Sallly V wrote:
The weather should be okay unless it is very windy or icy (unlikely). If Rupp was to target the AR he is likely to have a couple of Ethiopians to run with. The winning time 2 or 3 years back was 59:22 with, I believe another 59:xx recently.
It's official. The race sent over a press release and Galen Rupp is running the Houston Half as is Ethiopian Feyisa Lelisa. I don't now how Lelisa could possibly be in any sort of shape as he ran 2:16 (2:15:57) at the Honolulu marathon on December 11th.
Here are the elites for the Houston races.
2017 Elite Fields in seed order:
Men's Half Marathon
Feyisa Lilesa Gemechu
Galen Rupp
Yigrem Demelash Endale
Samsom Gebreyohannes Gezahai
Leonard Korir
Hiskel Tewelde Ghebru
Daniel Salel Loyioyio
Silas Kipruto
Fikadu Tsadik
Temesgen Ejeressa
Weldon Kirui
Ben Chelimo Somikwo
Luke Puskedra
Aaron Braun
Bazu Worku Hayla
Tadese Tola Woldegeberel
Girma Mercheso
Jordan Chipangama
Ben Bruce
Scott Smith
Bayron Piedra
Ismail Ssenyange
Sean Quigley
George Alex
Scott Fauble
John Crain
Aaron Dinzeo
Robert Molke
Ryan Rutherford
Phillip Reid
Eric Ashe
Tyler Andrews
Tom Anderson
Andrew Epperson
Parker Stinson
Noah Droddy
Luis Orta
Kiya Dandena
Patrick Rizzo
Ryan Dohner
Jonathan Peterson
Thomas Toth
Jovanny Godinez Rodriguez
Eric Loeffler
Luis Vargas
Pardon Ndhlovu
Matthew Sonnenfeldt
Ian Butler
Kevin Lewis
Darren De Reuck
Michael Crouch
Tyler Mueller (pacer)
Carlos Trujillo (pacer)
Women's Half Marathon
Mary Wacera
Mamitu Daska
Mare Dibaba Hurssa
Hiwot Gebrekidan Gebremaryam
Veronicah Nyaruai Wanjiru
Gladys Yator
Diane Nukuri
Muliye Dekebo Haylemariyam
Jordan Hasay
Aliphine Tuliamuk
Tigist Demisse
Sara Hall
Nazret Weldu Gebrehiwet
Madai Perez
Dera Dida Yami
Kellyn Taylor
Joan Aiyabei
Beverly Ramos
Alia Gray
Elvin Kibet
Susanna Sullivan
Natasha LaBeaud
Kelsey Bruce
Anna Weber
Joanna Thompson
Erin Burrett
Maria Elena Calle
Rosie Edwards
Emma Polley
Jamie Cheever
Amanda Scott
Kristen Arendt
Ana Maria De Vries
Kayla Atkinson
Kristin Louderback
Bria Wetsch
Men's Marathon
Birhanu Gedefa Chimdesa
Abayneh Ayele Woldegiorgis
Abrha Milaw Asefa
Dominic Ondoro
Yitayal Atanfu Zerihun
Andualem Shiferaw
Elkanah Kibet
Robert Cheseret
Birhanu Dare Kemal
Tim Young
Stephen Kersh
Semereab Gebrekidan
Jason Witt
Will Nation
Colin Leak
Meng-Tsung (Steve) Chu
Gregory Leak
Aron Rono
Jonny Hay
Brian Atkinson
Calum Neff (pacer)
William Firfth (pacer)
Women's Marathon
Birkutayit Degefa
Meskerem Assefa Wondimagegn
Sechale Dalasa Adugna
Rahma Tulsa Chota
Mary Davies
Mulu Melka
Becky Wade
Sarah Crouch
Serkalem Abrha
Yenenesh Tilahun Dinkesa
Hanna Nosekno
Rocio Cantara
Hiruni Wijayaratne
Nicole Dimercurio
Colleen De Reuck
One question. Has the half-marathon ever had a pacer before? Or have they brought them in to make the race "Rupp certified?" When Hall broke the AR, there were no pacers as it as the US championship.
Here is the full press release.
http://www.letsrun.com/news/2017/01/official-galen-rupp-plus-fellow-rio-olympic-marathon-medallists-fiyesa-lilesa-mare-dibaba-will-run-aramco-houston-half-marathon-next-weekend/