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Leghzaoui Sets 8K World Record at Crazy 8's By Doug Janz, Running USA wire KINGSPORT, Tenn. - (July 13, 2002) - Five weeks after she knew she could do it, Asmae Leghzaoui officially did it. The diminutive 25-year-old Moroccan smashed the women's world 8-kilometer road race record late Saturday night, running 24:28 to break Paula Radcliffe's old mark by 10 seconds. Last month, Leghzaoui set a world 10K road record in New York, in the process clocking an 8K split faster than the existing record. Then came Saturday's Indian Path Medical Center & SunTrust Bank Crazy 8's 8K Run, a course already billed as "the world's fastest 8K." There's no doubt about that claim. Crazy 8's now has the distinction of holding both the women's and men's (Peter Githuka, 22:03 in 1996) world records, and it is one of the rare road races that has held or holds world records for each gender at the same time. Crazy 8's joins the Carlsbad 5000 as the current home of both world records. Leghzaoui had set her 10K mark of 30:29 at the New York Women's Mini-Marathon June 8 when she went through five miles in 24:27, a split that equated to sub-24:20 for eight kilometers (just short of 5 miles). That prompted her to seek out just the right race so she could take advantage of such remarkable fitness. She found it at the Crazy 8's. "We said we were coming here for the record," Leghzaoui said through her coach and interpreter, Hussein Makke. Added Makke: "When you're hot you should run." Leghzaoui's victory margin was almost as impressive as the record itself. Against what has annually been an impressive women's field, she won by 1:50 over Kenya's Edna Kiplagat 26:19. Kenya's Patrick Nthiway was the overall race winner in 22:38, outdueling countryman and pre-race favorite Daniel Komen, who finished third, and John Itati, who snuck into second place just before the finish. But the spotlight fell on the women's race. Leghzaoui's blazing pace left behind her competition almost from the outset. She went through the first mile in 4:50, and by three miles her 14:36 was 17 seconds ahead of world record pace. She slowed considerably through the fourth mile but then finished strongly to a rousing welcome from the festive nighttime crowd. At the awards ceremony, the giant world record bonus check for $10,008 stood taller than she did. The two world road records have set quite a standard for Leghzaoui, who may take a shot at the 5K world record this season, among others. "Definitely my running career, my life, changed after New York," she said. "There are a lot of expectations on me. But I don't mind that. I already put a lot of pressure on myself." But, she said of her 8K effort, "I did enjoy every moment of the race." Leghzaoui opened her summer road season at the World Half-Marathon Championships in Belgium (where she placed 10th), and the plan is to work her way back to the longer distances, perhaps shooting for the half-marathon world record if things fall into place. "This is part of building to a marathon," Makke said. "We don't know when and where." After runner-up Kiplagat came Kenyan's Agnes Ngunjiri in 26:22 and Naomi Wangui, the 2000 Crazy 8's champion, in 27:04. Tara Pointin in fifth (28:36) was the first American woman and Sarah Kramer was the top female masters finisher in 30:27. The men's race was more competitive but less exciting, as a pack of nearly 20 runners went through a relatively slow first mile (4:39), quickly jeopardizing a record run. Oddly enough, rain earlier in the day had cooled down the temperature, making it one of the most ideal Crazy 8's ever for such an attempt. It turned into a two-man race when Nthiwa and Komen pulled away about halfway through. After exchanging surges, they were shoulder-to-shoulder nearing the homestretch when Nthiwa sped away. Komen, fading at the finish, was passed by John Itati, who clocked a 22:52, with Komen at 22:53. Fourth went to Norman Dlomo in 23:13, while Thomas Omwenga (23:23) was fifth. It was a big victory for Nthiwa because he was able to defeat one of the world's best in Komen, who holds the world record for two miles (7:58) and 3000m (7:20.67) and held the 5000m record on the track. Nthiwa's 5K PR was more than 50 seconds behind Komen's as they entered Crazy 8's. "I had never raced him, but I knew he was very good," Nthiwa said with a grin. "Now I know I can run with anyone." Nthiwa had been 10th at Crazy 8's in 2001. The top American was Drew MaCauley (24:12) in 12th, while the venerable John Tuttle won the masters title with a 25:03. Indian Path Medical Center & SunTrust Bank Crazy 8's 8K Kingsport, TN, Saturday night, July 13, 2002 MEN 1. Patrick Nthiwa, Kenya 22:38 2. John Itati, Kenya 22:52 3. Daniel Komen, Kenya 22:53 4. Norman Dlomo, South Africa 23:13 5. Thomas Omwenga, Kenya 23:23 6. Silvestor Molenko, South Africa 23:28 7. Moses Macharia, Kenya 23:49 8. Zablon Mokayo, Kenya 23:53 9. Charles Kamindo, Kenya 24:03 10. Fedele Baregensabe, Kenya 24:07 Masters (40+) 1. John Tuttle, Douglasville, GA 25:03 WOMEN 1. Asmae Leghzaoui, Morocco 24:28* World Record/U.S. All-Comers Record 2. Edna Kiplagat, Kenya 26:19 3. Agnes Ngunjiri, Kenya 26:22 4. Naomi Wangui, Kenya 27:04 5. Tara Pointin, Raleigh, NC 28:36 6. Michelle Scott, Bowling Green, KY 28:59 7. Amanda Tate, Kingsport, TN 29:04 8, Robin Lawhorn, Lexington, KY 29:11 9. Allison Mills, Kingsport, TN 29:23 10. Keely Weaver, Brentwood, TN 27:48 (*previous world record 24:38 by Paula Radcliffe (GBR) at Balmoral, GBR on April 24, 1999; previous U.S. all-comers record 24:48 by Liz McColgan (GBR) at the Nike Women's Race on May 10, 1992) Masters (40+) 1. Sarah Kramer, Ogden, Utah 30:27 For results and more, go to the race website: http://www.crazy8s.org ------------ WOMEN'S
