50 Elite Runners to Compete in New Half Marathon Elite Series Kicking Off at Rock ‘N’ Roll Running Series Las Vegas
February 25, 2022
2022 Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Las Vegas is the first of eight events in the new Half Marathon Elite Series offering a $15,000 prize purse and points towards Elite Beat Rankings
LAS VEGAS, Nev. /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – When Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series Las Vegas makes it return this weekend following a two-year hiatus, 50 elite runners from around the world will be vying for a share of the $15,000 prize purse as well as Elite Beat Rankings (EBR) in the first edition of the brand-new Rock ‘n’ Roll Elite™ half marathon series. The series begins at the 2022 Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Las Vegas on February 26-27 and culminates in a grand finale at the 2023 edition of Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas.
“The Elite Series is definitely really motivating for us athletes who are already familiar with Rock ‘n Roll and involved in the experience to keep competing and participating,” said Mo’ath Alkhawaldeh, 2021 Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Washington D.C. Half Marathon champion and head coach of the Princeton University Track Club. “This will help us stay on track to reach our own personal goals. I personally appreciate that Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series is investing in athletes around the country to help them reach their potential. When I was a kid in Jordan, I used to see Vegas on TV and I never imagined that I would be running a race there. For me it’s all about the energy and the atmosphere of the place.”
The recently announced Rock ‘n’ Roll Elite half marathon series will take place across eight North America Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series events. Contested across the half marathon distances, each of the events will offer a prize purse awarded to the top 3 Male and Female elite finishers, as well as points towards the Elite Beat Rankings (EBR), earning the opportunity to compete for the bonus pool in the grand finale. The new competition aims at offering world-class runners the opportunity to showcase their talents and profile on a consistent series wide scale. Athletes from across the world will converge in Las Vegas to toe the start line of many of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series events while running toward notoriety and prize purses.
Elite Women’s Field
The women’s field will be highlighted by Olympic Trials qualifier Danae Dracht (Los Angeles, Calif.), hometown star Ellie Stevens (Las Vegas, Nevada) and Kirsten Lee (Canada). Leading a strong contingent of Masters athletes is U.S. Half Marathon champion Sylvia Mosqueda (Las Vegas, Nev.). Below is the women’s start list for the 2022 Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Las Vegas:
BIB | FIRST | LAST | COUNTRY REP |
50 | Danae | Dracht | USA (United States of America) |
51 | Stevens | Ellie | USA (United States of America) |
52 | Krystalanne | Curwood | USA (United States of America) |
53 | Heather | McKirdy | USA (United States of America) |
54 | Sylvia | Mosqueda | USA (United States of America) |
55 | Nikol | Strother | USA (United States of America) |
56 | Marissa | Ward | USA (United States of America) |
57 | Joann | Marinkovich | USA (United States of America) |
58 | Tracy | Campagnano | USA (United States of America) |
59 | Susan | Hahn | USA (United States of America) |
60 | Andee | Swann | USA (United States of America) |
61 | Rosalva | Bonilla | USA (United States of America) |
63 | Kirsten | Lee | CAN (Canada) |
Elite Men’s Field
The men’s field will be highlighted by Canadian Justin Kent (Canada), and 2021 Rock ‘n’ Roll Washington D.C. champion Mo’ath Alkhawaldeh (Jordan). The Masters field boasts a strong contingent lead by Rock ’n’ Roll ambassador and champion Roosevelt Cook and a newcomer to the series Chris McDonald a 7x IRONMAN triathlon champion. The men’s start list for the 2022 Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Las Vegas:
BIB | FIRST | LAST | COUNTRY REP |
2 | Justin | Kent | CAN (Canada) |
3 | Moath | Alkhawaldeh | JOR (Jordan) |
4 | Andy | Wacker | USA (United States of America) |
5 | John | Börjesson | SWE (Sweden) |
6 | Timothy | Robertson | NZL (New Zealand) |
7 | Magnus | Dewett | DNK (Denmark) |
8 | Meng-Tsung | Chu | TWN (Taiwan, Province of China) |
9 | Oscar | Caltenco Abriz | MEX (Mexico) |
10 | Roosevelt | Cooke | USA (United States of America) |
11 | John | Gutierrez | USA (United States of America) |
12 | Tyler | Hiserote | USA (United States of America) |
13 | Angel | Ramirez | USA (United States of America) |
14 | Jace | Nye | USA (United States of America) |
15 | Zachary | Barker | USA (United States of America) |
16 | Dominic | Henriques | USA (United States of America) |
