ELVA DRYER WITHDRAWS FROM FREIHOFER'S RUN
1997 Champion Expecting First Child in December

From the Running USA Wire

ALBANY, N.Y. - (May 23, 2002) - Elva Dryer, 1997 Freihofer's Run for Women champion, today told event organizers that she won't compete in the 24th running of the event June 1 as she is expecting her first child in December.

"Everyone associated with this race congratulates Elva on her exciting news," said George Regan, Freihofer's Run for Women event director. "We hope that she will be able to joins us for next year's race and show off her little one - much like Libbie Hickman is doing this year."

"With each passing week, my husband (and coach), Russ, and I are becoming increasingly excited," said Dryer, noting that she's delighted about the prospect of being a parent.

Although Dryer won't compete, Regan said she is still slated to come to Albany to conduct three presentations at local schools leading up to the race.

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Team USA Distance Running Athletes Hit the Road and the Track This Weekend

From the Running USA Wire

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - (May 23, 2002) - Over the Memorial Day weekend, nine Team USA Distance Running athletes will be in action across the country at the following competitions - Life Time Fitness 10K, Nike Prefontaine Classic and Bolder Boulder 10K International Team Challenge.

Life Time Fitness 10K, Minneapolis, MN, May 25
*Katie McGregor (adidas), Team USA Minnesota
*Chris Lundstrom (adidas), Team USA Minnesota
*Turena Johnson Lane (adidas), Team USA Minnesota
*Kurt Keiser, Team USA Minnesota

The second annual Life Time Fitness 10K has a prize purse of $50,000 which will be paid out based on a time handicap called the "Equalizer". McGregor is the defending female champion. Race website: www.lifetimefitness.com

Nike Prefontaine Classic, Eugene, OR, May 26
*Meb Keflezighi (Nike), 5000m, Team USA California
*Abdi Abdirahman (Nike), 5000m, Team USA California
*Carrie Tollefson (adidas), 3000m, Team USA Minnesota

Marion Jones, Stacy Dragila, Adam Nelson, Hicham El Guerrouj, Gail Devers, Allen Johnson, Jeff Hartwig, Svetlana Feofanova and Sonia O'Sullivan join the above top entries at the 28th annual Nike Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon.

The IAAF Grand Prix I meet, the second event on USATF's 2002 Outdoor Golden Spike Tour, will be televised on ESPN2 from 11 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Now in its fourth year, the Golden Spike Tour provides America's best athletes the opportunity to compete in the United States and earn substantial prize money in front of a nationally televised audience.

For more information on the Golden Spike Tour, visit the USATF website. For more information on the Prefontaine Classic, go to: www.preclassic.com.

Bolder Boulder 10K Int'l Team Challenge, Boulder, CO, May 27
*Deena Drossin (Asics), Team USA California
*Jen Rhines (adidas), Team USA California

Last year at the Team Challenge, Deena Drossin won the women's race in 33:25 (only the second U.S. winner since 1984), while the U.S. men's and women's teams placed third - their highest places ever at the event. Kenya's James Koskei won the men's race in 29:00, while Kenya swept the team titles.

This year, Kenya - led by Koskei - again fields top teams, but the USA teams (defending champion Drossin, Rhines and Colleen De Reuck and Alan Culpepper, Clint Wells and Scott Larson) also will be vying for top team and individual honors over the 5 lap course which starts and finishes in Folsom Stadium. With one of the largest non-marathon road racing prize purses - $108,000 plus time bonuses, the 6th edition should be intense and exciting. Colorado's NEWS4 will provide live television coverage of the event from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Team rosters at: http://www.bolderboulder.com/pr25.cfm

The Bolder Boulder, a Running USA Founding Member, celebrates its 24th edition and is one of the largest road races in the world with 42,000 participants. Additional information about the event can be found on the event web site.

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 17 U.S. titles - 12 in 2001 and 5 so far in 2002 - in three disciplines (cross country, road and track), set one world road record, four national records and numerous personal records and added to the U.S. all-time lists. In addition, Team USA 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 (Deena Drossin). In Dublin 2002, 9 of the 24 athletes on the USA Senior XC teams came from Team USA Training Centers. Five of six members from the World Cross 8K silver medal team - Drossin, Jen Rhines, Elva Dryer, Amy Rudolph and Milena Glusac - are members of Team USA California.

