USA HALF-MARATHON RECORDS UNDER SERIOUS THREAT IN HOUSTON ON SUNDAY
By David Monti, @d9monti
(c) 2025 Race Outcomes Weekly all rights reserved, used with permission.
HOUSTON (18-Jan) — Ryan Corridor’s USATF half-marathon file of 59:43 was set right here in 2007 on the Aramco Houston Half-Marathon, and regardless of the introduction of “tremendous sneakers” in 2016, which use carbon plates to assist propel runners ahead, Corridor’s file has but to be damaged. Corridor, now 42, set that mark as a 24 year-old whereas making his half-marathon debut.
“My plan was to simply see how I felt,” Corridor instructed Race Outcomes Weekly that day. “I used to be simply going with the race tempo I may keep.”
America’s greatest highway runners of the final decade –Dathan Ritzenhein, Galen Rupp, Leonard Korir, and Hillary Bor– have been unable to interrupt the file giving Corridor’s mark a legendary high quality. However a brand new crop of athletes are able to strive on the streets of Houston on Sunday, together with Olympians Conner Mantz, Joe Klecker and Morgan Pearson. For them Corridor’s file is unquestionably prime of thoughts.
“There have been lots of races to select from, however essentially the most thrilling one for me was all the time Houston,” Klecker mentioned at a press convention yesterday. The 28 year-old, who’s coached by 2009 World Half-Marathon Championships bronze medalist Dathan Ritzenhein, is making an attempt the gap for the primary time and desires to run quick. “I’ve seen the sphere and there’s folks on this race who’ve run sooner than that file. So, if I’m going in there and attempt to win, and if I really feel good push for it, it’s doable. From the stuff I’ve accomplished in coaching I imagine it signifies that it’s a doable aim.”
Klecker did his build-up with Pearson, an Olympic silver medalist within the triathlon combined relay, who’s a gifted runner. Pearson, 31, ran a 1:01:08 half-marathon in Valencia final October per week after he wrapped up his triathlon season in Malaga. He was clearly excited by the possibility to run quick right here. He referred to as his end in Valencia an “OK race” and wish to go sooner.
“I used to be left wanting extra,” Pearson mentioned of his run in Valencia. He added: “After Valencia, I hope to enhance my time.”
Mantz, 28, the 2024 USA Olympic Trials Marathon champion who received the 2021 USATF Half-Marathon Championships in a private greatest 1:00:55, was motivated to run right here primarily based partially on the power of the sphere. He had a terrific 12 months in 2024 culminating in an eighth place end on the Paris Olympic Marathon and a sixth place displaying on the TCS New York Metropolis Marathon. His time at New York of two:09:00 was the quickest ever by an American on New York’s powerful course.
“With this elite area there’s a ton that’s doable,” Mantz mentioned. “With a area like this you may undoubtedly get quick instances and the American file may go down. A part of the rationale I wished to return right here was it’s a quick course, and you’ve got Morgan and Joe and loads of different elite Individuals operating right here. I wish to be in that race whether or not I’m prepared or not.”
The opposite prime Individuals embody Olympians Clayton Younger (1:01:18 PB) and Hillary Bor (1:01:20), Diego Estrada (1:00:49), Frank Lara (1:01:00), and Futsum Zienasellassie (1:01:21). The quickest worldwide athletes are Jemal Yimer of Ethiopia (58:33 PB), Gabriel Geay of Tanzania (59:42), Abe Gashahun of Ethiopia (59:46), and Wesley Kiptoo of Kenya (1:00:43). Yimer has received the race twice.
To not be missed is the potential of a USA file on the ladies’s facet. Final 12 months, Weini Kelati got here to this race and ran a nationwide file 1:06:25 in her debut. She’s again this 12 months and is able to run quick.
“It was my first half-marathon final 12 months and I didn’t know the way it was going to be,” mentioned Kelati, whose final race was a 4:29 highway mile in Hawaii in December. She continued: “I’m simply actually excited, and we’ll see how properly I can race as a result of coaching has been actually, actually good. And I’m simply excited to be right here.”
Amanda Vestri, who ran 1:08:12 in her half-marathon debut in Orlando final month, can also be operating right here, however doesn’t anticipate to be difficult Kelati, she mentioned. Different prime Individuals embody Natosha Rogers (1:09:36 PB), Lindsay Flanagan (1:09:37), Lauren Hagens (1:09:41), and Susanna Sullivan (1:09:42). The quickest worldwide ladies are Buze Diriba of Ethiopia (1:06:24) and Jessica Warner-Judd of Nice Britain (1:07:07).
Chilly and windy situations are anticipated right here for Sunday, which can sluggish the race down. On the 6:45 a.m. begin, the temperature must be about 35F/2C.
The Aramco Houston Half-Marathon is a World Athletics Gold Label Street Race. Race winners will obtain $15,000 in prize cash, and breaking the course information (59:22 for males and 1:04:37 for girls, respectively) is value a $15,000 bonus. American file breakers can earn a bonus of $10,000.
“I actually don’t know what’s doable,” mentioned Mantz. “It’s a blast. I really like competing.”