ELITES AT BIX 7 HAVE CHAMPIONSHIP FLAIR From Running USA Wire DAVENPORT, IA - (July 12, 2002) - Officials of the Quad-City Times Bix 7 today announced the women's elite athlete commitment list for the USA Seven-Mile Championship presented by the Riverboat Development Authority. The 28th Annual Quad-City Times Bix 7 will be held on Saturday, July 20 beginning at 8:00AM. Leading the way is Colleen De Reuck who committed in April. She will visit for the eighth time in hopes of capturing her fourth Bix women's title. That would tie her with Joan Samuelson as the only four-time champion of the women's race. The Boulder, Colo. resident comes into the race as the leader of the USA Running Circuit (USARC) after three events. Part of the company De Reuck will have as she pursues history is Milena Glusac (Muh-lay-nuh GLOO-Sec). The California native is the defending USARC Grand Prix champion thanks to three U.S. road titles last year (20K, 25K and half-marathon). Glusac, a Team USA California member, will be joined by Libbie Hickman, the two-time USARC winner (1999-2000). Hickman's career is just resuming following time off for the birth of her first child. "Outside of Colleen there is no clear-cut favorite," said elite athlete coordinator Dan Breidinger. "This is a very competitive group. We have former Olympians and national champions, veteran runners and young hopefuls." Other notables include Cheri Kenah (KEE-nuh) who is considered one of the most consistent runners on the American scene, and Jeanne Hennessy who did not start running until after college, yet claimed her first U.S. title at the 25K championships this year. There is also a tentative commitment from Carrie Tollefson, a five-time NCAA champion at Villanova who was the 1999 NCAA Athlete of the Year. 2002 Women's Elite Athlete Capsule Bios * Colleen De Reuck - Enjoying another strong outdoor campaign heading to Bix; won a bronze medal at the World Cross Country Championships and helped Team USA claim a team Silver Medal in the event in her first start as a member of Team USA since becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen in December 2000; the South African Olympian and native won the Lilac Bloomsday 12K in Spokane with a U.S. record of 38:53; she was second at the U.S. 8K cross country nationals; second at Bolder Boulder; second at the 5K championships and fourth at the 15K national championships. She also just finished seventh at the Peachtree 10K in Atlanta. * Milena Glusac - Is the defending USARC champion thanks to wins in last year's 20K, 25K and half-marathon U.S. championships; her career was almost sidetracked when from 1995-2000 she struggled with chronic fatigue syndrome, the Epstein Barr virus, stress fractures and allergies; was 11th at the New York Mini-Marathon and second at the 10,000-meters at the USA Outdoor Track & Field meet; Team USA California member * Libbie Hickman - Was fourth at the USA 5K Championships and eighth at the Peachtree 10K as she returned to competition following the birth of her first child; she won the USARC in 1999 and 2000 and was second in 1998; owns nine U.S. championships (5K, 5000m, 10K - thrice, 10,000 meters, 10 mile and the half-marathon - twice); was a 2000 U.S. Olympian in Sydney as a 10,000-meter qualifier; this will be her fifth Bix 7. * Jeanne Hennessy - Attended the running powerhouse at Villanova - but as a soccer player; despite getting into running after graduating college, she is a quick study. Was fifth at the 2001 USA Marathon Championships; 13th at this year's USA 5K Championships and claimed her first U.S. crown when she won the 25K national title in Grand Rapids, Michigan last May. * Cheri Kenah - This veteran was eighth at the 5K championships and fifth in the 5000 meters at the USATF Outdoor Championships; 1999 USA 5K champion; while at Villanova she won nine Big East indoor and outdoor titles and finished in the top five at the NCAA Championships five times; this will be her second Bix 7 start. * Carrie Tollefson - She finished seventh at the USA 5K Championships, 11th at the World 4K Cross Country Championships, second at the USA 4K Cross Country Championships, third in the 5000 meters at the USA Outdoor Championships and first in the 1500 meters at the Minnesota Distance Classic; this native of Minnesota was a five-time NCAA champion for Villanova and was the 1999 NCAA Athlete of the Year; prior to college, she set a national high school record with five individual cross country titles and a Minnesota record with 13 individual state track titles; Team USA Minnesota member * Sylvia Mosqueda - This will be her fourth Bix start; was second in the 2000 USARC and third in 2001; she was third in this year's 5K championships and 7th at the City of Los Angeles Marathon. * Katie McGregor - Was third in the 10,000 meters at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships; NCAA champion at Michigan; Team USA Minnesota member * Kim Pawelek - Was second overall in the 1999 USARC which included a U.S. crown in the marathon; was 54th at this year's World Half Marathon Championships in Brussels, Belgium. * Magdalena Lewy - Finished fifth in the 10,000 meters at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships; finished second at the UPMC Health System/City of Pittsburgh Marathon * Rosa Gutierrez - A member of the 2002 World Half Marathon team; a four-time U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier. * Monica Hostetler - Part of 2002 World Half Marathon team; in 2001, was fourth at the USA Half-Marathon Championships, sixth at the USA 20K Championships and 5th at the USA Marathon Championships; this will be her second Bix 7 start (10th in 2000). * Cassandra Henkiel - Finished 18th at this year's Peachtree in Atlanta. * Faith