Strong American Field Expected at UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon

With an overall Open prize purse of $34,500 plus an additional $14,500 available to Americans, U.S. runners are drawn to Pittsburgh’s inaugural American Development Program tied to the UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon, slated for Sunday, May 4.

The men’s elite field promises tough competition and opportunities to better personal bests on the challenging 13.1 mile course. Ian Burrell - member of the adidas/Boulder Running Company - leads the American men with a personal best of 1 hour, 2 minutes, 51 seconds as well as the top American finish at the 2014 Chevron Houston Marathon, clocking 2:13:26, a PR.

Other notable competitors in the men’s UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon field include:

• Benjamin Sathre, 24, of Chaska, Minn. and member of Team USA Minnesota finished in 1:04:51 at the 2014 USA Half Marathon Championships in Houston, TX.
• Fidele Jefferson, 37, of Flagstaff, Ariz. is taking the American field by storm with a 2:15:19 finish at the 2013 Bank of America Chicago Marathon and winning the 2013 Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon in 1:06:17.
• Chase Pizzonia, 28, of Bronx, N.Y. returns from 2 months of altitude training in Kenya to compete in Pittsburgh. After setting his PR of 1:07:15 at the 2012 Philadelphia Half Marathon, he plans to better his 1:09:55 performance from the 2013 ING Hartford Half Marathon.
• Christopher Post, 26, of Jacksonville, Fla. and graduate of the University of Virginia will be debuting at the UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon with hopes of clocking in under 1:11:00.

The women’s field also guarantees a competitive finish to the UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon with Lindsey Scherf leading the stream of qualified runners. After flying through the 2012 NYC Half Marathon in 1:11:45, the Harvard graduate finished first at the 2013 Publix Super Markets Gasparilla Distance Classic Half Marathon in 1:13:08 and is coming back to Pittsburgh following her fourth place overall finish at the 2013 EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler.

Other top competitors in the women’s field are:

• Emily Hulme, 30, of Havertown, Pa. will vie for a top finish in Pittsburgh after setting her personal record of 1:16:51 at the 2013 Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon.
• Jennifer Bigham, 33, of Pittsburgh, Pa. will be running her inaugural hometown race. A Team Oiselle member, Bigham set her personal best at the 2011 Rochester Half Marathon in 1:18:04.
• Sallie Ford, 27, of Jacksonville, Fla. is ready to compete after finishing strongly at the 2013 Richmond Half Marathon in 1:18:25, with a personal best of 1:18:14 at the same event in 2012.
• Heather Lieberg, 35, of Helena, Mont. qualified for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials with a “B” standard time of 2:39:53 at the 2013 California International Marathon. She will be debuting in the half marathon distance on May 4.

For more information about the American Development Program, go to: PittsburghMarathon.com/American_Development_Program.