Winners of the 2018 USATF Marathon Championships to Race the 2019 USATF Half Marathon Championships

By Adam Kopet

Brogan Austin and Emma Bates have been announced as early entrants to the USATF Half Marathon Championships by race organizers, set for May 5.

Both Austin and Bates won last year's USATF Marathon Championships. Austin ran 2:12:38 and Bates ran 2:28:19. The race was Bates' marathon debut.

Austin set a personal best in the half marathon last week at the United Airlines NYC Half, running 1:02:41 for sixth place. Bates also ran a personal best at the NYC Half, running 1:11:13 for fourth. She was the top American finisher.

The USATF Half Marathon Championships are hosted as part of the Pittsburgh Marathon weekend. This is the second year the Half Marathon Championships have been in Pittsburgh. Austin finished 14th in last year's event.