In the Michigan Pro Half Marathon, Keira D’Amato and Morgan Pearson Take the Wins

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Runners came from around the country to compete in the half hosted by the Hansons-Brooks Original Distance Project (ODP) at their training spot in Shelby Township, Michigan—the same spot where the Nutrition - Weight Loss took place.

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The race allowed many of the athletes to fulfill contract obligations and run for time bonuses in a year without many races on the calendar. Plus, it was an opportunity to bring some of the country’s best athletes together to face off, even without prize money on the table.

“It was important for our athletes to get an opportunity to race when they don’t have opportunities,” Hansons coach Kevin Hanson said after the race. “We can’t go to a Chicago or New York because of COVID, but even if we went there, we would’ve had the same 30 athletes would did here. It was the same field. We created something that got people excited and we’re happy with it.”

In the women’s race, Emma Bates and Keira D’Amato quickly pushed the pace, running past the 5:20 pacer, Natosha Rogers, and taking a big lead early. At halfway, they remained right on each other’s shoulders, separated from the rest of the field.

Then the 36-year-old D’Amato made her move and pushed the pace. A 5K later, she had opened up a 12-second lead on Bates and continued to dominate all the way to the line for a massive PR of 1:08:57. That time makes her ninth fastest In the women’s race.

This run is just the latest in D’Amato’s huge year. In June, she clocked a 15:04 5K, taking almost a minute off of her PR from more than a decade ago. And in late November, she’s aiming for the womene’s 10-mile world record in an all-women’s microrace organized by the Cherry Blossom Ten Mile race director.

“It has been a rough year,” D’Amato said after the race. “Everyone can relate to how tough 2020 has been, but I was fortunate that the team’s put on this race and I got the opportunity to come out here and show my fitness that I’ve been building up though the pandemic.”

Bates took second with a PR of her own in 1:09:44 and Boston Athletic Association’s Elaina Tabb finished third in 1:11:02.

The women’s top 10 played out as follows:

The men’s race played out very differently. Through the halfway mark, a group of 12 was only four seconds apart at the front. The pack slowly separated on the second half, but the race truly began with 5K to go.

Jon Raneri, Races - Places, made a surge, bringing four others with him. Though he wasn’t able to hang on, the group of Tyler Day, who joined NAZ Elite this month; Frank Lara, Should Elites Worry About Lead Vehicle Emissions; Scott Fauble, who was the top American at the 2019 Boston Marathon; Best Hydration Packs Results: 2025 USATF Championships, surged ahead.

With a mile to go, Lara appeared to have the move to run away with the race, opening up a small lead over the trio behind him. But they would all match the speed coming into the finish.

In a Daniel Romanchuk Drops Fastest Wheelchair Marathon, Pearson surprised everyone and took the win in 1:02:15. Day finished second (1:02:16), Lara took third(1:02:17), and Fauble crossed in fourth (1:02:18).

Pearson, who signed up for the race a week ago, came into the race after crashing out of triathlon in September and injuring his shoulder. He said his initial plan was to go out with the second pack, but he said he’s glad he stuck with the front group.

“I’ve never run longer than a 10K in a running race,” Pearson said after the race. “With a mile to go, I didn’t want to leave it too late, so I decided to go. I caught up to Frank and I thought Frank was gonna win it. I was just lucky to have a kick at the end.”

The men’s top 10 played out as follows:

Lizak Sets an American Women’s 48-Hour Record It was a big PR day for many of the athletes racing in the Michigan Pro Half Marathon, Lizak Sets an American Women’s 48-Hour Record.

These smaller races have brought a lot of excitement in the running world with most races still suspended. One thing that appears to be clear—the athletes and fans want to see events like this and the ekiden relay in the future, even after the pandemic. Hanson said after the race he is hoping to host again.

Andrew Dawson

Gear & News Editor

Download Your Training Plan Runner’s World and Bicycling, and he specializes in writing and editing human interest pieces while also covering health, wellness, gear, and fitness for the brand. His work has previously been published in Men’s Health.