USA HALF-MARATHON RECORDS UNDER SERIOUS THREAT IN HOUSTON ON SUNDAYBy David Monti, @d9monti(c) 2025 Race Outcomes Weekly all rights reserved, used with permission.
HOUSTON (18-Jan) — Ryan Corridor’s USATF half-marathon report of 59:43 was set right here in 2007 on the Aramco Houston Half-Marathon, and regardless of the introduction of “tremendous footwear” in 2016, which use carbon plates to assist propel runners ahead, Corridor’s report 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 informed Race Outcomes Weekly that day. “I used to be simply going with the race tempo I might preserve.”
America’s finest street runners of the final decade –Dathan Ritzenhein, Galen Rupp, Leonard Korir, and Hillary Bor– have been unable to interrupt the report 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 report is unquestionably prime of thoughts.
“There have been lots of races to choose from, however probably the most thrilling one for me was at all times Houston,” Klecker stated at a press convention yesterday. The 28 year-old, who’s coached by 2009 World Half-Marathon Championships bronze medalist Dathan Ritzenhein, is attempting the space for the primary time and needs to run quick. “I’ve seen the sphere and there’s folks on this race who’ve run quicker than that report. So, if I’m going in there and attempt to win, and if I really feel good push for it, it’s potential. From the stuff I’ve completed in coaching I consider it signifies that it’s a doable purpose.”
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 prospect to run quick right here. He referred to as his lead to Valencia an “OK race” and wish to go quicker.
“I used to be left wanting extra,” Pearson stated 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 gained the 2021 USATF Half-Marathon Championships in a private finest 1:00:55, was motivated to run right here based mostly partly on the power of the sphere. He had a terrific yr 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 robust course.
“With this elite area there’s a ton that’s potential,” Mantz stated. “With a area like this you may positively get quick occasions and the American report might go down. A part of the rationale I needed to come back 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 need to be in that race whether or not I’m prepared or not.”
The opposite prime Individuals embrace 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 gained the race twice.
To not be ignored is the opportunity of a USA report on the ladies’s facet. Final yr, Weini Kelati got here to this race and ran a nationwide report 1:06:25 in her debut. She’s again this yr and is able to run quick.
“It was my first half-marathon final yr and I didn’t know the way it was going to be,” stated Kelati, whose final race was a 4:29 street mile in Hawaii in December. She continued: “I’m simply actually excited, and we’ll see how nicely 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 stated. Different prime Individuals embrace 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 circumstances are anticipated right here for Sunday, which can sluggish the race down. On the 6:45 a.m. begin, the temperature ought to be about 35F/2C.
The Aramco Houston Half-Marathon is a World Athletics Gold Label Highway Race. Race winners will obtain $15,000 in prize cash, and breaking the course data (59:22 for males and 1:04:37 for ladies, respectively) is price a $15,000 bonus. American report breakers can earn a bonus of $10,000.
“I actually don’t know what’s potential,” stated Mantz. “It’s a blast. I like competing.”
