Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon takes new shape as elite series event – The Arizona Republic
Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon takes new shape as elite series event The Arizona Republic
Last February — just three weeks after the 2022 Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon — the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series announced a new half marathon series, labeled as the Elite Series.
The format assigns runners points for their performances across nine Rock ‘n’ Roll half marathons, providing an annual competition for elite runners to contest.
“With the surge in talented runners, we know there’s a crop of gifted athletes who will stand to gain a lot by competing in this new elite level competition across the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series,” Elizabeth O’Brien, Ironman Group’s North America managing director, said at the time. “We’re thrilled to be celebrating and showcasing these extraordinary runners through our new competition both this year and for many years to come.”
This weekend, the new Elite Series rolls into Tempe for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon. Organizers expect approximately 13,000 runners to participate in the events, which begin with a 5K on Saturday and conclude with a 10K, half marathon and full marathon on Sunday.
For runners who have participated in previous iterations of the Arizona marathon, the event will be familiar. The course is, for the most part, the same as last year, although the finish line has been moved from the Mill Avenue Bridge to Tempe Beach Park.
More:Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona marathon 2023: What runners, motorists and fans need to know
The real difference will come for the elite runners.
Even professional marathoners typically only run two full marathons a year, preferring to do so at high-profile events like the Boston, New York, Chicago, London and Berlin marathons. That means that, when professionals compete in events like the Arizona marathon, they typically do so in the half marathon. In order to increase the competitiveness of its half marathons, then, Rock ‘n’ Roll created the Elite Series.
In 2022-23, the Elite Series consists of nine races, beginning with the Las Vegas marathon last February and traveling through D.C., Nashville, Atlantic City, San Diego, San Jose and Savannah. Now, in the final race before next month’s grand finale in Las Vegas, the series heads to Arizona for the first time.
On the men’s side, American Trevor Conde holds a three-point lead over Canadian Justin Kent. Kent, however, is the only man in the top five of the Elite Series rankings who is not running in Tempe, opening up an opportunity for Kenyan Dennis Kipkosgei, who enters in third place, 29 points behind Conde.
The most notable runner in the event, though, is American Jane Bareikis on the women’s side. Bareikis is the 29th-ranked American in the world marathon rankings. She holds a nearly unsurmountable 92-point lead over Canadian Kirsten Lee, who enters in second.
The women’s side of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon is also notable for the absence of Stephanie Bruce. The 38-year-old native Phoenician has long been one of the best distance runners in the country, but had previously announced that last year’s half marathon — which she won — would be her final race in Arizona.
“This is my hometown so to come out here and try to put on a good show for the crowds and have my husband Ben pacing me, it was awesome,” Bruce said then, moments after picking up her third career win in Arizona.