Mantz to Debut, Kemp and Morley Vie for Circuit Title at USATF Half Marathon Championships

USATF Release

HARDEEVILLE, S.C. – Reigning NCAA Cross Country champion Conner Mantz debuts over the half marathon distance, while Erika Kemp and Makena Morley battle for the USATF Running Circuit title Sunday morning at the USATF Half Marathon Championships presented by Toyota, hosted by the Mortgage Network Half Marathon in Hardeeville, South Carolina.

The USATF Half Marathon Championships are the ninth and final stop on the 2021 USATF Running Circuit presented by Toyota. On demand race videos for Sunday’s event will be available on USATF.TV shortly after the races conclude, available with a +PLUS subscription.

Two weeks after winning the NCAA Cross Country Championships, for the second time, Conner Mantz is poised to test himself over the 13.1 mile distance. The BYU standout enters Sunday’s contest not only having won a NCAA title last month, but he’s also coming off a fifth place effort in the 10,000m at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track and Field during the summer.

While Mantz offers plenty of pre-race intrigue, the deep and talented field has a plethora of athletes fully capable of coming away victorious over the flat and fast course.

Sam Chelanga seeks his second USATF title of the USATF Running Circuit season, as well as moving up in the standings. Chelanga won the USATF 10 km Championships earlier this year, as well as finishing second at the USATF 25 km Championships, those performances in addition to placing eighth in the 10,000m at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

Chelanga currently sits in a tie for third with Fred Huxham in the USATF Running Circuit standings with 30 points. Abbibiya Simbassa earned a first place finish in the overall standings with 77 points, while Clayton Young ranks second with 37 points. Neither runner is competing Sunday in South Carolina, giving Chelanga an opportunity to finish second overall with a strong performance.

Another top contender is 2016 Olympian Leonard Korir. Korir has had a very quiet 2021 campaign, but the two-time USATF Half Marathon champion has shined over the half marathon distance and brings plenty of experience to the course Sunday. Korir is technically the defending champion in the event, since there was no USATF Half Marathon Championships in 2020.

Futsum Zienasellassie enters Sunday’s contest coming off a runner-up finish at the USATF 25 km Championships. Zienasellassie placed fifth at the 2019 USATF Half Marathon Championships and has proven he can challenge for the win.

Zienasellassie is joined by Nico Montanez, Augustus Maiyo, and Sydney Gidabuday, who all have impressive top three USATF Running Circuit performances this season. Montanez placed third at the USATF 20 km Championships, as well as fourth at the USATF 15 km Championships. He’s also coming off a seventh place showing at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. 

Maiyo, a notable USATF Running Circuit veteran, placed second at the USATF 10 Mile Championships, while Gidabuday enters the race coming off a runner-up showing at the USATF 5 km Championships last month.

Reigning USATF 1 Mile Road champion Eric Avila tests his talent over the half marathon distance, while USATF 10 Mile Championship fourth place finisher Frank Lara also is fully capable of challenging for a top three finish in Hardeeville.

In the women’s race, all eyes will be on the ensuing battle between Kemp and Morley. Kemp currently leads the USATF Running Circuit overall standings with 56.5 points. Emily Durgin, who is not racing Sunday, sits second with 49 points, while Morley is third with 47.5 points. With Sunday’s race offering 1.5 times the number of points - 22.5 points to the winner instead of a normal total of 15, for example – the battle for the overall circuit victory is going to be tight.

2017 USATF Half Marathon champion Natosha Rogers is also in the field and looking to mix it up for the win. Rogers is having a good 2021 campaign, having finished seventh in the 10,000m at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. She placed fourth at the USATF 5 km Championships last month and brings a wealth of experience into Sunday’s contest.

Keira D’Amato is another marquee name on the start list. D’Amato will be doubling back from an impressive fourth place performance at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in October, where she ran 2:28:22. She’s yet to run a half marathon this year, but is in prime shape to contest her 1:10:01 personal best.

2016 Olympic triathlon gold medalist Gwen Jorgensen is entered, as well. Having changed training locations this season, Jorgensen is looking to take another step forward on the roads. Jorgensen placed fourth at the USATF Half Marathon Championships. 

Another top three contender is Allie Kieffer. Kieffer placed fifth at the USATF 25 km Championships back in late-October, which came off a winning performance at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Broad Street Run two weeks prior. She’ll be joined by Dakotah Lindwurm, who was the third American to cross the line at the Boston Marathon two months ago, finishing in 2:31:04.

USATF Running Circuit veterans Maggie Montoya, Annemarie Tuxbury, Susanna Sullivan, and Aisling Cuffe are four others ready to challenge for top five finishes. Montoya has two top ten USATF Running Circuit performances to her name this year, as do Tuxbury and Sullivan. Cuffe placed fifth at the USATF 20 km Championships and is making her debut over the half marathon distance.

On demand race videos, results, and post-race interviews will be available shortly after the race in cooperation with RunnerSpace.com. Join the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #USARC.

About the USATF Running Circuit

The USATF Running Circuit is a USATF road series featuring USATF championships from one mile through the marathon and consistently attracts the best American distance runners with more than $500,000 to be awarded in total prize money. A total of $40,000 in prize money will be awarded at the USATF Half Marathon Championships.

The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USATF Running Circuit race. For the USATF Half Marathon Championships, scoring is set as 22.5 for first, 18 for second, 15 for third, 10.5 , 9, 7.5, 6, 4.5, 3 and 1.5, with those earning the most points receiving prize money at the end of the series.

The mission of the USATF Running Circuit is to showcase, support and promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USATF Running Circuit and its races have provided over $7 million to U.S. distance runners.

Contributed by Scott Bush