For more information on Team USA Distance Running and how to join the Team USA Support Crew, go to http://www.runningusa.org or call Ryan Lamppa at (805) 696-6232.

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DEFENDING CHAMPION WANJIKU TO RETURN TO OGDEN NEWSPAPERS 20-K CLASSIC
Two-Time World Half-Marathon Silver Medalist Ramaala to Make Wheeling Debut

WHEELING, W.V. (May 20) -- What goes up and down, is fun for young and old alike, and brings you right back where you started? It's not a merry-go-round, but the Ogden Newspapers 20-K Classic, one of the most challenging and competitive road races in the United States. The 26th edition of the race will take place on Saturday, May 25 at 8:30 a.m. in downtown Wheeling.

Nobody knows this better than 28 year-old Teresa Wanjiku, the Kenyan athlete who won last year in Wheeling for the second time in three tries. Small and powerful, Wanjiku easily negotiated the course's tough hills, finishing in 1:11:07 and earning the winner's check of $5000.

"Just me and the hills," she said beaming when she described how she took the lead for good after seven miles. "The people of Wheeling were very much encouraging. I'm so happy for the Ogden Newspapers for taking over [the race]. Without a sponsor, there is no race."

In its second year of race title sponsorship, Ogden Newspapers has again made possible this year's strong elite field, according to race director, Hugh Stobbs.

"A fine addition to your men's elite field will be highly world-ranked Hendrik Ramaala from South Africa, who will be making his first appearance at the Ogden 20-K Classic," said Hugh Stobbs of the two-time silver medallist at the IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships. "A winner from South Africa in the past was Xolile Yawa in 1985."

Ramaala will be challenged by a another Wheeling debutant, Janko Bensa of Yugoslavia. The 2000 Austin Marathon and 2002 San Diego Marathon champion lives in Albuquerque, N.M.

The top Kenyans in the field include Laban Kipkemboi, who was second at Wheeling last year; 2002 Fifth Third River Bank Run 25-K champion, Ronald Mogaka; 2002 Indianapolis Festival Half-Marathon champion, Gabriel Muchiri; and 2002 Broad Street Run 10 Mile champion, Simon Wangai, who ran a startling 45:16 at that race, the fastest 10 mile time ever recorded in the United States.

In the women's race, Wanjiku will have to face off against her compatriot and training partner, Gladys Asiba, who was second at Wheeling last year. Asiba won yesterday's Medio Marathon Internacional de Coban in Guatamala, which like Wheeling features some difficult terrain.

Other contenders include the 40 year-old Russian, Ramilya Burangulova, holder of the world best half-marathon time for a master; all-purpose Kenyan road racer, Alice Muriithi; and one of the world's best mountain runners, Anna Pichrtova of the Czech Republic.

"We are pleasesd to have two-time winner and defending champion, Teresa Wanjiku, return for this year's race," added Stobbs.

TO THE VICTORS GO THE CASH

Nearly $30,000 in prize money is at stake. The winning man and woman will each receive $5,000, and could also earn an extra $1,000 if they break the open course records (1:00:17, Dionicio Ceron, 1999 and 1:09:37, Catherine Ndereba, 1999).

OGDEN MILE SURE TO BE FAST

On the Friday evening preceding the race at 7:15, runners can check out their speed in the popular Ogden Mile, run on the final mile of the 20-K course. This downhill race has produced some fast times, evidenced by the course record of 3:46.54 set in 1996 by Jason Bodnar. Prize money of $900 will be on offer.

WALKERS ALSO WELCOME

Participants who would prefer to walk the 20-K course may do so at the special starting time of 8:00 a.m.

# # # # #

The Ogden Newspapers 20-K Classic is made possible by the generous support of its sponsors: Ogden Newspapers Inc., United Bank, Wheeling Downs Racetrack and Gaming Center, Mason Rehab Center, and Kroger's.

