HOUSTON (December 30, 2016) – The Houston Marathon Committee announced today the 41 athletes who will comprise the local elite field at the 2017 Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon. Race weekend is set for January 13-15, 2017.
Local Elite status in the 2017 Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon is awarded to the first local finisher per category who achieves the minimum qualifying standards in the 2016 Chevron Houston Marathon and each of the 2016 selected local qualifying races – the Space City 10 Miler, the Luke’s Locker Half Marathon, the HMSA Classical 25K and the Fort Bend Kia 30K.

“Recognition of the best local athletes has been a pillar of our elite program for almost 25 years, and its tie-in to the Houston Area Road Runners Association’s Marathon Warm-up Series events goes back almost as far,” said Chevron Houston Marathon Race Director and Board President Brant Kotch. “The Houston metropolitan area has a terrific history of nurturing talented distance runners and many of them have passed through the Houston Marathon’s invited local elite program. They’re obviously a competitive bunch and our elite athlete committee is always on top of the results of each Warm-up Series race to see who has won the right to enjoy the perks afforded our elite athletes in the upcoming Chevron Houston Marathon.”

To be considered eligible as a “local” for the Local Elite Program, runners must be able to prove permanent residence in one of the following 19 counties from the period beginning January 17, 2016 through race day January 15, 2017: Austin; Brazoria; Chambers; Fort Bend; Galveston; Grimes; Hardin; Harris; Jefferson; Liberty; Matagorda; Montgomery; Orange; Polk; San Jacinto; Walker; Waller; Washington; and Wharton.

Perks of the Local Elite Program include complimentary entry into the Chevron Houston Marathon or Aramco Houston Half Marathon, special elite athlete check-in and packet pick-up, along with a pre-race technical meeting hosted by the senior director of the Elite Athlete Program. Local elites are also granted access to the Elite Hospitality Suite for snacks and pre-race fueling and invited to the elite athlete pre-race dinner on Saturday evening. On race day, they will take a shuttle to the elite athlete start line tent and will be given a priority location on the start line, just behind the elite field. Following the race, local elites will have access to indoor post-race facilities to stretch and cool down, receive a massage and nourishment.

Entrants in the field this year include 2003 Chevron Houston Marathon champion Sean Wade, 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier Megan Saloom and two-time World Championships participant Mary Davies of New Zealand, who lives and trains in Houston.
2016 Chevron Houston Marathon
Men
Women
Open
 Austin Roth
 Megan Saloom
40-49
 Michael Defee
 Laura Bennett
50-59
 Francisco Garza
Lilia Vasquez
60-69
Jerry Hammervold
 Carole Uttecht
70+
 –
–
Other Local Invited Runners
Men
Women
Most Houston Marathon Finishes
Jack Lippincott
Maria Camacho
2003 Houston Marathon Men’s Open Winner
Sean Wade
2016 Space City 10 Miler
Men
Women
Open
Drew Bean
 Mary Davies
40-49
Luis Armenteros
Catherine Kruppa
50-59
 Dan Byrne
 Allyson Serrao
60-69
 Peter Mullin
 Sabra Harvey
70-79
 –
 –
2016 Luke’s Locker Half Marathon
Men
Women
Open
Zach Cater-Cyker
Lauren Stroud
40-49
 Peter Lawrence
Stacy Holden
50-59
 Wilmer Bustillos
Barbara Stoll
60-69
Joe Melanson
Billie Kay Melanson
70+
 –
 Susan Waldau
2016 HMSA Classical 25K
Men
Women
Open
 Ryan Smith
Jackie Tobin
40-49
Gabor Olah
  –
50-59
Sim Cuevas
Suzy