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Lead Stories: Friday, November 21, 2008

USA Half-Marathon Titles
Up for Grabs in Houston

Posted January 13th, 2008 at 8:30 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

With deep fields but no clear favorites, Sunday’s USA Half-Marathon Championships hosted by the Aramco Houston Half-Marathon look to be wide open races. Most athletes are only in the base phase of their training cycles, either recovering from, or in the early stages of preparing for, important marathons. Expectations amongst the top entrants are modest, despite the $12,000 winner’s purse.

“I was in the same boat last year at this time,” said defending women’s champion Elva Dryer in a telephone interview last night from Houston. Prior to last year’s championship, Dryer was just restarting her training after running the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in October.

This year, she’s had even less recovery time after placing sixth at the ING New York City Marathon last November. However, Houston offers her a good chance to see where her training stands for April’s USA Olympic Team Trials - Women’s Marathon in Boston. A two-time Olympian at 10,000m, Dryer has an excellent shot of qualifying for her first Olympic marathon.
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Aramco Houston Half Marathon to host USA Half Marathon Championships through 2011

Posted September 7th, 2007 at 7:21 PM by Jeanie Rebb

Section: News & Results, Marathons

The Aramco Houston Half Marathon has extended its commitment to host the USA Half Marathon Championships through 2011, USATF has annoucned. The event has previously hosted the USA Men’s Half Marathon Championship (2005-’06) and both the men’s and women’s championships in 2007.

“Houston has traditionally been a great proving ground for new U.S. talent,” said Bill Roe, USATF President. “The support that Houston and Aramco Services Company have put forth both in the race as well as in key funding for the USA Distance Project will continue to keep the momentum moving forward for USA long distance athletes.”

The 2008 USA Half-Marathon Championships will be held in conjunction with the thirty-sixth running of the Chevron Houston Marathon on January 13, and will be the first race on the 2008 USA Running Circuit (USARC).

The USA Half Marathon Championship races have attracted some of America’s top young runners. In 2007, that field included Ryan Hall of Mammoth Lakes, Calif., who clocked an American record 59:43 over the 13.1-mile course, obliterating the previous record set by Mark Curp in 1985. Hall’s time shaved 1:12 off the old record and made him the first American to break the 1 hour barrier in the half marathon distance.
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Podcast 6: Interview with Ryan Hall, the new American half-marathon record-holder

Posted January 29th, 2007 at 8:00 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

This week I had the privilege of interviewing Ryan Hall, the former standout from Stanford who set a new American record (59:43) at the USA Half-Marathon Championships on January 14, 2007.

Ryan, now 24 years old and the hottest name in American running, will make his marathon debut at the April 22nd Flora London Marathon.

Download the podcast to hear Ryan discuss the half-marathon record, training for London, his Olympic aspirations, the state of American distance running and much more!

Listen In
[MP3] Direct Download (Right click, select save as).
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Host: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Ryan Hall
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 14.7MB
Length: 00:21:30

Interested in featuring The Final Sprint Podcast on your site, blog or My Space page? Click here to learn how!

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Ryan Hall picks London for debut marathon; opts out of USA XC Champs in Boulder

Posted January 27th, 2007 at 5:00 PM by Allyson Rosen

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Cross Country, Olympics

Ryan Hall, who set a new American record for the half-marathon on Janary 14th, has made his decision; choosing Flora London for his marathon debut.

Hall, who yesterday was interview by Adam Jacobs, TFS’s Editor, confirmed his London registration and decision to withdraw from the February 10th U.S.A. XC Champs in Boulder.

Wish you could see Hall race before the April 22nd London Marathon?
You can! Hall told Adam that he will also be running in the U.S.A 15k Champs at the Gate River Run in Jacksonville on March 10th.

Check back on Monday for the interview and listen to Hall discuss setting the half-marathon record, training for London, his Olympic aspirations and much more!
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Ryan Hall sets new North American record for the Half-Marathon (59:43)

Posted January 14th, 2007 at 5:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Ryan Hall battled the elements to become at the first North American to ever run a half-marathon in less than one-hour at today’s Aramco Houston Half-Marathon. The half-marathon served as the USA Half-Marathon Championships.

Hall, who is only 24-years old, ran triumphantly against an all-star field to set a new North American half-marathon record with a time of 59 minutes and 43 seconds. [Click here to see video footage of his record-setting performance].

Hall flew past the previous record of 1:00:28 which had been held by German Silva and Dionicio Cerón since 1994. Hall also set a new American record, beating Mark Curp’s 1985 time of 1:00:55.
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