FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
World-Class Field Of Elite Runners To Race 2020 Humana Rock 'n' Roll
Arizona Marathon & 1/2 Marathon
- Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series Tour opener offers runners
last opportunity to qualify for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials
held on Feb. 29 in Atlanta, Ga.
- Top Arizona athletes Scott Fauble, Steph Bruce, Kellyn Taylor & others
to highlight extremely competitive field
PHOENIX, Ariz. (January 15, 2020) - The 2020 Humana Rock 'n' Roll® Arizona
Marathon & 1/2 Marathon will feature a world-class group of elite men and
women going toe to toe on Sunday, Jan. 19 throughout Phoenix, Scottsdale
and Tempe, Arizona. With over 120 elite-runners registered, the field will
be one of the largest in the event's history and offer an $18,500 prize
purse. Given the depth of the elite field, both the marathon and half
marathon races will showcase one of the year's first and most competitive
races in the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series®. Many of the elite athletes
will be using the Humana Rock 'n' Roll Marathon and 1/2 Marathon to qualify
for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team, while others that have already qualified
will be utilizing the race as a tune-up before the U.S. Olympic Team Trials
taking place on February 29 in Atlanta, Ga.
Highlighting the men's field of Olympic hopefuls is top American runner
from the 2019 Boston Marathon, Scott Fauble (Flagstaff, Ariz.). Throughout
2019, Fauble was labeled the 2nd fastest U.S. Marathoner and a favorite to
make the U.S. Olympic team. Alongside him on race day will be Scott Smith
(Flagstaff, Ariz.), previous winner of the 2016 Rock 'n' Roll San Diego
Half Marathon. In addition, 2019 Humana Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Half Marathon
Champion Daniel Mesfun (Eritrea) returns to defend his title in 2020.
Other men to watch include Steve Hallman (Des Moines, Iowa), fresh off a
personal best marathon time of 2:22:03 at the 2019 Berlin Marathon; Jimmy
Stevenson (Lansdale, Penn.), who set his personal best time of 2:23:17 at
the 2018 California International Marathon; and Brendan Sage (St. Michael,
Minn.), winner of the 2019 Fargo Half Marathon will look to qualify for the
Olympic Trials in his first marathon attempt in Arizona on Sunday.
Leading the women's field at this year's event will be 2019 U.S. Half
Marathon Champion Steph Bruce (Flagstaff, Ariz.). Bruce is an endurance
athlete well-known around the country, as she's also the 2018 10K Road
National Champion and finished 6th in the 2019 Chicago Marathon. Kellyn
Taylor (Flagstaff, Ariz.) will also be in attendance, representing the
women's field at this year's event. Taylor was the winner of the 2018 Rock
'n' Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon with a time of 1:10:14.
Other women to watch include: Samantha Diaz, Boise (Boise, Idaho) set a
personal best at the 2019 Chicago Marathon with a time of 2:40: 59 and
Bridget Belyeu (Newman, Ga.), whose pedigree includes a 2:31:00 at the 2018
California International Marathon, has already qualified for the Olympic
Trials, but look to use the Humana Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Half Marathon to
tune-up for the upcoming trials.
Live global coverage of the event will air exclusively on Facebook Watch
via the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series Facebook Page. Coverage will focus on
the elite half-marathoners while providing a live look-in at the other race
distances and participants. The broadcast will kick off on Sunday at 7:50
a.m. MT with a pre-race show, that will feature in-depth coverage of the
weekend of festivities, previews of the athlete field, and much more.
The best-in-class Humana Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon and 1/2 Marathon is
known for Bringing the Fun to the Run™ offer's runners a chance to kick off
the New Year with a scenic tour of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe. With a
marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K presented by Brooks, and KiDS ROCK™ event,
there truly is a distance for everyone. Participants can take on the "Remix
Challenge" by running both Friday or Saturday and Sunday to earn the
coveted Remix Challenge medal in addition to each race's finisher medals.
Race weekend kicks off with a Health & Fitness Expo on Friday, Jan. 17 from
12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 18 from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at
the Phoenix Convention Center in South Hall F-G. The expo will showcase
vendors featuring the latest in running gear, nutrition, and training, and
is free and open to the public.
For a full list of the Humana Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon and 1/2
Marathon please visit here.
For more information on the Humana Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon and 1/2
Marathon, visit runrocknroll.com/Events/Arizona.
About Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series
The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series® is the world's largest running series
taking part in over 30 destination events around the world every year.
Established in 1998, the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series simple idea of
making running fun has transformed both the U.S. and global running
landscape by infusing the course with live bands, cheer teams and
entertaining water stations, creating a block-party atmosphere for
participants and spectators alike. Focused on running, music and community,
race weekend kicks off with a free Health & Fitness Expo showcasing the
latest in running gear, sports apparel, health and nutritional information
and much more. Events culminate with an entertaining finish-line festival
featuring some of the biggest names in music, with past performances
including Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, O.A.R. Aloe Blacc, Pitbull, Flo Rida,
The Band Perry, Fitz and the Tantrums, the Goo Goo Dolls and Bret Michaels.
Further information about the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series can be found
online at www.RunRocknRoll.com and follow @RunRocknRoll on all social
platforms.
About The IRONMAN Group
As part of Wanda Sports Group, The IRONMAN Group operates a global
portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the
IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock 'n' Roll
Marathon Series®, IRONKIDS®, ITU World Triathlon Series, premier running
events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and The
Sun-Herald City2Surf® presented by Westpac, Ultra-Trail® World Tour events
including Tarawera Ultra and Ultra-Trail Australia™, mountain bike races
including the Absa Cape Epic®, road cycling events, and other multisport
races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation
sports in the world and provides more than a million participants annually
the benefits of endurance sports through the company's vast offerings.
Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN® brand and its first event in
1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing finish
lines around the world. Beginning as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has
grown to become a global sensation with more than 235 events across 55+
countries. For more information, visit www.ironman.com.
About Wanda Sports Group
Wanda Sports Group (Nasdaq: WSG) is a leading global sports events, media
and marketing platform with a mission to unite people in sports and enable
athletes and fans to live their passions and dreams. Through our
businesses, including Infront and The IRONMAN Group, we have significant
intellectual property rights, long-term relationships and broad execution
capabilities, enabling us to deliver unrivalled sports event experiences,
creating access to engaging content and building inclusive communities. We
offer a comprehensive array of events, marketing and media services through
three primary segments: Mass Participation, Spectator Sports and Digital,
Production, Sports Solutions (DPSS). Our full-service platform creates
value for our partners and clients as well as other stakeholders in the
sports ecosystem, from rights owners, to brands and advertisers, and to
fans and athletes. Headquartered in Beijing, China, Wanda Sports Group has
more than 60 offices and 1,600 employees around the world.
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