women bettered that
time, with Aga's 1:06:39 now ranking as the second fastest ever run in this
country.
Asked what she would do with her prize money, Aga said she would use it to
build a house.
Caroline Chepkoech of Kenya was runner-up in 1:06:48, the fourth-fastest
time in race history, with the next five women all breaking into the top 10
all-time here.
Setting a national record for Saudi Arabia with a time of 1:26:47 was Sarah
Attar, who in 2012 was among the first two women to compete at the Olympics
for her country.
Huddle, 33, is among them. A 25-time national champion and two-time
Olympian, Huddle set the American record for 10,000 meters when she
finished sixth in Rio in 2016. In November, after winning the USA 5K
championships at the NYRR Dash to the Finish Line 5K, Huddle declared her
intention to run here under 68 minutes, a time that would overtake Kastor's
mark. She ran with the leaders through 10 miles, but said she was worried
about falling off record pace after that.
"This has to be one of the deepest halfs in the country for women, ever,
and to be in that race and to be fit and ready for it is lucky, is
awesome," she said. "So even when I was hurting, I was like, just hang on
to these women. They're all here today. It was a great day for the women."
Of the American record, Huddle said: "It means a lot. To be in the company
of Deena Kastor, who had such a great marathon career, gives me a lot of
confidence, and that's a really special feeling. Deena has really set the
bar high for us."
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 $27 million since its
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.
For more information, visit www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com.
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