Rockwall’s Shumake to race against world’s elite in BMW Dallas Marathon

(ROCKWALL, TX – December 7, 2017) Rockwall High School senior Austin Shumake (18) will join 25 of Dallas/Ft. Worth’s top high school distance runners to compete against elite marathoners in the BMW Dallas Marathon on Sunday, Dec. 10.

Now in its 47th running, the marquee race attracts runners from across the globe and hundreds of thousands of spectators to Dallas’ largest single-day sporting event. The BMW Dallas Marathon racecourse highlights iconic Dallas landmarks and is recognized as the official marathon of the city of Dallas.

Shumake said he was looking online for races to compete in after the high school cross country season ended in October when he discovered the Dallas Marathon, and was immediately intrigued by the prospect of racing against the best long-distance runners from around the world. The race will see 26 high school distance runners (13 boys and 13 girls) each run a two-mile leg as part of a 26.2-mile relay through parts of downtown Dallas and around White Rock Lake.

“I’m very excited! It’s a great opportunity to get my name out there,” Shumake said. “I’m looking forward to running with the guys on my relay team and getting pointers from some of the pros.”

Shumake said his most recent marathon was the Trinity River 10K Night Run in Dallas last year, where he finished first place in his age group. He’s confident he can hit the time he needs in order to help his relay team win Sunday’s race.

“I want to put our relay team in the best position to win the race by running the best time that I can. I’m aiming to run a 10:30 mile, which I know I can do because I ran a 10:20 mile last year at the district meet for track,” Shumake said.

Shumake has been running cross country since middle school and made the varsity men’s cross country team at RHS as a freshman. This past season, he was named team captain of the varsity squad and led them to a third-place finish in the UIL 6A District 11 Championship and a qualification for the regional championship in October.

“What I enjoy the most about long-distance running is that a lot of it’s mental – you just have to tell yourself not to stop and keep on pushing,” he said. “It’s also a great way to clear my mind after a long day.”

Lance Shumake, Austin’s dad, said he’s always impressed by his son’s level of commitment and dedication to the sport, and is proud to see him have the opportunity to compete in a premier sporting event like the BMW Dallas Marathon.

“He’s a very dedicated and hard worker, and has gone above and beyond trying to prove himself,” Lance said. “I’m proud of how his hard work continues to pay off for him.”

For more information about the BMW Dallas Marathon, visit bmwdallasmarathon.com.

By Austin Wells, Blue Ribbon News. Photo courtesy of Lance Shumake.

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