FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Another Record-Setting Day in Houston
The 47th Chevron Houston Marathon and 17th Aramco Houston Half Marathon
again lived up to their reputation for being flat and fast, with Brigid
Kosgei running the fastest half marathon ever on U.S. soil and 44 American
athletes running times that qualify them to compete in the 2020 U.S.
Olympic Trials.
A total of 6,930 runners finished the marathon, while 12,986 completed the
half marathon on a day that saw runners brave an unseasonable start
temperature of 33 degrees with a 12 mph wind.
In winning the women's half marathon in 1:05:50, Kosgei shattered the
previous course record of 1:06:29, set by Mary Wacera at this race in 2016.
Although pleased with her 45-second personal best, the 24-year-old Kenyan,
winner of the 2018 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, said she had been
hoping to clock an even-faster time.
"If not for the coldness, I would have run 64 (minutes, or 1:04)," she
said. The world record is 1:04:51.
By 15K, Kosgei and compatriot Fancy Chemutai had a 17-second lead over
defending champion Ruti Aga of Ethiopia and Kosgei soon pulled ahead for
good. Chemutai, who owns the second-fastest half marathon time in history,
would finish second in 1:06:48, the fifth-fastest time ever run in the
U.S., and Aga third in 1:06:56, the eighth-fastest - giving the Aramco
Houston Half Marathon the eight fastest times ever run on U.S. soil.
It almost saw another American record, as well, with Emily Sisson just
missing the mark of 1:07:25 set here last year by her training partner,
Molly Huddle. Nonetheless, Sisson's 1:07:30, good for fifth place, makes
her the second-fastest American woman in history.
"I've got some mixed feelings," said Sisson, who ran without a watch. "I
was a little disappointed at first, just to come so close to Molly's
record. But I think tomorrow I'll be pretty happy with it."
In the men's half marathon, Shura Kitata of Ethiopia outlasted Jemal Yimer,
the third-fastest half marathoner in history, surging ahead in the final
kilometer to win by three seconds, in 1:00:11. Behind Yimer (1:00:14) was
Bedan Karoki of Kenya in 1:00:18.
"The weather was not friendly," said Kitata, of an early slow pace. "I
couldn't relax. But later on … I was very confident that I would finish it
well."
The top American finisher was Reed Fischer, 10th in a personal best of
1:02:06.
"When you come to run Houston, you come to run fast," said Fischer, 23, of
Boulder.
For the win, Kosgei and Kitata each earned $20,000. Kosgei also took home a
bonus of $10,000 for running faster than 1:09, while Kitata nabbed an extra
$5,000 for running under 1:00:30.
Winning the Chevron Houston Marathon in opposite fashion were newcomer
Albert Korir, racing in America for the first time, and Biruktayit Degefa,
who became the third woman in Houston history to win the marathon three
times.
In a resounding three-minute victory, Degefa set a personal best of
2:23:28, the second-fastest winning time in race history, only 14 seconds
shy of Alemitu Abera's 2012 record of 2:23:14.
"When I prepare to come here to Houston, I really get excited," said
Degefa, who lives in Albuquerque, N.M. but trained for this race in
Ethiopia. "I come to win."
It was her sixth-consecutive appearance here, and she became only the third
woman to win three times.
Degefa, was challenged through 30K by Meseret Belete, the 19-year-old world
junior record-holder in the half marathon who was making her debut at the
distance. But Belete couldn't respond when Degefa picked up the pace just
after 30K, and would be passed near the finish by Belaynesh Fikadu, who
finished as runner-up in 2:26:41. Belete was third in 2:26:51, for an
Ethiopian sweep of the podium.
Korir, meanwhile, had never been to this country before and had to battle
until the final kilometer, when he slowly pulled ahead of Ethiopia's
Yitayal Atnafu to win in 2:10:02, six seconds ahead of the man who would
become runner-up here for an astonishing fourth year in a row - on his 26th
birthday, no less. Finishing third was Justus Kimutai of Kenya in 2:10:25.
Korir, a 24-year-old Kenyan who worked cutting down trees early in his
career to supplement his meager race earnings, said: "I am grateful to win
this race for the first time in America."
The victors each took home $45,000 for the win, with Degefa earning an
extra $10,000 in time bonuses for running sub-2:24.
Leading the Americans in the marathon were Tyler Jermann of St. Paul,
Minnesota, ninth in 2:13:29, and Kelsey Bruce of Dallas, sixth in 2:31:53.
View winner photo gallery here.
About the Houston Marathon Committee, Inc.
Established in 1972, the Houston Marathon Committee, Inc. (HMC) is a
founding member of Running USA and annually organizes the nation's premier
winter marathon, half-marathon and 5K. Over 300,000 participants,
volunteers and spectators make Chevron Houston Marathon Race Day the
largest single-day sporting event in Houston. Recognized by the IAAF, the
Gold Label Aramco Houston Half Marathon has held 16 U.S. Half Marathon
Championships and the Silver Label Chevron Houston Marathon has been the
race site for three U.S. Olympic Trials Marathons. For six consecutive
years, the events have garnered Gold Certification from the Council of
Responsible Sport and were also awarded the 2015 AIMS Green Award for
industry-leading sustainability initiatives. Race Weekend generates over
$50 million in economic impact for the region annually. In addition to its
economic impact, the HMC facilitates social responsibility through its Run
for a Reason Charity Program which has raised over $29 million since its
inception and the Houston Marathon Foundation, which serves the greater
Houston area through support of youth and community organizations that
promote access to and participation in running. The event is televised
annually with 2016 being the first time the race received national and
international syndication airing on ESPN3 and the Longhorn Network.
The 47th running of the Chevron Houston Marathon race weekend, also
featuring the Aramco Houston Half Marathon and We Are Houston 5K, will take
place January 18-20, 2019. Registration is still open for the marathon and
5K. Half marathon entries are currently only available via the Run for a
Reason charity program.
For more information, visit www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com.
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