Joe Klecker takes part in the middle of Houston before chasing history at the Millrose Games
Joe Klecker is gearing up for a big start to his 2024 season. His first big test comes at the Houston Half Marathon, where he’ll look to make a statement on the roads before turning his attention to the track.
Klecker, 27, has built a reputation as one of America’s best distance runners. He has represented the U.S. in the last three major championships, including the Tokyo Games. But the Olympic Half Marathon is a different beast is both stamina and tactical awareness.His performance there will herald a breakthrough year.
The Houston race will also serve as a gauge of his form. Klecker hasn’t run since March 2024, when he finished 12th at The Ten in 27:09.29, just shy of the 2023 Olympic standard 27:07.57 in his first race of the season, he will have a chance to prove that training prepares him for greater goals.
After Houston, Klecker will move on to the Millrose Games, where he will chase the American outdoor record of 8:07.07 set by Matt Tegenkamp in 2007. Grant Fisher’s 2024 indoor best Indicators are also available for Klecker who sharpens is his speed during training.
The competition will be hot at Millrose. He’ll be up against reigning 1500m champion Josh Carey and middle distance stars like Cole Hawker and Grant Fisher. It’s a stacked field, but Klecker is improving in the high-stakes race.
He last ran 2 miles in 2021, running 8:11.55 outdoors at the Prefontaine Classic and 8:14.95 indoors at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, and has improved significantly since then. His 5K personal best stands at 12:54.99, and his recent 5K effort in Boston (13:06.02) suggests he’s in top form.
Klecker’s journey was marked by persistence. Injuries slowed him down as a freshman at Colorado. But he kept pushing, qualifying for the Olympics and establishing itself among the nation’s best.
His success means a lot to those who have followed his career. During the Olympics, his high school coach yelled at the television as Klecker did his final push-up. In the stands, his young nephew, Norman, cheered him on with a simple chant. “Go, Joe, go!”
Now, as he eyes Houston and Milrose, Klecker has a chance to add another milestone to his growing career. The next few weeks will test his speed, stamina and race day. If things come together, he could leave both races to celebrate with something special.
