Better Late Than Never. Mitch Ammons Wins The Austin Half Marathon With A Big Move.

AUSTIN – When Mitch Ammons turned the corner for the final stroll down Congress Avenue on Sunday with rows of people cheering on, he knew there was no better feeling. 

“I mean, it’s a hometown race,” Ammons said of his win at the Ascension Seton Austin Half Marathon in one hour, eight minutes and 34 seconds.

But Ammons, 35, hadn’t exactly planned that moment out. The 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier registered so late into the process, he wasn’t even listed within the event’s half marathon elite section. 

This was despite coming off a second-place finish at the Indianapolis Marathon in November. Or a half marathon win in Dallas in 2021. Or an elite personal best time of 1:055:31 from 2022. 

“I entered the race last minute, just on a whim,” he said. 

Sometimes, though, you just do things on instinct. And that’s exactly what Ammons, one of the city’s top marathoners and an athlete with Bat City Track Club, did on Sunday, biding his time through a challenging course before he took over during the Enfield Hills. 

A total of over 23,000 people ran the Ascension Seton Marathon series on Sunday across the marathon, half marathon and 5K, while nearly another 25,000 fans were out on city streets across Austin’s neighborhoods. 

Who Won The Austin Marathon?

Mitch Ammons closes toward the finish line on Sunday at the Ascension Seton Hallf Marathon

Bradley Makuvire won the Ascension Seton Marathon in 2:18:57.

Ammons, a realtor with the Landy Frost Group, averaged 5 minutes and 14 seconds per mile over the 13.1 miles, but with one mile to go, he put down a move no one countered, dropping a nearly 5-minute mile to the finish. 

“I was probably a lot more strategic,” Ammons said, “because I knew the course so well.” 

Anders Narita, a first-time half marathoner arriving in Austin from Bozeman, Montana, was second in 1:09:57. He wore a black mesh shirt despite nearly 50 degree weather, though it really didn’t make a difference. He finished in 1:09:57. 

Sean Casey – technically the first official half marathon elite finisher – was third in 1:11:16.

The Top Women’s Finisher At The Austin Half Marathon

Meanwhile, Stevi Clark took down the women’s half marathon title just a few minutes later, crossing the line in 1:16:35. While joking that she only won because local runner Allie Kieffer wasn’t entered – Kieffer won the Austin International Half Marathon in January in 1:12 – the win still represented so much for the New Braunfels resident. 

“I got a little bit emotional halfway through hearing all the cheers for the first female,” she said, “and just representing the girls feels really good. I’ve got two little girls of my own at home, and so (this) just definitely brings the emotion. I love setting the example for them.” 

Clark outlasted Boulder, Colorado resident Annie Wheating, who finished in 1:18:49, while Wisconsin-based runner Rachel Werking was third in 1:19:31.

Late Drama In The Men’s Race At The Austin Marathon

The battle in the men’s marathon, meanwhile, turned into quite the late drama, with Connor Weaver reeling Bradley Makuvire back in with just seconds to go. 

Weaver, a 4-time Ironman Triathlon finisher, was no surprise contender, though. Just last year, the Lewisville, Texas resident – a 2019 NCAA team champion for BYU in cross country – finished 13th at the U.S. Olympic Trials in a personal best of 2:13:56. 

But it was a little too late. Makuvire, who put in two big moves over the second half–5K surges averaging 5:06 and 5:08 per mile–won in 2:18:57, holding off Weaver by seven seconds. Weaver averaged 5:18 over the last 12K. 

“I started gaining some steam, gaining some confidence, George (Onyancha) was looking over his shoulder that last 5K and that was the signal someone was hurting,” Weaver said. “So that gave me confidence, because I was hurting, but he must really be hurting because he keeps looking over. So I just kept chugging along and chugging along.” 

Onyancha was third in 2:19:49, while local Michael “Slim” Morris, who took the lead in the front half, scored his best-ever finish at the marathon in fourth in 2:20:37. 

Janet Rono won the women’s marathon in 2:41:07. 

Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas, an Austin resident, was at the marathon on Sunday.

Local marathon Michael Morris, 35, was fourth at the Ascension Seton Marathon in 2:20:37.

The Top 3 Half Marathon Men’s Finishers: 

Mitch Ammons, 1:08:34

Anders Narita, 1:09:57

Sean Casey, 1:11:16

The Top 3 Half Marathon Women’s Finishers:

Stevi Clark, 1:16:35

Annie Wheating, 1;18:49

Rachel Werking, 1:19:31

The Top 3 Marathon Men’s Finishers:

Bradley Makuvire, 2:18:57

Connor Weaver, 2:19:04

George Onyancha, 2:19:49

The Top 3 Marathon Women’s Finishers:

Janet Rono, 2:41:07

Alison Wells, 2:44:21

Emma Doud, 2:58:14