Aaron Braun Added To St. Louis Half Field
He's clocked 62 minutes for the distance.
He’s clocked 62 minutes for the distance.
From: Running USA
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – GO! St. Louis, a local not-for-profit organization that specializes in providing fitness events and programs for the region on a year-round basis, announced that Aaron Braunhas been added to the men’s elite field for the GO! St. Louis Half Marathon presented by PNC Bank. Athletes will be vying for a $10,000 top prize, which is one of the largest in the U.S.
Braun has a long list of credentials including a fifth-place finish over 10,000 meters at last summer’s U.S. Olympic Trials and a 1 hour, 2 minute, 52 second debut half-marathon this past January. He trains in Flagstaff, Ariz. with the adidas-McMillanElite team, and joins a strong field that includes fellow Flagstaff residents Matt Llano and Danny Mercado as well as past GO! St. Louis champions Daniel Kirwa (2012), Josphat Boit (2011) and Mario Macias(2010).
“Adding Aaron Braun to our previously announced elite field is a tremendous bonus,” said Nancy Lieberman, GO! St. Louis president. “We wanted to give an opportunity to up-and-coming athletes and Aaron is someone who is right on the cusp of being America’s next big star.”
Braun is no stranger to Saint Louis, having finished second at the 2012 USA Cross Country Championships in Forest Park. In November he won the overall title and tied the course record at the historic Manchester Road Race on Thanksgiving Day. He has personal bests of 3:39 for 1500 meters, 13:20 for 5,000 meters and 27:41 for 10,000 meters in addition to his 1:02:52 for the Half Marathon
“I’m really excited about coming back to Saint Louis to be a part of a great race,” Braun said. “The distance, course and competition all seem to be the perfect combination to kick off my spring racing season.”
The elite fields for this year’s race will be a major part of the entire GO! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend, which was established in 2000, and is now in its 13th year. The innovative event features a marathon, half-marathon, marathon relay, 5K, GO! St. Louis Read, Right and Run Marathon®, Children’s Fun Runs and a Mature Mile, and traditionally draws 25,000 participants and 50,000 spectators over two days. The 2013 event is set for Saturday and Sunday, April 6 & 7.
For the complete list of elite athletes confirmed to compete in the 2013 GO! St. Louis Half Marathon, visit http://www.gostlouis.org/marathon-weekend/about/elite-athlete-program.html or follow @GORUNSTL on Twitter.