Byrum - Was part of this year's Seoul Women's Ekiden Relay. * Renee Kruse - 1996 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier. * Alison Holinka - In 2001, was fifth at the USA Half-Marathon championships. * Nicole Kulikov - Was the fourth place American at the USA 25K Championships. * Janet Robertz (Masters) - Is the defending Bix 7 women's master's champion and the defending U.S. women's master's champion. The Quad-City Times Bix 7 is a Running USA Founding Member, and race applications are available at various Quad City Area locations. You can also sign up through the race's official web site at www.bix7.com. A valid Visa or MasterCard is required to register online. ------------ CanAm 2002 Concludes with Les Internationaux de Demi-Fond de Montreal II By Mike Scott (Montreal, Quebec) -- Despite steady winds that hampered performances all evening at the Les Internationaux de Demi-Fond de Montreal II at Centre Claude Robillard in Montreal, the final stop on the 2002 CanAm High Performance Distance Circuit, the CanAm 2000 finale featured excellent competition. Three time NCAA champion Otukile Lekote won his fourth CanAm 2002 half-mile title, outrunning Tennessee's Jebreh Harris 1:46.49 to 1:47.54. Andrew Neugerhauer, who won the second section at Montreal I, got up for third in a seasonal best 1:48.01. Chantee Earl also won her fourth CanAm 2002 title, winning easily in 2:05.76 ahead of Canadian runner-up Heather Hennigar's 2:07.27. Japan's Miwako Yamanaka and Kazue Ogoshi dueled in the women's 5000, with Yamanaka barely holding off a fast closing Ogoshi at the line 15:29.91 to 15:30.03. Yamanaka's performance makes her the 8th fastest CanAm performer; Ogoshi has a faster time from last weekend's Maine Distance Festival, a 15:22.33. Montreal's own Emilie Mondor, the Canadian national champion, powered away from the field in the women's metric mile to win in 4:18.51 ahead of fellow Canadian Malindi Elmore's 4:21.25. Canadian Olympian and national record holder Kevin Sullivan fell short in his bid to claim a Commonwealth Games berth and had his hands full holding off his protogee Nathan Brannen. Sullivan took over the lead with 500 remaining, while Brannen made a late charge and narrowly missed catching his mentor at the line, 3:43.58 to 3:43.64. Canadian 5000 and 10,000 record holder Jeff Schiebler battled winds to win the men's 5000 in 13:55.64, while Ohio State's Ian Conner took the men's steeple in 8:50.90. The CanAm Circuit was founded in 1998 to provide low cost high performance competition opportunities to elite and emerging elite distance runners in North America during the summer months following the national championships. The 2002 edition consists of the two New Balance Boston High Performance Meets (Waltham, Mass, June 29 & July 2), the New Balance Maine Distance Festival (Brunswick, Maine, July 6), and the two Les Internationaux de Demi-Fond de Montreal meets (Montreal, Quebec, July 9 & July 12). For complete results, statistics, and other CanAm information, visit the CanAm website at: http://miscott.home.att.net/canam ------------- CanAm 2002 Set to Conclude Friday, July 12 with Les Internationaux de Demi-Fond de Montreal II By Mike Scott (Montreal, Quebec) -- The 2002 edition of the CanAm High Performance Distance Circuit is set to climax with the Les Internationaux de Demi-Fond de Montreal II at Centre Claude Robillard in Montreal. As it has for all of the CanAm 2002 circuit, the men's 800 is expected to steal the headlines. The men's 800 features three time NCAA champion Otukile LEKOTE, winner at this year's Boston I, Maine, and Montreal I meets. Botswana's Lekote, who has won 1 indoor and 2 outdoor NCAA 800 titles, set the CanAm Circuit and Montreal II record of 1:44.47 last year and holds three of the four fastest 800s in CanAm history. On Tuesday night at the Les Internationaux de Demi-Fond de Montreal I, Lekote sprinted two circuits around the track to lower the meet standard to 1:45.58. Challenging Lekote are Canadian mile record holder Graham HOOD, Tennessee's Jebreh HARRIS, Florida's Moise JOSEPH, '01 Canadian 800 champ Achraf TADILI, and former world indoor championships bronze medalist Eric NEDEAU. Hood just won the mile in Maine last weekend in 3:57.98 and is a member of this year's Canadian Commonwealth Games team. Harris finished second to Lekote on Tuesday at Montreal I with a 1:46.76. Joseph lowered his personal best to 1:45.74 while claiming the bronze medal at this year's edition of the NCAA championships, while Montreal's own Tadili won the 2001 Canadian championship with a 1:45.48 PB. The women's 800 features new Maine Distance Festival meet record holder Chantee EARL, who ran 2:00.26 last Saturday in Brunswick, Maine to record the second fastest 800 ever run during the CanAm High Performance Circuit. Earl also won both the Boston II and Montreal I meets in this year's circuit. Joining Earl in the half-mile is Canadian runner-up Heather HENNIGAR. Charmaine Crook's meet record of 1:59.38 predates the CanAm Circuit, while Meredith Rainey-Valmon's 1:59.45 at the 1998 Montreal meet is the CanAm series standard. Canadian mile star Kevin SULLIVAN headlines the metric mile field. Sullivan, an Olympian and former NCAA champion while at Michigan, is trying for a Commonwealth Games quaifying standard. He will be joined by Canadian champion Ryan MCKENZIE, Canadian 800 runner-up Nate BRANNEN (who ran sub-4:00 in the mile a year ago as a prep), former Big East champ Dan WILSON, and Mexico's Rudolpo GOMEZ, Jr. Ireland's Mark Carroll set the meet standard of 3:38.12 in 1998. Montreal's own Emilie MONDOR, the Canadian national champion, headlines the women's 1500 field. Mondor will be challenged by Margaret BUTLER, the Canadian steeplechase champion, Kelly