The SLO Marathon and Half Marathon has announced its elite fields that include four past race champions – Maggie Yount (2016 Marathon), Van McCarty (2012 Marathon), Joe Thorne (2013 Marathon & 2014, 2016 Half Marathon) and Ben Bruce (2015 Half Marathon) plus local talent Brandon Messerly, Luke Letwin, Connor Blalock and Erin Tracht. The 6th SLO Marathon + Half event edition, an Endurance Town USA running tradition produced by Race SLO, will be held on Saturday & Sunday, April 29-30.
“With new Marathon and Half Marathon courses for our 6th edition and top fields including four past champions, our event records will be challenged if not broken again,” said Samantha Pruitt, Race SLO Founder and CEO. “On Sunday, April 30 in Endurance Town USA, we expect some great competition in both races.”
In the 26.2 mile race, top Master, local favorite and inaugural SLO Marathon champion Van McCarty, 46, (San Luis Obispo) faces 2016 runner-up Bihama Vedaste (San Jose, CA), Timothy Comay (Walnut Creek, CA) and David Campa (San Luis Obispo). Defending champion and event record holder Maggie Yount, 32, from San Mateo, CA and 2015-16 runner-up Carri Arrieta, 50, (Moreno Valley, CA) are the top women expected.
In the 13.1 mile race, event record holder Joe Thorne from nearby Grover Beach will defend his title against 2015 champion and Cal Poly alumni Ben Bruce, 2010 USA Marathon national champion Sergio Reyes (Palmdale, CA), 2016 runner-up Brandon Messerly (San Luis Obispo), Justin Patananan (Lancaster, CA), Luke Letwin (San Luis Obispo), Connor Blalock (San Luis Obispo) and Juan Ricardo Jaquez (Mexico), third last year. For the women, 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials qualifiers Jenny Kadavy (Clayton, CA) and Molly Friel, 49, (Fresno, CA), 2016 runner-up Erin Tracht (San Luis Obispo) and Nicole Meyer (Palo Alto, CA) are the top entrants.
Last year, event records were set in the Marathon by Maggie Yount (2:50:06) and the Half Marathon by local star Joe Thorne (1:10:50).
The 2017 prize money, presented by Race SLO, totals $3150 and will be awarded to the top three per gender in the Marathon ($600, $300 and $150) and Half Marathon ($300, $150 and $75). Post-race, the top three will be recognized on the podium at the finish line festival, while the Marathon champions will also receive a unique engraved antique cow bell, an event tradition.
In addition, there will be $2000 in bonus money available per the below:
To register for the Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K or children’s races, view course maps, volunteer, event schedule or for additional event information, go to: www.slomarathon.com