FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon Announces Strong U.S. Field
Open Marathon Prize Purse Totals $47,000 Plus U.S.- Only $26,000
Purse for top Finishers at Sunday, May 4 Event in Pittsburgh
(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) - Pennsylvanians Clara Santucci and Jed Christiansen
headline a competitive American elite field at the sold-out DICK'S Sporting
Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, slated for Sunday, May 4. Runners will compete
for an overall Marathon prize purse of $47,000 plus an additional $26,000
available to Americans as part of Pittsburgh's inaugural American
Development Program.
Clara Santucci, 27, of Dilliner, Pa. leads the women's Marathon field as
the top American female at the 2013 Bank of America Chicago Marathon with a
time of 2 hours, 31 minutes, 38 seconds. After debuting at the 2011 B.A.A.
Boston Marathon in a swift 2:29:54 and a 1:12:22 half-marathon clocking at
the recent IAAF World Championships, Clara is making her name in the
running world as the marathoner to watch in 2014.
Other notable competitors in the women's field include:
- Jane Vongvorachoti, 30, of New York, N.Y., who has transitioned
from professional soccer player to elite runner, will debut in the Marathon
after an impressive 1:15:24 finish at the 2014 USA Half Marathon
Championships.
- Emily Field, 33, of Dallas, Texas, won the 2011 Wipro San
Francisco Marathon in 2:50:24 and will run in Pittsburgh for a 2016 U.S.
Olympic Marathon Trials qualifying time.
- Kathleen Jobes, 44, of Bethlehem, Pa. is the 2011 Bank of America
Chicago Marathon Female Masters champion with a time of 2:47:53. She plans
to impress on May 4 as she competes for first place in the Masters
division.
For the U.S. men, Jed Christiansen, 27, of Greenville, Pa. tops the field
after finishing runner-up at the 2013 Detroit Free Press/Talmer Bank
Half-Marathon in 1:06:01. With a personal record of 2:18:31 at the 2011
Bank of American Chicago Marathon, Jed is ready to push his limits on
Pittsburgh's challenging Marathon course.
Also expected in the men's field is:
- Richard Morris, 26, of Burkeville, Va., who set his personal
record of 2:24:02 at the 2013 Marine Corps Marathon, will vie for a top
American finish in Pittsburgh.
For more information about the American Development Program, go to:
PittsburghMarathon.com/American_Development_Program
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