MACDONALD, who ran the fastest ever steeplechase on Canadian soil at this year's Harry Jerome Classic, and Sarah DILLABAUGH, winner of the Boston II 1500. Canadian Olympians Jeff SCHIEBLER and Joel BOURGEOIS and Mexican Pan American Games bronze medalist David GALVAN lead the field in the men's 5000. Galvan set the CanAm Circuit record of 13:37.25 here in 2000, while Pablo OLMEDO's meet record 13:29.91 predates the CanAm Circuit. The women's 5000 should be an excellent rematch between Japan's Kazue OGOSHI and Mexico's Adriana FERNANDEZ. Ogoshi edged meet record holder Fernandez for runner-up honors last weekend at the Maine Distance Festival, 15:22.33 to 15:23.09. Fernandez's meet record is 15:16.45 from 2000. The Les Internationaux de Demi-Fond de Montreal II international competition gets underway at 8:15pm. For directions, complete list of entries, results, and other CanAm information, visit the CanAm website at: http://miscott.home.att.net/canam The CanAm Circuit was founded in 1998 to provide low cost high performance competition opportunities to elite and emerging elite distance runners in North America during the summer months following the national championships. The 2002 edition consists of the two New Balance Boston High Performance Meets (Waltham, Mass, June 29 & July 2), the New Balance Maine Distance Festival (Brunswick, Maine, July 6), and the two Les Internationaux de Demi-Fond de Montreal meets (Montreal, Quebec, July 9 & July 12). Montreal
II Meet Records:
Men's
800-1:44.47 Otukile Lekote Botswana '01 Montreal ------------- Three Meet Records Fall at Les Internationaux de Demi-Fond de Montreal I By Mike Scott (Montreal, Quebec) -- Despite battling gusting winds all evening, Otukile Lekote, Jesse Strutzel, and Kelly MacDonald each shattered meet records at Tuesday's Les Internationaux de Demi-Fond de Montreal I at Centre Claude Robillard in Montreal, the fourth stop on the 2002 CanAm High Performance Distance Circuit. Three time NCAA champion Otukile Lekote led the field wire-to-wire to shatter the old meet record with a swift 1:45.58, the second fastest time ever recorded during the CanAm Circuit. Lekote, winner at the Boston I and Maine 2002 CanAm Circuit meets, also holds the CanAm Circuit all-time best of 1:44.47 from the 2001 McGill International. Behind Lekote, Tennessee's Jeb Harris recorded a 1:46.76 to also slip under Michael Stember's 1998 former meet standard of 1:47.11 Former Arizona State University star Kelly MacDonald shattered the meet and CanAm Circuit records with her 10:07.00 effort. MacDonald, who earlier this season recorded the fastest ever steeple on Canadian soil -- a 10:04.33 from the Harry Jerome Classic, led virtually the entire way to defeat Canadian champion Margaret Butler -- who finished second in a personal best 10:09.29 -- and shatter Tanya Dodge's 10:29.40 Meet and CanAm Circuit best. Half-miler Jesse Strutzel surprised the men's 1500 field with his 3:42.45 meet record win. Mexican Pan Am 5000 bronze medalist David Galvan (3:42.97) finished best to claim runner-up honors ahead of former Minnesota standout Chad Johnson (3:43.03), as both also slipped under Hector Torres' 2000 meet record of 3:43.35. Canadian record holder Kevin Sullivan ran 3:45.37 for sixth in his seasonal debut. Chantee Earl took the women's 800 in 2:04.50, while 2001 USA Fall Cross Country Champion Priscilla Hein (4:19.09) took the women's metric mile ahead of Mexican 10,000 and Marathon record holder Adriana Fernandez (4:19.87). Japan's Masakazu Fujiwara won the 10,000 in 29:23.67. Competition will resume on Friday at the final stop on the CanAm Circuit with the Les Internationaux de Demi-Fond de Montreal II. For directions, complete list of entries, results, and other CanAm information, visit the CanAm website at: http://miscott.home.att.net/canam The CanAm Circuit was founded in 1998 to provide low cost high performance competition opportunities to elite and emerging elite distance runners in North America during the summer months following the national championships. The 2002 edition consists of the two New Balance Boston High Performance Meets (Waltham, Mass, June 29 & July 2), the New Balance Maine Distance Festival (Brunswick, Maine, July 6), and the two Les Internationaux de Demi-Fond de Montreal meets (Montreal, Quebec, July 9 & July 12). ------------- Meet Records in Jepardy at Les Internationaux de Demi-Fond de Montreal I (July 9) By Mike Scott (Montreal, Quebec) -- Meet records in all events are in jepardy at Tuesday's Les Internationaux de Demi-Fond de Montreal I at Centre Claude Robillard in Montreal, the fourth stop on the 2002 CanAm High Performance Distance Circuit. The men's 800 features three time NCAA champion Otukile LEKOTE, winner at the Boston I and Maine 2002 CanAm Circuit meets, Olympian Bryan WOODWARD, 1:45.74 performer Moise JOSEPH, and '01 Canadian 800 champ Achraf TADILI. Botswana's Lekote, who has won 1 indoor and 2 outdoor NCAA 800 titles, set the CanAm Circuit record of 1:44.47 last year in Montreal. 