NYRR Media Center

After a top-10 finish in his TCS New York City Marathon and 26.2 debut, U.S. Olympian Joe Klecker will return to the city for his United Airlines NYC Half debut.

It’s not a surprise that Klecker is an outstanding athlete. His mom, Janis Klecker, represented the United States in the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Marathon and his dad, Barney Klecker, once held the U.S. record for the 50-mile ultramarathon (4:51:25). 

Klecker was a bronze medalist at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 10,000 meters. In 2022, he won the USATF Championships 10,000 meters in 28:28.71, and last year, he made his half marathon debut in Houston, clocking 1:01:06.  

Klecker, one of six children, graduated from the University of Colorado, where he was a nine-time All-American and two-time NCAA runner- up. He also secured gold at the 2019 Pac-12 Cross Country Championships.  

Klecker, who regularly trains with two-time TCS New York City Marathon champion Hellen Obiri, earned a bachelor's degree in biochemistry. He is married to World Championships 800-meter finalist Sage Hurta-Klecker.