Gwen Jorgensen’s next step: U.S. Half Marathon Championships

It’s back to the roads as Gwen Jorgensen’s running career continues

As you would expect, we have been and will continue to follow the progress of 2016 Olympic Triathlon champion, Gwen Jorgensen, following her switch to running, targeting the Olympic Games Marathon at Tokyo 2020.

Following the birth her son, Stanley, Gwen has so far raced twice – an indoor 5,000m race in Seattle, and an outdoor 10,000m event at Stanford.

RELATED: GWEN JORGENSEN’S OLYMPIC MARATHON PROSPECTS

After that Stanford race, Jorgensen said that she was keen to run on the roads over the half marathon distance – and that wish will be met on Sunday 6th at the USATF Half Marathon Championships in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

I am very excited to be making my half marathon debut at the USATF Half Marathon Championships, hosted by @PGHMarathon. I look forward to testing my limits in this new distance. pic.twitter.com/RvrjuuOPf6

— Gwen Jorgensen (@gwenjorgensen) April 24, 2018

“I am very excited to be making my half marathon debut at the USATF Half Marathon Championships, hosted by the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon and P3R, and look forward to testing my limits in this new distance” Jorgensen said. “I heard the course is fast with some inclines across five bridges, finishing with a tough climb. The course also goes past the Penguins stadium, and although I have never been to Pittsburgh, I am a Penguins fan.”

Prospects?

Jorgensen isn’t a complete stranger to U.S. road race championships – in 2016 she finished third in their 10-mile championships with a time of 53:13, 24 seconds behind race winner Jordan Hasay. Hasay went on to finish third at both the Boston and Chicago Marathon’s in 2017, clocking a PB of 2:20:57 in the Windy City.

While one can speculate on Gwen’s time potential over the half marathon (perhaps in the 1:10 to 1:11 range would be my current estimate), my guess would that this would be very much a ‘race’ rather than a time trial. For good reason too – while the venue changes, the championship over the last 10 years has been won in times ranging from 1:09:41 through to 1:11:57 – with an average winning time of 1:10:45.

With $15,000 on offer to the winner – and $8000/ $5000 for second and third – expect Jorgensen to be racing for the podium. A podium, or win, which is a quite realistic target.