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Bolder Boulder Athletes Returning to Race Again

Boulder, CO - May 20, 2002: One out of three professional athletes coming to race at Bolder Boulder this year are Olympic athletes. Several of them have been racing at Bolder Boulder since the early '90's. On the men's side, 13 countries have confirmed that they will be sending teams to take on the Challenge. Teams include: Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Great Britain, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, South Africa and USA.

Fourteen Olympians will be racing in the Men's Challenge: Shaun Creighton (Australia), Diego Colorado and Jorge Real (Columbia), Silvio Guerra and Franklin Tenorio (Ecuador), Pablo Olmedo and Armando Quintanilla (Mexico), El Arbi Khattabi (Morocco), Constantino Leon, Miguel Mallqui, and Hugo Paucar (Peru), Shadrack Hoff (South Africa), Alan Culpepper (USA), Jose Luis Molina (Costa Rica)

Silvio Guerra from Team Ecuador will be returning for his 11th Bolder Boulder this year.

James Koskei from Team Kenya and 2001 Bolder Boulder defending champion was ranked ninth on the roads last year by the International Amateur Athletic Federation.

Armando Quintanilla from Team Mexico will be returning for his sixth Bolder Boulder.

Alan Culpepper (USA) and the three members of Team Costa Rica will racing at Bolder Boulder for the first time this year.

Shadrack Hoff of Team South Africa is returning this year after sitting out last year with chicken pox. One week after Bolder Boulder last year, Hoff won the Steamboat Classic Road Race in Peoria.

On the women's side, 13 countries are sending teams to compete: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Great Britain, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Lithuania, Mexico, Romania, Russia, South Africa, and USA

11 Olympians will be racing in the Women's Challenge: Ingladini Gonzalez (Colombia), Martha Tenorio (Ecuador), Harumi Hiroyama (Japan), Jane Omoro (Kenya), Adriana Fernandez and Nora Rocha (Mexico), Svetlana Zakharova (Russia), Colleen De Reuck, Deena Drossin and Jennifer Rhines (USA). Martha Tenorio from Team Ecuador will be returning for her eighth Bolder Boulder.

Jane Omoro of Team Kenya won the race in 1998. This will be her sixth Bolder Boulder. Teammate Jane Ngotho is returning for her fourth Bolder Boulder this year.

Colleen De Reuck (USA) will be returning for her 10th Bolder Boulder; teammate Deena Drossin (2001 defending champion) will be returning for the third time.

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adidas Oregon Track Classic Field Preview by Event
Saturday, May 18, 2002 Mount Hood C.C. Gresham, Oregon

Verizon 100 Meters - A truly world-class sprint field. Shawn Crawford has two sub 10-second performances this year, including his world-leading 9.94 to win last Saturday in Japan. Olympic relay gold medalist Brian Lewis has a 9.99 best this year and won at Modesto last week. Terrence Trammell won the U.S. Indoor 60-meter title this year. He is the 2000 Olympic silver medalist in the 110-meter hurdles and was the 2000 NCAA 100 meter champion and NCAA Track Athlete of the Year. Kim Collins of St. Kitts & Nevis tied with Crawford for the bronze medal at 200 meters in the 2001 World Championships and ran 10.00 last year. Coby Miller has run 9.98 and placed seventh in the 200 at the 2000 Olympic Games. Ghana's Abdul Aziz Zakari ranked seventh in the world in the 100 meters last year. He placed in the top three in the Golden League meets in Zurich, Berlin and Brussels and was a world championships finalist.

VISA 400 Meters - Antonio Pettigrew, the four-time national champion, returns for the last time as he plans to retire at the end of the year. The 1991 World Champion and 2000 Olympic Games relay gold medalist won the Japan Grand Prix last week in 44.72. Alvin Harrison won the silver medal at the 2000 Olympic Games. Jamaican Olympians Michael McDonald and Michael Blackwood, Canadian record holder Shane Niemi, 1999 U.S. champion Jerome Young, U.S. Indoor champion James Davis and former Washington star Ja'Warren Hooker complete the field.

American Track & Field 1000 Meters - An international field in an event rarely run outdoors in the U.S. Olympic 800 meter silver medalist Hezekiel Sepeng of South Africa, 2001 World Championships silver medalist Wilfred Bungei of Kenya, American indoor 1000-meter record holder David Krummenacker and Kenyan mile star William Chirchir look to be the class of the field. Other top Americans in the field include Bryan Woodward, Michael Stember, Trinity Gray, Derrick Peterson and Jess Strutzel.

