Under swathes of overcast Austin sky, the 3M Half Marathon proved to be an arena for personal triumphs and spirited competition, as nearly 5,000 runners laced up and pounded the pavement through the city’s streets. The Austin American Statesman reported that winners Jordan West and Katie Watson both shattered personal records, West with a lightning-fast 1:05:44 finish and Watson clocking in at 1:15:44.
With conditions prime for fast times, running in the low 40s temperature, the course did not disappoint the throngs of enthusiasts and elite athletes alike. Following the frontrunners from Stonelake Boulevard in North Austin, West, a Baylor alumnus, hit the ground with a pace that left his main competitor and 2020 Olympic marathon trials qualifier Rory Tunningley trailing after a brisk start. “I’ve never run 3M before,” West said. “It was awesome,” he told The Austin American Statesman.
The women's race saw Watson, not an official elite entrant, emerge victorious amidst a field without pre-race favorite Christine Ramsey Hardy, absent owing to COVID-19. "I decided to run 3M just a few days ago," Watson, a clinical social worker, revealed her late decision to the race in a surprise twist that led her to the top spot. The fierce female athletes charged through the streets, with Watson managing to keep Emily Merriman, who took second place, at bay past the 10K mark and beyond.
An integral part of the Austin community, the race drew not only competitive athletes but amateurs as well, looking to test their mettle or simply enjoy the camaraderie and charm of a city that thrives on fitness. According to a remark on the event by CBS Austin meteorologist Chikage Windler, she completed the race in just over two hours and was appreciative of the congenial climate, noting, "Feeling very light mist in the air walking to my car after the @3mhalfmarathon,” Windler said. “Mother Nature was nice to us!" CBS Austin captured other racers too, like Michael Bastone who found his stride and tempo after a few years’ race hiatus, finished in a respectable one hour and 52 minutes, celebrating the race as a means of reintegration into the vibrant Austin running scene.
With the marathon’s scenic course weaving through landmarks such as the Shoal Creek Blvd., historic Hyde Park, and the University of Texas campus before finishing near the State Capitol, the 3M Half Marathon continues to be a bedrock event, uniting the Austin community and runners from across the region in a display of physical prowess and personal achievement.
