Galen Rupp is entered in next weekend's Houston Half Marathon, according to event organizers. The announcement instantly puts Ryan Hall's 59:43 American record in jeopardy. Hall's run 10 years ago--in the same Houston race--was one of the seminal moments in the history of American distance running, as it broke the old record by over a minute. Hall's record was set on Jan. 14, 2007, and Rupp will race in Houston on Sunday, Jan. 15. 59:43 is 4:33 mile pace for 13.1 miles.

​Watch Hall's 59:43 from 2007:

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The Houston course is famously flat and fast, and the weather there is often good for long-distance racing this time of year. (Check out the official half-marathon course map on page 19 here; the weather is often between 45 and 65 degrees on race day.) Rupp's presumptuous pursuit of a fast time is part of an exciting foray into road racing that began in earnest 13 months ago for the 10,000m American record holder.​

Rupp ran a 61:20 half marathon last December and ran 60:30 on a non-record-legal course in New York in 2011. His two marathons last year were a 2:11 win at the U.S. Olympic Trials and a 2:10 bronze medal at the Olympics.

His biggest competition in Houston will likely be Ethiopia's Feyisa Lilesa, who beat Rupp for an Olympic silver medal and notably protested his home country's government as he crossed the line in Rio. But Lilesa and Rupp both struggled the last time they hit the roads. Lilesa ran a 2:15 fourth-place marathon in Honolulu last month, walking the last 100 meters.

Walking last 100 meters with hands in 'X' in silent protest, Feyisa Lilesa finished 4th in 2:15:57 (unofficial) at @HNLmarathon #RRW pic.twitter.com/ELaWJAwzV1

— Chris Lotsbom (@ChrisLotsbom) December 11, 2016

And Rupp struggled with asthma issues en route to a 10th-place finish at the Manchester Road Race on Thanksgiving Day.

.@G_Rupp wore a mask to guard against an asthma attack at #MRR2016, but still had "an episode" according to Coach Salazar. He finished 10th. pic.twitter.com/7I93HoTBln

— David Monti (@d9monti) November 25, 2016

But if they're at their best, Rupp and Lilesa can go historically fast. Lilesa has the course record at 59:22, set in 2013. And a quick peek at my copy of Daniels' Running Formula says that a 26:51 10K is equivalent to a 59:01 half marathon. Rupp's 10K American record is 26:44.

Other notables in the men's half field are Yigrem Demelash Endale, who ran a 59:48 half and 26:51 10K in 2016 and Americans Leonard Korir and Luke Puskedra. Korir's half PB is 61:06, and Puskedra's is 61:29. Jordan Hasay, Kellyn Taylor, and Sara Hall are the best-known Americans in the women's field, which is highlighted by Olympic marathon bronze medalist Mare Dibaba.

It's the half-marathon debut for Hasay, who will be making her marathon debut with her Oregon Project teammate Rupp in Boston. And at 30, Taylor is emerging as one of the best long-distance runners in the country. She was fourth in the 10K at the Olympic Trials.

Men's half marathon

Bib	Name
1	Feyisa Lilesa Gemechu
2	Galen Rupp
3	Yigrem Demelash Endale
4	Samsom Gebreyohannes Gezahai
5	Leonard Korir
6	Hiskel Tewelde Ghebru
7	Daniel Salel Loyioyio
8	Silas Kipruto
10	Fikadu Tsadik
11	Temesgen Ejeressa
12	Weldon Kirui
13	Ben Chelimo Somikwo
14	Luke Puskedra
15	Aaron Braun
16	Bazu Worku Hayla
17	Tadese Tola Woldegeberel
18	Girma Mercheso
19	Jordan Chipangama
20	Ben Bruce
21	Scott Smith
22	Bayron Piedra
23	Ismail Ssenyange
24	Sean Quigley
25	George Alex
26	Scott Fauble
27	John Crain
28	Aaron Dinzeo
29	Robert Molke
30	Ryan Rutherford
31	Phillip Reid
32	Eric Ashe
33	Tyler Andrews
34	Tom Anderson
35	Andrew Epperson
36	Parker Stinson
37	Noah Droddy
38	Luis Orta
39	Kiya Dandena
40	Patrick Rizzo
41	Ryan Dohner
42	Jonathan Peterson
43	Thomas Toth
44	Jovanny Godinez Rodriguez
45	Eric Loeffler
46	Luis Vargas
47	Pardon Ndhlovu
48	Matthew Sonnenfeldt
49	Ian Butler
50	Kevin Lewis
51	Darren De Reuck
52	Michael Crouch
Pacer	Tyler Mueller
Pacer	Carlos Trujillo

Women's half marathon

Bib Number	Name
101	Mary Wacera
102	Mamitu Daska
103	Mare Dibaba Hurssa
104	Hiwot Gebrekidan Gebremaryam
105	Veronicah Nyaruai Wanjiru
106	Gladys Yator
107	Diane Nukuri
108	Muliye Dekebo Haylemariyam
109	Jordan Hasay
110	Aliphine Tuliamuk
111	Tigist Demisse
112	Sara Hall
113	Nazret Weldu Gebrehiwet
115	Madai Perez
116	Dera Dida Yami
117	Kellyn Taylor
118	Joan Aiyabei
119	Beverly Ramos
120	Alia Gray
121	Elvin Kibet
122	Susanna Sullivan
123	Natasha LaBeaud
124	Kelsey Bruce
125	Anna Weber
126	Joanna Thompson
127	Erin Burrett
128	Maria Elena Calle
129	Rosie Edwards
130	Emma Polley
131	Jamie Cheever
132	Amanda Scott
133	Kristen Arendt
134	Ana Maria De Vries
135	Kayla Atkinson
136	Kristin Louderback
137	Bria Wetsch

Men's marathon

Bib Number	First Name
1	Birhanu Gedefa Chimdesa
2	Abayneh Ayele Woldegiorgis
3	Abrha Milaw Asefa
4	Dominic Ondoro
5	Yitayal Atnafu Zerihun
6	Andualem Shiferaw
7	Elkanah Kibet
8	Robert Cheseret
9	Birhanu Dare Kemal
10	Tim Young
11	Stephen Kersh
12	Semereab Gebrekidan
13	Jason Witt
14	Will Nation
15	Colin Leak
16	Meng-Tsung Chu
17	Gregory Leak
18	Aron Rono
19	Jonny Hay
20	Brian Atkinson
42	Jack Lippincott
Pacer	Calum Neff
Pacer	William Firfth

Women's marathon

Bib Number	First Name
101	Birkutayit Degefa
102	Meskerem Assefa Wondimagegn
103	Sechale Dalasa Adugna
104	Rahma Tulsa Chota
105	Mary Davies
106	Mulu Melka
107	Becky Wade
108	Sarah Crouch
109	Serkalem Abrha
110	Yenenesh Tilahun Dinkesa
111	Hanna Nosekno
112	Rocio Cantara
113	Hiruni Wijayaratne
114	Nicole Dimercurio
115	Colleen De Reuck