Allie Ostrander placed eighth against a strong field at the US Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta, Ga.

The 29-year-old professional runner from Soldotna covered the undulating 13.1-mile course in a brisk 1 hour, 11 minutes and 26 seconds.

Ostrander, an Oiselle-sponsored athlete, was metronomic through the first half of the race after a hilly opening mile.

She registered 5-kilometer and 10-kilometer splits of 16:49 and 33:38, respectively, while cementing herself within the top 15.

By the 15K mark, the former Kenai Central and Boise State standout had moved into 13th. With one kilometer to go, she was in 10th and within striking distance of 2020 Olympian Rachel Smith of Arizona and Colorado’s Maggie Montoya.

Ostrander passed both Smith and Montoya to finish eighth in just her third go at the half marathon, averaging a blistering pace of 5:27 per mile. She netted $1,500 in prize money for her performance.

“Legs felt rough from the start, but that’s to be expected with all the hills,” shared Ostrander on social media. “I made the most of it and ended up being happy with my race.”

In January, Ostrander lowered her own Alaska record (1:10:08) at the Houston Half Marathon.

While North Carolina’s Molly Born was declared the winner in 1:09:43, the three leaders who had broken away by 15K — Jess McClain, Emma Grace Hurley and Ednah Kurgat — were led off course by the lead vehicle with less than two miles to go.

By the time the trio returned to the course, it was too late, as they finished in ninth, 12th and 13th. A protest was made by the affected athletes, but it was ultimately denied, along with their appeal.

As for Ostrander, she would have finished 11th overall, had the lead vehicle not driven the leaders off course.

The race doubled as a selection for the World Athletics Road Running Championships, but USATF has decided to delay the official team selection until May.

Arizona’s Wesley Kiptoo won the men’s U.S. title in 1:01:15.

Featured image by Mario A. Gonzalez