FLAGSTAFF, (AZ) – April 5, 2019 – HOKA ONE ONE Northern Arizona Elite has announced that Kellyn Taylor will run the 2019 Volkswagen Prague Marathon on May 5. Prague will be Taylor’s first marathon since becoming the seventh-fastest American female marathoner of all time at last year’s Grandma’s Marathon. Her 2:24:29 in Duluth was a course record by more than two minutes and a personal best by more than four minutes.
In Prague, Taylor will face a formidable field that includes defending champion Bornes Chepkirui from Kenya, who won last year’s race in 2:24:19 and Israel’s Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, who boasts a personal best of 2:24:17. Debutant Lucy Cheruiyot, owner of a 1:07:23 half marathon best, should also contend for the win.
Taylor said she is excited about facing such a high level field in one of the world’s most beautiful cities.
“After a season off of marathoning, I think Prague is the perfect fit for my next go at 26.2,” Taylor said. “The field looks fantastic and I’m heading there to compete with the best in search of a win and a new PR.”
Taylor, an original member of HOKA NAZ Elite, holds team records for 5,000 meters (15:21.93), 10,000 meters (31:40.70) and the marathon (2:24:19). She was sixth at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials and fourth at the Track and Field Trials over 10,000 meters.
HOKA NAZ Elite coach Ben Rosario said that Taylor chose to race in Prague for a variety of reasons.
“Kellyn wanted to try and build on her performance last year at Grandma’s by picking a race where she could battle for the win against a great field and have the opportunity to run a fast time as a result,” Rosario said. “Her training has, without a doubt, been as good as ever over the last few weeks and I am excited to see what she can do on the streets of Prague.”
Taylor’s energy has been buoyed in recent weeks by the addition of two new members to her household. She and husband, Kyle, became foster parents last month to two young boys. Taylor’s eight-year-old daughter, Kylyn, has welcomed the role of big sister while her mom balances raising three children and running more than 100 miles per week. Balancing life and running is nothing new for Taylor, who spent much of the last few years studying and training to be a firefighter. She completed her training in 2017 and plans on someday becoming a full-time firefighter.
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About HOKA ONE ONE Northern Arizona Elite
HOKA Northern Arizona Elite is a professional sports organization whose mission is to recruit, develop and produce distance runners to compete at the very highest level of international athletics and operate as a successful business by building a global fan base for the team and its athletes through comprehensive and ongoing marketing efforts on a local, national and international level. For more information visit www.nazelite.com.