2000 US Olympian Woodward also won the 1997 NCAA title at this distance. Joseph lowered his personal best to 1:45.74 when claiming the bronze medal at this year's edition of the NCAA championships, while Montreal's own Tadili won the 2001 Canadian championship with a 1:45.48 PB. The meet record is 1:47.11, established by the US's Michael Stember back in 1998. The women's 800 features new Maine Distance Festival meet record holder Chantee EARL, who ran 2:00.26 last Saturday in Brunswick, Maine to record the second fastest 800 ever run during the CanAm High Performance Circuit. Joining Earl in the half-mile is former NCAA champion Miesha MARZELL-ARNOLD, and USATF 1500 finalist and national cross country team member Janet TRUJILLO. Jennifer Toomey's meet record of 2:03.58 was set in 2000. Canadian mile star Kevin SULLIVAN headlines a strong field in the metric mile. Sullivan, an Olympian and former NCAA champion while at Michigan, will be joined by former Big East champ Dan WILSON, steeple stars Ray HUGHES and Ian CONNER, and half-mile specialist Jesse STRUZEL. Mexico's Hector Torres set the meet standard of 3:43.35 in 2000. The women's 1500 features Mexican 10,000 and marathon record holder Adriana FERNANDEZ, Japanese distance star Kazue OGOSHI, USATF finalists Priscilla HEIN and Sally HAUSER, Canadian 800 runner-up Heather HENNIGAR, and Canadian distance standout Sarah DILLABAUGH, winner of the Boston II metric mile. The women's steeple is shaping up well, with Canadian champ Margaret BUTLER, '01 USATF bronze medalist Kelly MACDONALD, and CanAm Circuit and meet record holder Tanya DODGE. Dodge's CanAm Circuit and meet record is 10:29.40, which is well within the capability of these athletes. The men's 10,000 features Mexico's Derek GALVAN, the 1999 Pan American Games 5000 bronze medalist, as well as Japan's Masakazu FUJIWARA and Michitaka HOSOKAWA and former NCAA champ Teddy MITCHELL. The Les Internationaux de Demi-Fond de Montreal I international competition gets underway at 8:15pm. For directions, complete list of entries, results, and other CanAm information, visit the CanAm website at: http://miscott.home.att.net/canam The CanAm Circuit was founded in 1998 to provide low cost high performance competition opportunities to elite and emerging elite distance runners in North America during the summer months following the national championships. The 2002 edition consists of the two New Balance Boston High Performance Meets (Waltham, Mass, June 29 & July 2), the New Balance Maine Distance Festival (Brunswick, Maine, July 6), and the two Les Internationaux de Demi-Fond de Montreal meets (Montreal, Quebec, July 9 & July 12). Montreal
I [Formerly Sherbrooke] Meet Records CanAm
Circuit Records: Men's
800-1:44.47 Otukile Lekote Botswana '01 Montreal ---------------- 3000s Highlight Competition on Hot, Humid Night in Boston By Mike Scott (Waltham, Mass) -- Competitive 3000s highlighted the results on a hot, humid evening at the New Balance Boston II High Performance Meet, the ssecond stop on the 2002 CanAm High Performance Distance Circuit. Despite battling temperatures in the mid-90s and high humidity, Japan's Kazue Ogoshi narrowly missed the 3000 meet standard (9:08.05) with her 9:08.92 effort just three days after running 31:46 for 10,000 at the Boston I meet. Ogoshi and countrywoman Kumi Tanabe set a strong early pace, passing 1-kilo in 3:00 and 2k in 6:04, before Ogoshi pulled away over the final lap. Tanabe held on for runner-up honors in 9:15.95. US world cross country team member Dave Davis took a weakened men's 3000 over the final lap, winning in 8:16.05. Announced competitors Bob Kennedy and Karl Keska withdrew following a minor calf strain that Kennedy noticed running 200s during a final workout on Sunday. In their absence, Japan's Takayuki Inubushi and Michitaka Hosokawa forged ahead after pacesetter Ray Hughes stepped off the track. Davis, a former NCAA Div-3 cross country and track champion, sat back off the pace early but reeled in the duo with about 500m remaining and stormed ahead for the win. Canadian Sarah Dillabaugh (4:19.67) and American Chad Johnson (3:44.23) won competitive women's and men's 1500s respectively, while the Farm Team's Chantee Earl (2:04.89) and Bryan Woodward (1:50.54) took the half-miles. Competition will resume on Saturday at the third stop on the CanAm Circuit with the New Balance Maine Distance Festival at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. For directions, complete list of entries, results, and other CanAm information, visit the CanAm website at: http://miscott.home.att.net/canam The CanAm Circuit was founded in 1998 to provide low cost high performance competition opportunities to elite and emerging elite distance runners in North America during the summer months following the national championships. The 2002 edition consists of the two New Balance Boston High Performance Meets (Waltham, Mass, June 29 & July 2), the New Balance Maine Distance Festival (Brunswick, Maine, July 6), and the two Les Internationaux de Demi-Dond de Montreal meets (Montreal, Quebec, July 9 & July 12). ----------- SIXTEEN CLUBS AND COUNTING - USA NATIONAL CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS (INDIANAPOLIS) Sixteen clubs, representing a membership base of over 8500 from communities in 13 states, have indicated their intent to compete at the second edition of the USA National Track & Field Club Championships. Track and field fans will have an opportunity to see this groundbreaking event that features competition for USA Track & Field team championship titles. The Indiana Invaders will host the Club Championships at the Billy Hayes Track in the Haugh Track and Field Complex in Bloomington, Indiana on July 20, 2002. The inaugural year of the championship showcased true team competition in an exciting finale with Nashville Elite edging Maryland Elite's 4x400 relay by 0.10 seconds, in the final event, to win the men's team title. Nashville edged Maryland by 4 points, 92 to 88. The host club, the Indiana Invaders, won the women's title and the overall National Club Championship title. "The Invaders are honored to host this event," said Team Director Greg Harger, "This is an additional opportunity that provides enthusiasm and incentive for the club system. One of our hopes in initiating this event was that it would encourage the formation of new clubs and inspires others to find a way to win a national title for their community. Nashville Elite is a great example of what this meet could become what