Alaska Airlines Mile - Kenya's Leonard Mucheru returns to defend his meet title. He ran 3:53 here last year as 10 runners broke four minutes. Joining him is fellow Kenyan Benjamin Kipkurui, (3.49), Daniel Zegeye of Ethiopia, sixth at the 2000 Olympic Games, and 2001 NCAA champion Bryan Berryhill, a Central Point (OR) native.

American Track & Field 3000 Meters - Bet on the Kenyans here. Luke Kipkoskei is one of the world's best at this distance. He was the IAAF Grand Prix champion at 3000 in 2000 and has a best of 7:27.59. Other Kenyans in the field include Abraham Chebeii, the world leader in the 10,000 last year and Shadrock Kosgei who has his sights set on a sub 13:00 5000 time this year. Others to watch include Portland's Dan Browne and Australia's Shaun Creighton.

adidas 3000m Steeplechase - Will Tim Broe get the American record? U.S. star Tim Broe is out to better Henry Marsh's 1985 record of 8:09.17. He set an American record indoors at 3000 meters in Janaury and has won U.S. titles in cross country, indoor track and on the roads this year. If he gets the record, he still may not win the race. World record holder Brahim Boulami (7:55.28) of Morocco is in the field as is world junior record holder Stephen Cherono of Kenya (7:58.66). Also in the field is highly-ranked American Anthony Famiglietti, Canadian champion and 2001 World Championships finalist Joel Bourgeois, and Mexican record holder Salvador Mirandi.

KFXX High Jump - A great field with the best high jumpers in North America. Olympic gold medalist and American record holder Charles Austin (7-10.5) returns for the third time. Challenging him will be Canadian stars Mark Boswell, the 1999 World Championships silver medalist and Canadian record holder (7-8.5), and Kwaku Boetang (7-8), and Americans Nathan Leeper (7-8.5), Charles Clinger (7-8.5) and Matt Hemingway (7-6.5). Leeper is the defending U.S. champion.

Portland Tribune Shot Put - Three-time IAAF World Champion John Godina and Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelson, the top shot putters in the world, square off in a talented shot put field. Godina and Nelson placed first and second at the 2001 World Track & Field Championships in Edmonton, Canada. They finished the year with the same world rankings. Nelson ended 2000 at the world's top ranked shot putter off his U.S. title and Olympic silver medal. Godina won the bronze in Sydney. Nelson is the 2002 world leader in the shot at 72-8. Godina has thrown 70-7 this season. Also in the field are veteran Kevin Toth, who has already thrown 70-7 1/4 this year, 2000 U.S. Olympian Andy Bloom, Australian champion Justin Anlezark, and Canadian champion Brad Snyder.

Horizon Air 100 Meters - Another great sprint field. Jamaica's Tayna Lawrence won the bronze medal in the 100 at the 2000 Olympic Games. Jamaica's other entries, Beverly McDonald and Merlene Frazier won medals in the 200 at the 1999 World Championships. Lawrence and McDonald also won relay silver medals in Sydney. Bahamas' Savatheda Fynes placed seventh in Sydney and ran a leg on her country's gold medal winning 4x100 relay. American LaTasha Jenkins has run 11.05 this year and placed fourth in the 200 at the 200 World Championships. Cydonie Mothersill of Cayman Islands placed fifth in the 200 at last year's World Championships. Angela Manuel, an emerging American sprinter, is the daughter of Chicago White Sox manager Jerry Manuel.

Rosie 105 400 Meters - Jearl Miles Clark is the big name in the field. Clark won the 1993 World Championships 400, won 400m bronze medals at the 1995 and 1997 World Championships, won relay gold medals at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games and the 1993 and 1995 World Championships, and has won five U.S. outdoor championships in the 400 and 800. She has a 400-meter best of 49.40 and holds the American record in the 800 meters at 1:56.40. The field also includes Jamaican Olympians Sandie Richards and Catherine Scott, U.S. Olympian Monique Hennagan, 2001 World Championships finalist Kaltourma Nadjina of Chad, and two-time NCAA champion Suziann Reid. Nadjina won this race in Portland last year.

