Upload a Photo Upload a Video Add a News article Write a Blog Add a Comment
Blog Feed News Feed Video Feed All Feeds
Like USATF on Facebook Subscribe to the USARC RSS feed go to USATF.org

Folders

 

 

Pennel, Erb Claim First U.S. Titles at USA Marathon Championships

Comments

Tyler Pennel pulled away from a tight men’s race just past 19 miles, while Esther Erb ran a patient race to overtake leaders in the final three miles, as both athletes took home the win and first U.S. titles at Sunday’s USA Marathon Championships in Minneapolis, Minnesota, hosted by the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon.

The USA Marathon Championships are the second-to-last stop on the USA Running Circuit, which concludes next month at the .US National 12K. The top ten finishers at each race on the circuit qualify to compete in the 2014 .US National 12K race which takes place Sunday, November 16 in Alexandria, Virginia.

A relaxed early pace led to a men’s lead pack of nearly 15 athletes for the entire first half of the race. Pennel and Ian Burrell took turns leading the early miles, as the group hit the half marathon point in 1:07:46.

Just past the 14 mile mark, Sergio Reyes threw in a magnificent surge, which quickly strung the field out, as the leaders ratcheted down their pace from 5:02 at the 14-mile split to 4:48 at the 15-mile split. The pace slowed over the next four miles as the pack regrouped, but the harsh change in pace took its toll on many top runners.

Just before mile 19, Scott Smith threw in another surge, breaking the lead pack for good, as he and Pennel pulled away and built a lead of 40 meters by mile 20. While Scott couldn’t handle the pace of the past mile, Pennel carried on, pushing his lead over Smith to over 80 meters by mile 21.

Pennel continued to pour it on, extending his lead mile after mile until it was clear that the marathon debutant was going to cross the finish line first. Into the homestretch the North Carolina-based athlete ran, soaking in the roar of the crowd, crossing the finish in 2:13:32.

Behind Pennel, Jared Ward ran a terrific final 10k, clearing the field over the final four miles, running to a two minute personal best and runner-up finish of 2:14:00. Smith held on valiantly to place third in 2:14:40. Burrell hung on after pushing the early pace, taking home fourth in 2:15:08, while Tyler McCandless ran a great final few miles to cross fifth in 2:15:26.

Rounding out the top ten, Nathan Martin set a new personal best of 2:15:47 to take home sixth place overall, while 2010 USA Marathon champion Reyes finished sevent in 2:16:48. Brian Harvey, Scott MacPherson and Eric Ashe all broke the 2:18 barrier to finish 8-10, in 2:17:05, 2:17:19 and 2:17:56 respectively.

While a large men’s pack ran together much of Sunday’s race, the women’s race was significantly different. In the very early miles, Brianne Nelson and surprise frontrunner Heather Lieberg grabbed the lead, extending their gap between the chase pack to over 40 seconds at one point, and it looked that it would finish in a similar way.

Little movement took place behind Nelson and Lieberg, except Esther Erb and Ariana Hilborn started to pick up the pace. At mile 19, it seemed as though Erb and Hilborn might start to make up ground on the leaders, until Erb hit a small rough patch and the lead Nelson and Lieberg owned continued to maintain.

Everything changed heading into mile 21, when Erb found a second wind and started to really close the gap on Nelson and Lieberg. As the two front runners focused in on their own dual, Erb broke from Hilborn and started to close the gab. With less than 5k to go, Erb caught and quickly passed Nelson and Lieberg. Nelson quickly fell off pace, while Lieberg tried to latch on, but Erb’s quick pass couldn’t be matched.

Erb strode into the final stretch, pushing the final downhill and across the finish line, arms raised and a big smile on her face, as she ran 2:34:00 and took home her first U.S. title. Lieberg, who ran the breakthrough race of the day, finished second in 2:34:08, while Nelson maintained pack to place third in 2:34:22.

Hilborn tried to close on Nelson, but didn’t have enough over the final stages, settling for fourth in 2:35:20, but well ahead of fifth place Claudia Becque, who crossed in 2:39:12.

Rounding out the top ten, Elizabeth Herndon finished sixth in 2:39:18, edging Christine Ramsey’s 2:39:31 finish. Allison Macsas crept up for eighth overall in 2:39:58, while Ruth Perkins and local favorite Meghan Peyton finished ninth and tenth in 2:40:02 and 2:40:30.

The double points being awarded at Sunday’s race, Pennel lept into second place in the USA Running Circuit standings with 49 points. He sits well behind Christo Landry’s leading total of 76 points, but 19 points ahead of third place Girma Mecheso. Meanwhile, Nelson benefited most from her performance in Minnesota, scoring 20 points and jumping into a tie with Molly Huddle for second with 45 points, a mere two points behind Sara Hall’s leading 47 points.

The final race of the 2014 USA Running Circuit takes place on November 16 in Alexandria, Virginia, as many of the top distance runners in the United States take to the streets to compete at the .US National 12K.

About the USARC

The USARC is a USA Track & Field road series featuring USA championships from one mile through the marathon and consistently attracts the best American distance runners with more than $500,000 to be awarded in total prize money. A total of $145,000 in prize money was awarded at the USA Marathon Championships.

The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USARC race (15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1), with those earning the most points receiving prize money at the end of the series.

The mission of the USARC is to showcase, support and promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USARC and its races have provided over $7 million to U.S. distance runners.

Contributed by Scott Bush



More news

History for USATFRunningCircuit.com - USATF Running Circuit Official Site
YearVideosNewsPhotosBlogs
2024 22 14    
2023 54 62    
2022 71 72    
Show 20 more