17 | Lupe | Cabada | USA (United States of America) |
18 | Dylan | Sykes | USA (United States of America) |
19 | Robby | Webster | USA (United States of America) |
20 | Chip | O’Hare | USA (United States of America) |
21 | Albert | Wint | USA (United States of America) |
22 | David | Cisewski | USA (United States of America) |
23 | Ayoub | Touil | USA (United States of America) |
24 | Devin | Mancuso | USA (United States of America) |
25 | Nathan | O’Connor | USA (United States of America) |
26 | Anthony | Giuliano | USA (United States of America) |
27 | Israel | Arroyo | MEX (Mexico) |
28 | Pedro | Gomes | PRT (Portugal) |
29 | Paul | Mitchinson | GBR (United Kingdom of Great Britain ) |
30 | Chris | McDonald | USA (United States of America) |
31 | Alberto Jesus | Barajas Flores | MEX (Mexico) |
32 | Jeff | Mescal | USA (United States of America) |
33 | Eric | Capostagno | USA (United States of America) |
34 | Steven | Page | USA (United States of America) |
35 | Konstantin | Loguinov | USA (United States of America) |
36 | Kenny | Miller | USA (United States of America) |
37 | John | Borrego | USA (United States of America) |
38 | Ryan | Kwiecinski | USA (United States of America) |
An ongoing leaderboard will be posted on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Elite athlete page and updated after each series event.
For more information on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Elite Running Competition visit: www.runrocknroll.com/elite-athlete-program.
For more information on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series, please visit www.runrocknroll.com. Media may contact press@runrocknroll.com.
###
About Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series
The Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series is the world’s largest running series taking part in destination locations around the world every year. Established in 1998, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series simple idea of making running fun has transformed both the U.S. and global running landscape by infusing the course with live bands, cheer teams, and entertaining water stations, creating a block-party atmosphere for participants and spectators alike. Focused on running, music and community, race weekend kicks off with a free Health & Fitness Expo showcasing the latest in running gear, sports apparel, health and nutritional information and much more. Events culminate with an Encore Entertainment experience featuring eclectic musical artists from a variety of genres. With a goal of helping participants find the Beat in Their Feet™, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series has also featured some of the biggest names in music, with past performances including the likes of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, O.A.R., Aloe Blacc, Pitbull, Flo Rida, The Band Perry, Fitz and the Tantrums, the Goo Goo Dolls, Bret Michaels, Kesha, The Revivalists, Hunter Hayes, Capital Cities, and Matt Nathanson. Further information about the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series can be found online at www.RunRocknRoll.com and follow @RunRocknRoll on all social platforms.
About The IRONMAN Group
The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® Virtual Racing™ (VR™) Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Virtual Running™ Series, IRONKIDS®, World Triathlon Championship Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and The Sun-Herald City2Surf®, Ultra-Trail® World Tour events including Tarawera Ultra and Ultra-Trail Australia™, mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic®, road cycling events including Haute Route®, and gravel racing like Gravel Epic®, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation sports in the world and provides more than a million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN® brand and its first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing finish lines around the world. Beginning as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with hundreds of events across 55+ countries. The IRONMAN Group is owned by Advance, a private, family-owned business. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group.
About Advance
Advance is a private, family-held business that owns and invests in companies across media, entertainment, technology, communications, education and other promising growth sectors. Our mission is to build the value of our companies over the long-term by fostering growth and innovation. Advance’s portfolio includes Condé Nast, Advance Local, Stage Entertainment, The IRONMAN Group, American City Business Journals, Leaders Group, Turnitin, 1010data and Pop. Together these operating companies employ more than 17,000 people in 29 countries. Advance is also among the largest shareholders in Charter Communications, Discovery and Reddit. For more information visit www.advance.com.