Leo Manzano Named 2016 Statesman Capitol 10K Race Ambassador

Leo Manzano Named 2016 Statesman Capitol 10K Race Ambassador

Oct 12, 2015 by Meg Bellino
Leo Manzano Named 2016 Statesman Capitol 10K Race Ambassador




Contact: Ann Poe, Vice President/Marketing & Audience
Stateman Media/Cox Media Group


The Statesman Capitol 10,000 is pleased to announce that Leo Manzano, 2012 Olympic silver medalist in the 1,500 meters, will join the largest 10K in Texas as the 2016 Cap10K Race Ambassador.

Born in Guanajuato, Mexico, Manzano and his family immigrated to the United States when he was four years old, settling in Granite Shoals, Texas. Leo discovered his distance running talent in middle school and went on to become a nine-time Texas High School 4A schoolboy champion. Manzano was a five-time NCAA champion and nine-time All-American at the University of Texas — breaking the 4-minute barrier during his freshman year. Manzano first entered the USA Outdoor Championship in 2006, coming away with a third-place finish. Manzano has yet to miss the podium or selection onto a USA Olympic or World Championship team. This 10-year streak is the longest in USA Championship 1,500-meter/mile history. Manzano’s famous finishing kick was on full display at the London Olympic Games in 2012, where he won the silver medal — the first medal for the USA in the marquee 1,500 meters since the great Jim Ryun similarly won silver in 1968. Manzano also serves as a spokesman for the New Mexico Department of Health anti-tobacco campaign.

“The Statesman Capitol 10,000 is an iconic race and Leo Manzano is an iconic runner, “ said Jeff Simecek, Cap10K race director. “We couldn’t ask for a better pairing and representative for Austin’s beloved annual race. We look forward to working with Leo and to the 39th running of the Cap10K in 2016.”

“I am very excited and honored to have the opportunity to represent a race that means so much to so many of us,” said Manzano, “I invite everyone to come out, share their joy of running and support a race that makes a positive impact in the community with the generous support of local nonprofits and initiatives.”

The 2016 race will be run on April 10. Registration is now open. Also being introduced this year is a partnership with FloSports where, for the first time, a City Champion will be crowned and recognized around the City, including a billboard on the town lake trail and on FloTrack.com. Anyone from Austin and the surrounding five counties is eligible for the title, which will be given to the fastest man and woman. They will be included in marketing for the city championships next year as well as additional prizing and recognition. 

The race beneficiary will be The Trail Foundation for the second year in a row. The Cap10K is the largest 10K race in Texas and one of the top 10 in the nation. The Cap10K began in 1978 with 3,400 participants. In 2015, the race had more than 18,000 registered participants. Additional race information is available at cap10k.com.