SoBe 800 Meters - Four sub two minute runners head this field. American Nicole Teter is having a break through year as she set a new American record indoors (1:58.71). Diane Cummins of Canada had her break through year in 2001 as she placed fifth at the World Championships and ranked sixth in the world. Slovenia's Brigta Langerholc placed fourth at the 2000 Olympic Games and Jamaica's Charmaine Howell ran her personal best of 1:59.61 in Portland last year. Others in the field close to breaking two minutes include Kazakstan's Svetlana Badrankova, Jamaica's Mardrea Hyman, and America's Jen Toomey.

Verizon 5000 Meters - American champion Marla Runyan and Ethiopian cross country star Werknesh Kidane head a deep field. Runyan is looking to run under 15 minutes for the first time. Kidane won the silver medal at the 2002 IAAF World Cross Country Championships 4K race in Ireland. Also in the field are former U.S. record holder and Olympian Amy Rudolph, U.S. Olympian Jen Rhines, and 1999 New York City Marathon winner Adrianna Fernandez of Mexico. Ethiopian junior Tirunesh Dibaba, the silver medalist in the junior women's race at this year's World
Cross Country Championships, could surprise.

adidas 100-meter Hurdles - 2000 Olympic Games bronze medalist Melissa Morrison looks to be in top form after winning last Saturday in Japan. She will have tough competition this Saturday . Jamaicans Dionne Rose-Henley, Lacena Golding and Vonette Dixon are running well this year. Rose-Henley placed sixth at last year's World Championships. American Donica Merriman won the 2001 NCAA title. Jenny Adams, last year's meet winner and new hurdling star, is entered but is recovering from a fall at the Penn Relays.

VISA Pole Vault - Three of the seven women who have cleared 15 feet are entered. U.S. Olympians Kellie Suttle (15-1) and Mel Mueller (15-1) plus world-ranked Mary Sauer (15-1.5) will be competing. Also entered is Canadian champion Stephanie McCann.

SoBe Discus - New American record holder Suzy Powell is the one to watch. Powell threw 227-10 last month for the new record. Her competition in Portland will include 1997 World Champion Beatrice Faumuina of New Zealand, U.S. champion Seilala Sua, Australian record holder Allison Lever and world-class American throwers Kris Kuehl and Aretha Hill.

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Morris, Hennessy Win USA 25K Titles at River Bank
World Record Scared by Ronald Mogaka

By Charlie Mahler, Running USA wire

Jeanne Hennessy won her first-ever national title at the Fifth Third River Bank Run May 11.
Photo: Victah@Photo Run

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - (May 11, 2002) - Fresh off leading his country at the World Half-Marathon Championships in Belgium last Sunday, David Morris paced the nation again in winning the USA 25K Championship at the 25th Fifth Third River Bank Run in Grand Rapids, Mich. today. Morris from Albuquerque, N.M. and Jeanne Hennessy from Mahopac, N.Y. won USA 25K titles in fierce late-race battles while overall winner Ronald Mogaka of Kenya just missed breaking the standing world record in the event with his 1:13:56.

Morris, 31, out-kicked Todd Williams and fellow World Half teammate Jim Jurcevich for the U.S. title in the final blocks of the race. Morris won the title, his second career U.S. crown, in 1:17:15. Williams followed closely in 1:17:20; Jurcevich was third in 1:17:23.

Morris, the former U.S. record-holder in the marathon and speedy enough to have won an NCAA title at 3000 meters indoors, took advantage of Williams' misjudgment of the finish distance to come back on the two-time Olympian and the 1999 USA 25K champion in the late-going of the race which was run in partly cloudy weather with temperatures in the low 40s.

"Todd went by us about 600 to go," said Morris. "He made a pretty good move but I thought it was kind of early, so I just tried to stay close. About 400 to go, I started to kick and got by pretty easy."

"I was stupid," Williams said of his mistake. "Dave timed it right, he was smart for plugging at it. It's veteran of him to do that."

Morris, who has now raced the last six weekends and had only five days between his Brussels half-marathon (where he ran 1:03:26 for 26th place) and the 25K, went into the River Bank Run with low expectations.

