Runs Sixth Fastest Debut Ever

Press Release

HOUSTON (TX), -- January 19, 2015 -- Northern Arizona Elite's Kellyn Taylor ran 2:28:40 and finished sixth place (top American) at Sunday's Chevron Houston Marathon. Taylor's time is the sixth fastest debut ever by an American (tied with Shalane Flanagan) and is the fastest U.S. time ever on the Houston course.

Sunday's race was run in near perfect conditions with low humidity, very little wind and temperatures in the high 40s. Taylor ran with fellow American Serena Burla for nearly 20 miles before pulling away and working her way into the top six overall. Ethiopia's Yebrgual Arage won the race in 2:23:23. For Taylor though, Houston was all about running a fast time and proving that the marathon could be her best event.

"I feel like I've been good at a lot of different distances for a long time," Taylor said. "I want to be great though and I'm hoping the marathon is what I can be great at."

Taylor’s time of 2:28:40 was beaten only five times in all of 2014. Olympians Shalane Flanagan (twice), Desi Linden (twice) and Amy Hastings were the only U.S. women under that mark. With the 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials just over a year away, Taylor has certainly cemented herself as a serious contender to qualify for the U.S. team. Coach Ben Rosario said this is exactly what the Northern Arizona Elite group has been talking about.

"We've said that 2015 is all about putting yourself in position to make the team in 2016," Rosario said. "Kellyn still has a lot of work to do of course, but she can now feel confident that she'll be standing on that line next February with a real shot."

Up next for Taylor will be the USATF Cross Country Championships on February 7 in Boulder, Colo. where she hopes to qualify to represent the U.S. at the 2015 IAAF World Cross Country Championships.

Northern Arizona Elite is a professional sports organization whose mission is to recruit, develop and produce distance runners to compete at the very highest level of international athletics and operate as a successful business by building a global fan base for the team and its athletes through comprehensive and ongoing marketing efforts on a local, national and international level.

To learn more visit www.nazelite.com.