with their winning men's team in their first year and their plans to bring a much stronger team this year including a women's team." Harger added, "In our fourth season as a club we're excited about the unique opportunity that initiatives directed by USATF CEO, Craig Masback, and USATF President, Bill Roe, have fostered. We anticipate the next couple of years will allow for the influx of critical, additional support both from our governing body and from our club communities which will secure this event on the annual calendar." The current list of clubs include: Atlanta Track Club (GA), Central Illinois Track Club (IL), Club Ballard (WA), Club Northwest (WA), Firebird Track Club (OH), First Step Track Club (FL), Front Line Racing Team (MI), Greater Boston Track Club (MA), Illinois Stealth Bombers (IL), LeMANS Track Club (NY), Lords of the Rings (WI), Miami Valley TC (OH), Nashville Elite (TN), PTC Elite Track Club (TX), Shore Athletic Club (NJ) and the Indiana Invaders. The deadline for additional clubs to indicate their intent to compete for and to win the second annual USA Track & Field Club Championship title is midnight(PST) July 8th. July 8th is also the deadline to enter club athletes into the championship. The Indiana Invaders will host the USA National Track & Field Club Championships again in 2003. The Haugh Track and Field Complex has 3,100 permanent seats, with additional lawn seating, and was the site for the 1997 NCAA Division I Championships. ------------ All below content from the Running USA Wire Running USA Camp of Champs August 25-31 at Mammoth Lakes SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - (July 1, 2002) - The inaugural Running USA Camp of Champs will be held from August 25-31 in Mammoth Lakes, California. At the high altitude distance camp and clinic, participants will learn the "secrets" from America's best coaches and world class distance runners. Team USA California and renowned coaches Bob Larsen and Joe Vigil will direct the camp for adult runners, coaches and post-collegiate athletes in the beauty of the Eastern Sierra Mountains. Team USA California athletes including Olympians and national champions Deena Drossin, Meb Keflezighi, Jen Rhines, Abdi Abdirahman and Amy Rudolph will also participate in the Camp of Champs, and attendees will run and interact with these top athletes who train at Mammoth Lakes, the high altitude training base for the Team USA Distance Running program. In addition, Terrence Mahon (AIS), an active-isolated flexibility specialist and Andrew Kastor (ACE), a certified personal trainer and massage therapist, will join coaches Larsen and Vigil as featured clinicians. The Running USA Camp of Champs is only $100 per person and to guarantee a spot, register now. For more information, a brochure and lodging discounts, call (760) 934-8989, extension 235 or email: DWilbrecht@ci.mammoth-lakes.ca.us ABOUT TEAM USA DISTANCE RUNNING Team USA Distance Running is a national athlete development program created by Running USA (a non-profit organization of leading entities of the sport) and USA Track & Field (the national governing body). The program, launched at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Sacramento, is dedicated to developing and promoting U.S. distance runners by providing coaching, structured group training, athlete support, media services and sponsor recruitment assistance. There are four Team USA Training Centers with 40-50 athletes operating in California, Michigan, Minnesota and New York. A fifth training center at Monterey Bay, Calif. is scheduled to be on-line in early 2003. Since 2001, Team USA Distance Running athletes have won 20 U.S. titles - 12 in 2001 and 8 so far in 2002 - in three disciplines (cross country, road and track), set one world road record, five national records and numerous personal records and added to the U.S. all-time lists. In addition, Team USA program athletes led the USA to team medals at World Cross - 2001 12K men (bronze) and 2002 8K women (silver) and won an individual World Cross silver (Drossin). ABOUT RUNNING USA Running USA is a joint venture between USA Track & Field, road race events, the athletic industry and running media representatives. Running USA is devoted to building the sport of distance running and road racing in the United States through promotion of events and athletes and development of world class American distance runners. For more information about Running USA, check out its website at www.runningusa.org or contact Ryan Lamppa at (805) 696-6232; email: ryan@runningusa.org ------------ Rono, Mosqueda, Other Top Runners Commit to Crazy 8's 8K KINGSPORT, Tenn. - (June 27, 2002) - The guard is changing slightly at Crazy 8's. Last year's elite field for the Indian Path Medical Center & SunTrust Bank Crazy 8's 8K Run was loaded with former champs and other superstars making serious noise on the road race circuit. The results proved it as 4 of the top 5, and 7 of the top 15 times were run in 2001 through the late night streets of Kingsport on the candle-lit, figure-8 course. Alene Emere of Ethiopia and Enock Mitei of Kenya finished just a tick of the clock slow of Peter Githuka's world record, set here in 1996. They also just missed pocketing the Regional Eye Center $10,008 Bonus. Emere and Mitei were the fastest, but Kenyans Shadrack Kosgei and David Makori were only a few blinks behind, finishing 3rd and 4th while carving their marks on the Crazy 8's all-time list in the 4th and 5th slots. Even though none of the above athletes, including Githuka, will return to run this year on July 13, race director Hank Brown is still enthusiastic about who is coming. "We tried to get those guys back, but unfortunately they were unable to return," says Brown. "But we're getting