University of Richmond Athletics
Spiders Set to Compete in Collegiate Half Marathon
11/21/2015 | Cross Country
NORFOLK, VA – Three current Richmond Spiders and two recent graduates will compete in the 2015 Collegiate Running Association Half Marathon Road Race National Championships scheduled for Sunday November 21st in Norfolk, Virginia. Matt McKenna, Alex Lucking and Johnny Hogue wrapped up the NCAA season last weekend at the NCAA Southeast Region Championships in Charlottesville and look to increase the distance this weekend as they tackle the half marathon (13.1 miles), currently the most popular road race distance in the U.S.
Along with the three current Spiders two recent Richmond graduates will also be competing. 2011 NCAA All-American Steeplechase runner, Andrew Benford (UR'11) will be running as a graduate student for Coconino College in Flagstaff, Arizona, Joining him will be Spider 10,000M record holder and NCAA Championships qualifier, Julie (Rechel) Patterson (UR'11) who is currently pursuing her PharmD/PhD in Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Science at VCU.
Both McKenna and Lucking are coming of a stellar cross country season where they bother earned Atlantic 10 All-Conference honors for their efforts in the 2015 Atlantic 10 Championships where they placed sixth and 14th respectively.
The event has 450 college students representing over 20 states entered in the inaugural Collegiate Half Marathon Road Race National Championships.The race, which will be held as part of the Harbor Lights Half Marathon, has more than 2,500 total registrants set to run through historic downtown Norfolk and along the majestic Hampton Roads Harbor. A $10,000 prize purse will be paid to the top ten men's and women's collegiate finishers, making this the first half marathon to reserve prize money specifically for college students. The race will begin at 7:30am and conclude with a post-race party from 8:30am – 1:00pm.
In addition to the Half Marathon on Sunday morning, the weekend will be filled with exciting events over a three day span in Norfolk. The event kicks off on Friday, November 20 with a Sports & Fitness Expo at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center; Saturday, November 21st features the Chartway 5k and Kids Final Mile hosted by Bon Secours In Motion, and will also have a CRA Elite Runner Forum at 3:00pm at the expo; Sunday, November 22 will conclude with the Half Marathon and post-race party. The events also coincide with the 31st Annual Grand Illumination Parade produced by the Downtown Norfolk Council.
For all the latest news and coverage on Richmond cross country and track & field, be sure to go to RichmondSpiders.com.
More in-depth coverage can be found by following head coach Steve Taylor on Twitter and by reading his blog. The Spiders also have their own Facebook and Instagram pages and have also launched their own YouTube Channel.
Additionally, the Collegiate Running Association will be providing live updates during the race on their Twitter, Instagram and Facebook pages.
