Olympians, elite runners headline field for 2022 Pittsburgh Marathon | TribLIVE.com

Margo Malone made a name for herself as a distance runner at North Hills High School before continuing to raise her game at Division I Syracuse where she won an ACC title and earned All-American recognition in the 10,000 meters. She moved to Boston to join a professional running team

Thousands of runners and others participated in virtual runs and other activities in 2020 and last year to keep the Pittsburgh Marathon spirit alive in the face of the covid-related in-person cancellations.

Runners from all 50 states and 11 countries will descend on Pittsburgh this weekend and run Sunday in what is expected to be rainy conditions with temperatures in the mid 50s.

“It is great to be back,” said Troy Schooley, the CEO of P3R, the engine behind some of the biggest races in Pittsburgh throughout the year.

“Through the pandemic, we felt a responsibility to keep people moving and active. But there is nothing like Liberty Avenue on race morning. There’s nothing like running with 30,000 others across our bridges and through city neighborhoods. Many people the past two years were running solo on trails and in their neighborhoods. But to have the masses come back and showcase the city, it’s going to be really special.”

The handcycle division starts everything off Sunday morning at 6:50, followed by the half-marathon elite start, featuring a trio of U.S. Olympians, at 6:55.

The full marathon, half-marathon and marathon relay will go off at 7:05.

More than $100,000 in prize money will be doled out to the top finishers in several men’s and women’s races.

“It’s a great field overall and quite an impressive elite field headlined by the Olympians and also a former Boston Marathon winner,” Schooley said. “There is a wide array of ability levels, and our mission statement is to inspire and support any and all to move. We have some of the best movers in the world, and we have some new movers who are going to come out and move with us.”

Source: Olympians, elite runners headline field for 2022 Pittsburgh Marathon | TribLIVE.com

%d bloggers like this: