HOUSTON (December 23, 2015) – The 44th edition of the Chevron Houston Marathon Race Weekend features stacked fields in both the Chevron Houston Marathon and the Aramco Houston Half Marathon. Race-day for the 2016 Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon is Sunday, January 17.

“The group that our Elite Athlete Committee has assembled, including a two-time men’s marathon winner and the second and third place finishers from last year’s women’s marathon, are undoubtedly capable of high-level performances and we can only hope for optimal conditions,” said Chevron Houston Marathon Race Director and Board President Brant Kotch. “We are also particularly eager to see what the international stars can do on our half marathon course: we have Boston Marathon and World Championships Marathon winners on display in those races. All of the races have the potential to be lightning-fast.”

2015 Chevron Houston Marathon champion Birhanu Gedefa returns to the field in 2016 to defend his title, while two-time Chevron Houston Marathon champion Bazu Worku returns after a one year hiatus. Out to challenge them will be 2015 Daegu Marathon champion Girmay Birhanu Gebru of Ethiopia, who owns a personal best of 2:05:49 from his third-place finish at the 2014 Dubai Marathon.

2015 Chevron Houston Marathon runner-up Guteni Shone leads the pack in the women’s field and will be chased by 2015 Chevron Houston Marathon third-place finisher Biruktait Degefa.

2015 Boston Marathon champion Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia leads the way in the men’s Aramco Houston Half Marathon field. Desisa owns a half marathon personal best of 59:36 from his winning time at the 2014 RAK Half Marathon. Compatriot Mosinet Geremew, who has a personal best of 59:11, will look to challenge him. 2015 Aramco Houston Half Marathon champion Diego Estrada, who has a personal best of 60:51 from that race, is the top American in the field.

2015 IAAF World Marathon champion and Boston Marathon runner-up Mare Dibaba, who owns a half marathon personal best of 1:07:13, is a top contender in the women’s Aramco Houston Half Marathon. 2014 IAAF World Half Marathon Chamionships silver medalist Mary Wacera of Kenya and compatriot Cynthia Limo, who is #20 on the all-time on the women’s half marathon list, will also be in contention. 2014 Boston Marathon runner-up Buzunesh Deba, who owns a half marathon personal best of 1:08:59, is also entered.

Men’s Marathon:
Ben Ashkettle (New Zealand)
Yitayal Atanfu (Ethiopia)
Girmay Birhanu Gebru (Ethiopia)
Sage Canaday (USA)
Steve Chu (USA)
Thomas Frazer (Ireland)
Birhanu Gedefa (Ethiopia)
Jovanny Godinez (USA)
Artur Kozlpwski (Poland)
Duncan Kwemboi (Ethiopia)
Mario Macias (USA)
Daniel Mesfun (Eritrea)
Pardon Ndhlovu (Zimbabwe)
Dominic Ondoro (Kenya)
Bazu Worku (Ethiopia)

Women’s Marathon:
Polina Carlson (Russia)*
Ayantu Dakebo (Ethiopia)
Sechale Dalasa (Ethiopia)
Jovana De La Cruz (Peru)
Biruktait Degefa (Ethiopia)
Rachel Hannah (Canada)
Ariana Hilborn (Latvia)
Liina Luik (Estonia)
Leila Luik (Estonia)
Faviola Perez Igari (Mexico)
Dayna Pidhoresky (Canada)
Emily Samoei (Kenya)
Guteni Shone (Ethiopia)
Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton (Kenya)
Lisa Weightman (Australia)

*Has no affiliation with Russian Athletic Federation and is clear to compete.

Men’s Half Marathon:
Mo Ahmed (Canada)
George Alex (USA)
Tom Anderson (Great Britain)
Kyle Brady (USA)
Sylas Chebogel (Kenya)
Josh Dedering (USA)
Lelisa Desisa (Ethiopia)
Jeffrey Eggleston (USA)
Diego Estrada (USA)
Ben Fletcher (USA)
Tanner Fruit (USA)
Samson Gebreyohannes (Eritrea)
Abdi Ali Gelchu (Ethiopia)
Mosinet Geremew (Ethiopia)
Patrick Gomez (USA)
Griffith Graves (USA)
Mo Hrezi (USA)
Cory Keehn (USA)
Sean Keveren (USA)
Craig Leon (USA)
Brandon Lord (Canada)
Nelson Mokori Oyugi (Kenya)
Tommy Neal (USA)
Ben Payne (USA)
Luke Puskedra (USA)
Phillip Reid (USA)
Patrick Rizzo (USA)
Biya Simbassa (USA)
Ismail Ssenyange (Uganda)
Christian Thomspon (USA)
Carlos Trujillo (USA)
Jacob Wanjuki (Kenya)
Rob Watson (Canada)
Matt Williams (USA)
Jason Witt (USA)

Women’s Half Marathon:
Ruti Aga (Ethiopia)
Obsie Birru (USA)
Juliet Bottoroff (USA)
Serena Burla (USA)
Buzunesh Deba (Ethiopia)
Misiker Demissie (Ethiopia)
Colleen De Reuck (USA)
Mare Dibaba (Ethiopia)
Krista Duchene (Canada)
Lindsay Flanagan (USA)
Emily Gordon (USA)
Alia Gray (USA)
Maegan Krifchin (USA)
Cynthia Limo (Kenya)
Katie Matthews (USA)
Samantha McClellan (USA)
Katy Moen (USA)
Sarah Pagano (USA)
Meghan Peyton (USA)
Simret Restle (Germany)
Jen Rhines (USA)
Mona Stockhecke (Germany)
Susanna Sullivan (USA)
Mary Wacera (Kenya)
Katherine Ward (USA)
Jessica Watychowicz (USA)
Anna Weber (USA)
Nazret Weldu (Eritrea)
Kelly Williamson (USA)

For complete information on the 2016 Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon, please visit https://www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com/marathon.