Some in the 2020 elite field are running their final tune-up before the Olympic Marathon Trials

Elite runners love the 3M Half Marathon course! It’s known for being one of the country’s faster half marathon courses. Elites run 3M Half Marathon presented by Under Armour to secure fast times, obtain PRs, try new hydration/nutrition plans, and/or prepare for the Ascension Seton Austin Marathon or Austin Half Marathon. There are even runners in the 2020 elite field who will run 3M Half Marathon as their final tune-up before the Olympic Marathon Trials in Atlanta! Come out and support these elites as they give their all!

Jess Harper

Harper returns to defend her 2019 3M Half Marathon title! She is the back-to-back female champ (2018-’19). On January 20, 2019, Harper finished with a time of 1:14:23, an 88-second improvement from her 2018 time of 1:15:45. She ran collegiately at The University of Texas from 2011-13. When she’s not traveling, you can find her running around Austin!

Bryan Morton

Morton finished fourth overall at the 2019 3M Half Marathon (1:08:14) even though he had to stop at one point to re-tie his shoe. One month later, he was part of a trio who paced female elites to the Olympic Marathon Trials B Standard at the 2019 Ascension Seton Austin Marathon presented by Under Armour.

Jared Carson

Carson is the 2016 3M Half Marathon champ, winning in 1:08:23. He and his family called Austin home for years before moving to Portland, Oregon. Carson, his wife, and their son visit Austin as often as they can. This will be Carson’s final tune-up before the Olympic Marathon Trials.

Taylor Dare

Dare resides in Fort Worth, Texas, with her husband of two years. She qualified for the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials by running a 2:42:17 at 2019 Grandma’s Marathon. She’s in graduate school working towards her Doctorate of Physical Therapy. Dare runs with Forth Worth Distance Project. She was accepted to the Austin Half Marathon Elite Athlete Program and the Austin Half Marathon will be her final tune-up before the Olympic Marathon Trials.

David Fuentes

Fuentes was on the gold-medal-winning US team at the 2016 World Mountain Running Championships. He also has three Austin Half Marathon titles to his name. Fuentes made his half marathon debut at the 2010 3M Half Marathon. He logs his miles in the morning, is a software developer during the day, and a vintage vehicle restorer by night. This will be Fuentes’ final tune-up before the Olympic Marathon Trials.

Mark Pinales

Pinales is the 2017 3M Half Marathon champ (1:06:51). He was raised in Round Rock, Texas, just north of Austin. Pinales ran at The University of Texas. You can often find him running around town. Pinales also mentors Austin youth and volunteer coaches runners at Austin High.

Cate Barrett

Barrett is a native Austinite who ran the 1500m and 5K for the Baylor Bears track team. You can catch her riding her bike around town or running with her husband Jake, who is a member of the Austin Marathon pacer team. Barrett has a 2:43 marathon PR that she set in 2018. This will be Barrett’s final tune-up before the Olympic Marathon Trials.

Sarah Bishop

Bishop is a former active duty Air Force Lieutenant and current mother of four. She re-started her running career five years ago and qualified for the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials. Bishop recently turned to triathlon and placed second in the 35-39 age group at the 70.3 World Championships. This will be Bishop’s final tune-up before the Olympic Marathon Trials.

Hattie Schunk

Schunk played soccer collegiately at Texas Tech University. She eventually followed her passion and joined the Red Raider cross-country and track teams. She was academic All-Big 12 and a Mountain regional qualifier every year she was on the team. In 2018, Schunk was Tech’s nominee for NCAA Woman of the Year. Like her sister Sofie, Hattie is chasing an Olympic Marathon Trials qualifying time. She is currently is grad school at the University of Texas working towards her PhD in chemical engineering. Sofie is her sister.

Sofie Schunk

Schunk grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as a multi-sport athlete, eventually playing soccer at Marquette University. She was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 16. She has since mastered and controlled her diabetes enough to run a 2:49:07 at 2019 CIM. Schunk is also the co-founder of the Diabetes Sports Project, a platform for others to be active with diabetes without fear. One of her main goals is to qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials while she continues her career in biomedical engineering research. Hattie is her sister.

Kaitlyn Johnson

Johnson is a grad student at the University of Texas studying biomedical engineering. Her research is focused on using math and computational tools to improve how they understand, predict, and optimize cancer treatments. She joined Rogue Running in 2017 and loves being a part of the Austin running community. She ran 1:24:02 at 2018 3M Half Marathon.

Philippe Rolly

Rolly was born in France and moved to the US in 1998. He is a Physical Therapist at Georgetown Hospital and has three kids. In 2018, he was named the USATF Masters LDR Grand Champion in the M45-49 age group. He recently ran a 2:32:18 at 2018 CIM.

Ryan Normand

Normand is originally from Phoenix, Arizona. He now calls Pflugerville home. He ran track and cross-country for Arizona State from 2014-2018. Normand began running marathons and half marathons soon after. He recently ran a 2:29:13 at 2019 Grandma’s Marathon and will compete in the 2019 Austin Marathon elite field.

Ben Munguia

Munguia has called Austin home for 13 years. He’s primarily a triathlete, winning the 2017 Kerrville Triathlon half distance in 4:16:27. He recently ran a 1:16:39 at the 2019 3M Half Marathon. He lives with his wife, their 18-month-old daughter, and his favorite running buddy, Tucker the Vizsla.

Sarah Jackson

Jackson is an Austinite who will run with the 3M Half Marathon elites before she runs in the Austin Marathon elite field. The 2020 Austin Marathon will be her 14th. She ran a 2:58:41 at the 2018 Austin Marathon.