The USATF 10 Mile Road Championships, presented by Toyota, were held on a beautiful fall Sunday morning in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. Emma Grace Hurley represented for Atlanta Track Club elite and was one of 36 women in the field. 

The two early leaders in the women's race  picked up the pace and maintained it through the first half of the race. Six women remained in the lead group as the race reached the halfway mark in 25:44. Hurley kept up a relentless pursuit, reaching the 5-mile mark in 26:27, averaging just over 5 minutes per mile. She was on pace to set a personal best when she crossed 8.6 miles in 46:15. 

Hurley came away with a PB and team record when she finished in 53:24, placing her in the top 2 of her age category and 10th place overall. This gives her two USATF top-10 finishes in 3 weeks. This 10th place finish comes shortly after finishing 5th in the USATF 10KM Road Championships.  

At the Twin Cities Marathon, Bridget Lyons finished 2nd in her first marathon in three and a half years. Crossing the line in 2:35:18, earned Lyons an Olympic Trials Qualifier as well as a fantastic comeback following a long absence from the roads at the distance.

Before Lyons secured her Olympic Trials Qualifier she said, “The buildup has been overall good, but a marathon build up in the Atlanta summer has been the hardest one I have done so far. Like most marathon buildups, I have had a lot of issues- mostly with fueling. But I’m healthy, so that’s always a win. My main goal is to feel strong and race confidently. I want to run the Olympic trials qualifier, but ideally, a PR.”

The USATF 5K Championships are next up on the road running championship circuit. The event will take place, on November 5, during New York City Marathon Weekend.