Top American Runners Including Local Talent Will Compete for $100,000+ Prize Purse at the 2023 DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon and UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon

April 20, 2023

Returning champions and record holders Wesley Kiptoo and Caroline Rotich return for the UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon; local runner Nick Wolk to make marathon debut

PITTSBURGH /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Top American runners will compete for a piece of the $102,000 prize purse at this year’s DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon and UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon. Scheduled for May 7, this year’s elite field includes the U.S. Olympian Jared Ward, as well as top local runners Nick Wolk, Nicole Hilton and Margo Malone.

UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon

U.S. Olympian Jared Ward will once again return to Pittsburgh to compete in the UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon after finishing third in last year’s race. He’ll again race last year’s champion and event record holder Wesley Kiptoo and last year’s DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon champion Alvaro Abreu.

“I’m beyond excited to come back to Pittsburgh! Last year felt like I was coming home and I’m excited to return for the race again this year,” Ward said. “The UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon became an instant favorite.”

After taking home top prize in last year’s DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, Nicole Hilton will compete in the UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon and see if her hometown advantage is enough to put her on the podium this year. She will face tough competition from Caroline Rotich, who is the returning champion and event record holder. Lindsay Flanagan, who has a half-marathon personal best of 1:09:50 and represented the U.S. at the 2017 World Marathon Championships, and Neely Gracey, who has a half-marathon personal best of 1:09:59 and recently won the Disney Princess Half Marathon, also will compete in the 13.1-mile race.

“I am very excited to be returning to Pittsburgh this year, a city where I kicked off my running career back in 2014,” Flanagan said. “The course, crowds, and energy are amazing and I am looking forward to a fast, competitive race!”

DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon

Local runner Nick Wolk will make his marathon debut at this year’s DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon. Wolk, a WPIAL cross country champion at Peters Township and former Pitt standout, has dominated the local running scene since graduating. He has won the Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race in 2021 and 2022 and is now ready to see what he can do at 26.2 miles.

“Having competed in distance running for many years, I have been lucky enough to travel to a bunch of cool places to race and compete, but nothing really compares to racing in my hometown,” Wolk said. “Whether it’s the Steelers 5K, Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race, or EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler, the Pittsburgh community always comes out to make an amazing atmosphere. All of the different running communities and neighborhoods make these races such special traditions for me every year, so when I decided to make my debut in the full marathon, the Pittsburgh Marathon was really an easy choice for me.”

Wolk will compete against top American runner Tyler McCandless, who holds a marathon personal best of 2:12:28.

Local runner Margo Malone will compete in the women’s race. A North Hills High School graduate, Malone competed at the U.S. Marathon Olympic Team Trials in 2020. Also toeing the start line this year is Sarah Biehl, who won last year’s Columbus Marathon in 2:39:01.

The 2023 DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon and UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon offers a prize purse totaling $102,000. The top prize for the Pittsburgh Marathon is $7,000 and $10,000 for the Pittsburgh Half Marathon. To view the 2023 prize purse, click here.

Top athletes will be available for a Q&A during the 2023 Race Weekend Kick-off Press Conference at 9:30 a.m. on May 5. For more information about the 2023 DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, go to: ThePittsburghMarathon.com.

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About P3R
P3R is the engine behind Pittsburgh’s greatest races. We strive to inspire any and all to MOVE with us. Best known for organizing the acclaimed annual DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, P3R runs a variety of other high-quality races, events, and health and fitness programs throughout the Pittsburgh region. While many of our races attract some of the nation’s highest-profile professional athletes, we offer activities for all ages and ability levels. Anyone and everyone is invited to #RUNwithP3R! Read more at: P3R.org

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