New Elite Field means Detroit Free Press Marathon is getting bigger, better and faster

The addition of a new category of uber-competitive runners to this year’s Detroit Free Press Marathon presented by MSU Federal Credit Union is expected to lead to faster and more exciting finishes, enhanced prestige for those who place — and more eyes worldwide on the decades-old international race.

"We’re bringing an elite field to the Marathon and International Half-Marathon," Aaron Velthoven, the marathon’s vice president and race director, said. "What that essentially means is we’re going to have professional-caliber marathoners in our race this year and that’s a big change for us."

Velthoven, who made the announcement Thursday, said that the marathon, which is unique in that it crosses the U.S.-Canadian border twice, has long emphasized community connections and boosting the fitness of Michiganders, folks from other states, and Detroit’s Canadian neighbors.

But, the race director said, the organizers hope the new category of super-fast runners — known as elite athletes in the racing community — also will take the Oct. 18-20 event to a new level by raising the quality of competition, drawing more contenders seeking to cross the finish line first, and elevating the races’ international standing.

Registration is now open at freepmarathon.com, which provides a discount through April 8.

Foot races have long been a part of Detroit, going back to the 1920s, and the Free Press Marathon, which also is sponsored by MSU Federal Credit Union, began in 1978, Velthoven said. The Free Press Marathon has been held every year since — except for 2020, which was canceled because of the pandemic — and it offers top prizes of $3,000 for the fastest male and female runner.

More: Detroit Free Press Marathon first major Detroit event to hit sustainability goal

In addition to about 24,000 from across Michigan and other countries, the marathon events also bring together about 2,500 local volunteers, which organizers plan to start signing up in the summer.

Over time, Velthoven said, more competitive marathon races could attract more participants, more sponsorships and raise more revenue — potentially leading to bigger prizes.

The new elite runners, who, in many cases, are sponsored by businesses and train year-round, must qualify with fast race times in previous races.

Once they do, marathon organizers said, they also will be given some race advantages to help the shave seconds — or minutes — off their times, such as: a heated area to warm up, a spot near the starting line to start and water stations in which they will be able to use their own water bottles instead of paper cups.

To help recruit 100 elite runners, marathon organizers hired Olympic Trials Marathon qualifier Zach Ornelas. The Ann Arbor resident is a two-time Detroit Free Press Marathon winner — in 2013 and 2015 — and is a top-30 finisher at the Boston Marathon three times.

"Winning Detroit allowed my marathon career to take off," Ornelas said. "I want to provide the amenities to the current and next generation of marathoners to allow them to continue to push the limits of American distance running. And I want Detroit to do the same for them that it did for me."

Many of the elite runners are expected to go on to compete in the Abbott World Marathon Majors — six of the top marathons in the world — and the Olympic trials for marathon racing, Velthoven said.

He added he expects more competitive races will boost how the Free Press Marathon is viewed in the world of competitive, long distance running, and it will allow amateur racers to have a chance to compete alongside some of the best runners in the world.

More details about the new Elite Field and qualifying for it are at freepmarathon.com/elite.

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit marathon seeking 'professional' racers to compete