some runners who are pretty hot right now. Remember when Peter Githuka came in 1996, not many people had heard of him." Elly Rono of Kenya is one of those hot runners. He has already broken the tape at two marathons this year - the Mercedes Marathon and Grandma's Marathon. His Grandma's victory occurred just last weekend in a very impressive time of 2:10:57, which just happens to be his personal best. In addition to Mercedes and Grandma's, his marathon resume sparkles with victories at Flying Pig (Cincinnati), Columbus, Cal International, Ocean State and Pittsburgh. Rono's local sponsor will be Dr. Jon Mather. "Yeah, we're pretty jazzed about Grandma's," said his agent Missy Foy, herself a national class distance runner. "It was really a breakthrough race for him. He'll take a week off now and rest for Crazy 8's. He'll be ready to run a fast race." Fellow countryman Patrick Nthiwa is also ready to run fast at Crazy 8's. He was in Kingsport last year and finished a very impressive 10th in a little over 23 minutes. He is hoping to do better this year. He's run 13:30 for a 5K and 28:10 for a 10K. Nthiwa in 10th and previous commitment John Itati in 6th are the lone returnees from last year's top 10. Bechtel Engineering will sponsor Nthiwa while in Kingsport. American Sylvia Mosqueda from Los Angeles will be making her first appearance at Crazy 8's. She is a fierce competitor who fears no one and is not afraid to push the pace. She has run as fast as 15:30 for a 5K and 31:54 for a 10K. Her 8K best is 25:35, which just happens to be faster than the Crazy 8's course record (25:40, Margaret Okayo, 1999). As far back as 1988, she won the NCAA 10,000m. She recently finished 3rd at the USA 5K Championship/Freihofer's Run for Women. Fleming's Tune-up will be Mosqueda's local sponsor. "I've been after Sylvia to come to Crazy 8's for years," said Brown. "We finally worked it out this year. I have a lot of respect for Sylvia and the way she races. She doesn't back down to anybody. If she's in the race at the end, look out." Edna Kiplagat from Kenya will also visit Kingsport for Crazy 8's. She is another young Kenyan protégé on her way up the distance running ladder. Kiplagat made a name for herself on several Kenyan junior teams. She finished 4th in 1996 and 1997 in the Junior World Cross Country Championships at the 4K distance. She finished 2nd in 1996 and 3rd in 1998 at the Junior World Track & Field Championships at 3000m. In 1999 and 2000 she took time off to concentrate on school and didn't race much. She's back now and running some smart times, like 8:50 for 3000 meters and 32:14 for 10K. Martin Dentistry will be her local sponsor. "I better start practicing how to pronounce these names," said assistant race director Tandy Fleming, heir apparent to Brown in 2003. "From looking at these credentials, it looks like any of them could win the race." The Crazy 8's evening starts with the Holston Medical Group Little 8's Youth Runs at 6:28 pm as the Navy Seals Leap Frog parachute team descends onto the field before the first race. At 8:58pm the walkers will walk with heart in the Cardiovascular Associates 3K Heart Walk on a new course. Finally, the crazy evening caps at 9:58 pm as runners take it to the streets for the Indian Path Medical Center & SunTrust Bank Crazy 8's 8K Run. For more information, go to the race website: http://www.crazy8s.org "I think the people of Kingsport will see another exciting race," says Brown. "The names are a little different, but you know, that keeps it interesting. And you never know when one of these guys or gals will have one of those magical nights." Just like Peter. ------------ LIVE to Headline Rock 'n' Roll Half-Marathon Post-Race Concert VIRGINIA BEACH - (July 1, 2002) - Platinum recording artist LIVE will headline the second annual Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon post-race concert, announced Elite Racing, Inc, producer of the event. The concert will take place on the oceanfront boardwalk in Virginia Beach, VA, on Sunday, September 1, 2002. The Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon caps off a Labor Day Weekend celebration complete with music and fitness. Fifteen thousand runners and walkers will hit the streets of Virginia Beach with live bands entertaining them throughout the 13.1-mile course. All race participants and volunteers receive complimentary entry into the LIVE 8:00pm show. The Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach is patterned after the popular Suzuki Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego, CA and Country Music Marathon & 1/2 Marathon in Nashville, TN, featuring an assortment of live bands staged approximately every mile of the course to provide runners and spectators with continuous entertainment. The fast and flat seaside course stretches through one of America's most scenic beach resort communities, Virginia Beach. Runners and walkers will start the race at the Pavilion Convention Center and finish with a spectacular post-race party on the oceanfront boardwalk. Prior to the race, a two-day Sports and Fitness Expo will be held on Friday, August 30th - Saturday, August 31st at the Pavilion Convention Center. The race will be televised nationally on FOX Sports Net and locally on WAVY-TV Channel 10 (NBC). Although the race is officially closed, a limited number of entries are still available through The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training(tm) program, the event's official fundraising and training program. For more information on Team In Training or to find a local chapter call 800/482-TEAM or visit www.teamintraining.org. For more information on the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon and the LIVE concert, visit www.RnRHalf.com or