Chris Solinsky, German Fernandez, Tyler Pennel And Kenyan Julius Kogo (61:47 Half) Lead Field For Next Sunday’s EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler
Newly added PRRO Circuit race, scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 25, offers prize purse of $26,200 including $5200 U.S.-only bonus money in the Steel City
Press Release
October 14, 2015
PITTSBURGH – The EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler returns to the streets of the Steel city on Sunday, Oct. 25 with the deepest men’s and women’s fields to-date. Debuting on the 2015-16 PRRO Circuit, an international series of classic and prestigious road races, the third edition of the EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler offers a $26,200 prize, including $4000 for each race champion and American-only bonuses totaling $5200.
Julius Kogo, 30, from Kenya, who is the UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon course record holder, and Chris Solinsky, 30, the first American sub-27 minutes in the 10,000 meters, lead a top international men’s field. Also joining them in the competition is Tyler Pennel, 27, who was the runner-up in the 2015 USA 10 Mile Championships earlier this month in Minneapolis as well as the 2014 USA Marathon champion. Other notable athletes include Nelson Oyugi of Kenya, who has been runner-up at EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler the past two years, and American German Fernandez, 24, who has a 10 mile personal record of 48 minutes, 19 seconds and 3:55 mile speed.
“I’m excited to race the EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler this year,” Pennel said. “I feel like the undulating course will fit perfectly into my strengths as an athlete. The EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler is also a great opportunity for me to gain experience running the roads and against some great competition, including many athletes who will be running the Olympic Marathon Trials in February.”
In the women’s field, Esther Atkins (formerly Erb), 29, who won the 2014 USA Marathon Championships in Minneapolis, will compete alongside Kenyan Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton, 25, who finished runner-up at the 2015 DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon and Ethiopian Buze Diriba, 21, who was the women’s runner-up in the 2014 EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler. Kenyan Sophy Jepchirchir, 21, the women’s UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon course record holder, will also be fierce competition.
“I’m so excited to return to Pittsburgh almost exactly 10 years after my last race there, where I had one of my biggest breakthroughs in my collegiate career at our UAA Cross Country Conference meet in Schenley Park,” Erb said. “I love what the EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler has done to promote American distance running in the past few years, and I can’t wait to be a part of this year’s star-studded field! It’s also exciting that I will get to start a new chapter there, racing for the first time as Esther Atkins.”
Last year, Leonard Korir of Kenya covered the 10 mile course in 46 minutes, 52 seconds for the victory, while Sara Hall of the USA won the women’s race, clocking an event record of 53:47. Overall, there was an event record 4,181 finishers at Pittsburgh’s fall road race classic.
The event is also the fourth race organized by P3R showcasing and supporting America’s best up-and-coming talent through its American Development Program (ADP). With the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, UPMC Health Plan Half Marathon, GNC Live Well Liberty Mile and the EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler, the ADP has committed more than $70,000 in prize money to American athletes as well as event bonuses, travel stipends and grants made available throughout the year. ADP athletes have also committed to participating in P3R community programs such as the Kids of STEEL program.
For more event information or to register for the race, visit: Pittsburgh10Miler.org
2015 EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler Elite Field
Name, Country, Affiliation, Personal Best
MEN
Julius Kogo, Kenya, MarathonGuide.com, 45:55
Chris Solinsky, USA, Bowerman Track Club, 26:59.60 (10,000m, former U.S. record, #2 U.S. AT)
Mourad Marofit, Morocco, Unattached, 1:01:43 (half-marathon)
Tyler Pennel, USA, Reebok/ZAP Fitness, 46:48
Nelson Oyugi, Kenya, Unattached, 1:01:53 (half-marathon)
German Fernandez, USA, Bowerman Track Club, 48:19
Jason Witt, USA, Brooks Hansons, 48:44
Macdonard Ondara, Kenya, Unattached, 46:59
Eluid Ngetich, Kenya, Unattached, 1:03:55 (half-marathon)
Biya Simbassa, USA, Team USA Minnesota, 28:42 (10,000m)
Yonas Mebrahtu, Eritrea, Unattached, 48:19
Nicholas Kipruto, USA, U.S. Army, 48:51
Josh Dedering, USA, Team USA Minnesota, 49:40
Curtis Begley, USA, Boulder Track Club, 2:17:37 (marathon)
Chris Guerrero, USA, Boulder Track Club, 1:08:40 (half-marathon)
WOMEN
Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton, Kenya, Unattached, 1:09:15 (half-marathon)
Buze Diriba, Ethiopia, adidas, 53:46
Rkia El Moukim, Morocco, adidas, 1:10:03
Dorcas Talam, Kenya, MarathonGuide.com, 1:11:11
Sophy Jepchirchir, Kenya, MarathonGuide.com, 1:11:36
Esther Atkins, USA, Skechers Performance, 55:28
Kaitlin Gregg Goodman, USA, Brooks/Strava, 32:09 (10,000m)
Tara Welling, USA, Skechers Performance, 32:09 (10,000m)
Cynthia Jerop, Kenya, Unattached, 33:19 (10,000m)
Emily Gordon, USA, Team USA Minnesota, 1:01:33
Lauren Woodring, USA, Unattached, 2:41:27 (marathon)
Wendy Thomas, USA, Boulder Track Club, 57:37
Maor Tiyouri, Israel, Unattached, 34:33 (10,000m)
Heidi Greenwood, USA, Oiselle, 59:41
Adrienne Taren, USA, SOAS Racing, 59:17