Courtesy: Running USA

Several top Americans, including defending champion Scott Strand, record-setting masters runner Eddy Hellebuyck and Colleen De Reuck of Boulder, Colo., headline a talented field of runners expected for next month's Halliburton International Half Marathon in Houston.

The 35-year-old Strand, from Birmingham, Ala., won last year's race in a personal best of 1:05:13 and is scheduled to defend his title. His strongest competition could come from Hellebuyck, 42, who has torn up the roads this year en route to four U.S. masters records.

Hellebuyck, who lives and trains in Albuquerque, N.M., has set U.S. 40-44 age records for the 5K (14:13), 10K (29:05), 10 mile (48:20) and marathon (2:12:47). The marathon record came as he won the overall title at the Twin Cities Marathon in Minneapolis in October. He shattered the 13-year-old previous mark by more than four minutes.

More than 5,000 runners are expected for the third-annual Halliburton International Half Marathon - one of four races that comprise the 2004 HP Houston Marathon weekend Jan. 17 and 18. A prize purse of $14,700 is up for the taking in the Halliburton International Half Marathon, with the male and female winner each receiving $3,000. To support American runners training to represent the U.S. in the 2004 Olympics, bonus money will be awarded to the top five American male and female finishers in the race, with a top bonus of $2,000.

"The fields for both the men's and women's half marathon races are shaping up to be very strong," said elite athlete coordinator David Chester. "We are expecting several top Americans to bring some great racing to Houston, as many of these runners use the race as preparation for the 2004 Olympic Marathon Trials."

Other elite American men expected to join Strand and Hellebuyck in the chase for the $3,000 first-place prize in the half-marathon include Teddy Mitchell, from Albuquerque, who ran 2:16:00 for fourth place at this summer's Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minn., and David Morris, also of Albuquerque, former U.S. marathon record holder (2:09:32).

Colleen De Reuck, 39, the top American finisher at the 2003 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon (2:28:01), leads the women's half-marathon field, along with up-and-coming stars Deeja Youngquist and Kelly Keane. Other top contenders are Elva Dryer, Slyvia Mosqueda, Jeanne Hennessy, Rachel Kinsman, Nicole Hunt and Beth Old.

Youngquist, 26, took a giant step up on the U.S. running scene in October, running her debut marathon in 2:29:01 in Chicago. Her time currently makes Youngquist the fourth-fastest qualifier for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.

Keane, 31, is also qualified for the Olympic Trials by virtue of her 2:36:26 time at last year's Ocean State Marathon in Rhode Island. The former All-American at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst won this year's Valley of the Sun Half-Marathon in Mesa, Ariz., in a personal record time of 1:13:06.

In the HP Houston Marathon, both 2003 champions - Sean Wade of Houston and Albina Gallyamova, Las Cruces, N.M. - are expected back to defend their titles.