contact the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon c/o Elite Racing, 5452 Oberlin Drive, Suite B, San Diego, CA 92121 or call 800/311-1255. ------------ 2002 Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team - Junior Squad Announced The 2002 Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team will travel to Innsbruck, Austria to compete in the 18th WMRA World Mountain Running Trophy in September. Although the U.S. has competed at the worlds since 1987 (senior men) and 1995 (senior women), this is the first year the U.S. team will include juniors. The junior men's course at the World Trophy will be 9.2 km with 1,044 meters of vertical gain, the same course as the senior women. The junior women will run 3.3 km and climb 334 meters. Both junior events will be staged on Saturday, September 14. Athletes under the age of 20 in the year of competition are eligible to compete as juniors. Representing the U.S. will be Trevor Hanlin, 16, Grants Pass, OR; Eduardo Pasko, 17, Colorado Springs, CO; Patrick Quinn, 19, Glen Ellyn, IL; Nicole Hodgson, 19, Grass Valley, CA; Melissa Marts, 17, Nederland, CO and Jessica Pitzer, 16, Nederland, CO. Athletes were selected based on road, trail, track and cross country results and since this year's courses are uphill-only (in odd-numbered years courses are uphill/downhill), an additional consideration was the proven ability to run well uphill. Each athlete was required to submit a letter of recommendation from his or her coach and each athlete must be a current member of USA Track & Field. Hanlin enters his junior year at Grants Pass High School this fall and hopes to attend University of Oregon in 2004. Hanlin's best times include 4:12 in the 1500-meter run, 9:07 in the 3000-meter run, 16:29 for 5km and 34:30 for 10km. According to coach Carl Sniffen, "Trevor will be working on strength and endurance this summer including a week of running in Grand Lake, Colorado in June, a week at Steens Mountain Running Camp in July, and four days on the Oregon coast in August." An enthusiastic Hanlin says, "I want to help my team to a first place finish, no matter how far fetched it is." Pasko will be a senior this fall at Harrison High School where three-time U.S. Mountain Running Team member Scott Gall coaches him. In 2001, Pasko placed second at the Colorado State Cross Country Championships. His personal bests, all run at elevations above 6,200 feet, include 4:02:22 for the 1500-meter run, 4:25 for the mile, 9:40 for two miles and for cross country 15:55 for 5km. Pasko says, "I hope to place well at Worlds and start the USA Junior Mountain Running program on a good note for future runners." Quinn enters his freshman year this fall at St. Francis University in Loretto, PA on an athletic scholarship. Coached by Bill Leach, Quinn posted a 4:20 second-place finish at the 2002 Illinois State Finals in the 1600-meter run and is a two-time Illinois State Champion in the 4 x 800-meter relay (one indoor, one outdoor). His personal bests include 4:16.7 for the mile (road), 9:19 for two miles (track), and 14:53 for three mile (cross country). Hodgson enters her sophomore year this fall at Humboldt State College, CA where she is coached by Dave Wells. Hodgson attended California's Notre Dame High School and Bear River High School and holds the 800-meter record at both schools. While at high school Hodgson qualified for the Cross Country State Championship four times, twice qualified for the State Championship in the 800-meter run, was cross country team captain for three seasons, and captain of her track team for two seasons. She made all-conference in college at the GNAC Championships at 800 meters. Her personal bests include 2:13 for 800 meters, 5:19 for 1600-meters, and 19:10 for 5km. Marts was salutatorian at Nederland High School with a 4.1 GPA and will enter her freshman year at Colorado School of Mines this fall. Coached by Darrin Eisman, Marts qualified for the Colorado High School Cross Country State Championships in 2001 and was a three-event qualifier at the 2002 Colorado High School State Track Championships at 3200 meters, 1600 meters, and the 4 x 800-meter relay. She holds school records at 1600 meters and as part of the 4 x 800-meter relay team. Marts says, "My goal for Worlds this year is to be a valuable asset to the team where I hope to run the race of my life." Pitzer enters her senior year this fall at Nederland High School. Pitzer has been running since she was 10 years old competing in local road and trail races. According to coach Darrin Eisman, Pitzer is competitive on the track, but excels at the longer and more mountainous events. Pitzer is a two-time qualifier for the Colorado High School Cross Country State Championships (2000 and 2001), a qualifier for the 2001 Junior Olympics National Championships, and finished 10th at the 2002 Colorado High School Track State Championship in the 3200-meter run with a time of 12:27. Two of three selection races have been held to determine the senior members of the Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team. At the June 9 Wolverine Mountain Race in Anchorage, Alaska Anita Ortiz, Eagle, CO and Eric Morse, Berlin, VT were named to the team. On June 15, Simon Gutierrez, Albuquerque, NM won the Mount Washington Hill Climb to earn a spot on the team. The remaining selection race is the Vail Hill Climb scheduled on July 7. The full team will be announced by July 15. Websites of interest: www.alaskamountainrunners.org - Wolverine Mountain Run www.gsrs.com - Mount Washington Hill Climb www.vailrec.com - Vail Hill Climb www.tlv.at/worldtrophy2002 - World Mountain Running Trophy 2002 www.usatf.org - U.S. Mountain Ultra Trail Running Council www.wmra.info - World Mountain Running Association |