"I felt terrible all week, so I didn't know what to expect," Morris said of his pre-race attitude. "I figured there was a pretty good possibility that I'd drop out. But I figured even if I ran a 1:19 or something I could still get top 10."

As the race played out, things were to his liking.

"It was a pretty tactical race," the 1997 USA half-marathon champion continued. "I think that helped me out a little bit - it kept the pace comfortable."

Morris' next major competition will be the 10,000 meters at the USA Track and Field Championships at Stanford on June 21-23. He is planning a fall marathon.

Hennessy, well-known as the soccer player-turned-runner, took advantage of the title opportunity presented by a race field limited by last week's World Half and depleted from late-stage drop-outs to injury and illness.

"After I heard that Milena (Glusac, the defending champ) had dropped out (due to the flu), I knew I had a good shot at it," Hennessy said of the U.S. title, which turned out to be her first. "I don't know many runners yet, but I do know Sylvia (Mosqueda), Milena, Deena (Drossin) and some of the other runners who ran here last year. Not seeing them at the starting line, you know that it opens things up a bit."

Hennessy battled with Teresa Wanjiku for the race win until the final half-mile. The Kenyan won in 1:26:57 to Hennessy's 1:27:18. Following Hennessy in the U.S. and open competition were Beth Olds, in 1:29:30 and Lori Stich Zimmerman in 1:32:23.

"We kept surging on each other, the lead kept changing, and I got a little gap on her on the hill at thirteen," Hennessy said of her duel with Wanjiku. "I thought maybe I could surge ahead but she covered it. She covered everything I tried."

Hennessy, 24, a Villanova graduate, will compete next at the USA 5K Championship at the Freihofer's Run for Women in Albany, New York on June 1 and at the NYRR Mini Marathon in New York City on June 8.

Mogaka, for his part, used strong hill running in the race's second half to dispose of final challenger Gabriel Muchiri. Mogaka's near-record run timed 1:13:56 (tied for #3 all-time), just a lone second short of the global mark. Muchiri finished second in 1:15:37, followed by the world record holder himself, Joseph Kariuki, third in 1:16:11. Kariuki set his mark of 1:13:55 at the 1998 River Bank Run. (Kariuki's record, it should be noted, is inferior
to the as-yet unratified mark of Rodgers Rop at Berlin last year, 1:13:44.)

Mogaka was disappointed, but future-oriented regarding his near-miss.

"Last year I was second," the tall African said. "This year I was coming here to win and at the same time try to run the world record. But finally, I missed. Perhaps next year coming back I will run the world record."

As part of the 2002 USA Running Circuit - a USA Track & Field road series featuring USA Championships, the first ten U.S. runners earned points (15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1) at the River Bank 25K. With their victories, Morris and Hennessy vaulted up the standings. For the men, Morris is tied for second with Meb Keflezighi and Tim Broe (15 points) behind leader Abdi Abdirahman (19 points), while Hennessy is the women's leader with 17 points.

The 2002 USARC, the eighth edition for the men and seventh for the women, offers over $340,000 in championship prize money plus a $25,000 grand prix purse ($6000, $4000 and $2500) for the top three men and women point scorers overall.

25th Fifth Third River Bank 25K: USA Championship
Grand Rapids, MI, Saturday, May 11, 2002

MEN
1) Ronald Mogaka (KEN) 1:13:56 $4000
2) Gabriel Muchiri (KEN) 1:15:37 $2000
3) Joseph Kariuki (KEN 1:16:11 $1500
4) Laban Kimkemboi (KEN) 1:16:54
5) Simon Kasimili (KEN) 1:17:09
6) David Morris (NM) 1:17:15 $4000
7) Todd Williams (TN) 1:17:20 $2000
8) James Jurcevich (OH) 1:17:23 $1500
9) John Kagwe (KEN) 1:17:52
10) Kyle Baker (MI) 1:17:57 $1000
11) Peter DeLaCerda (CO) 1:18:27 $600
12) John Sence (OH) 1:19:03 $500
13) T.J. Lentz (OH) 1:19:50 $400
14) Joey Keillor (MN) 1:20:13 $300
15) Andrey Kuznetsov (RUS) 1:20:20 $1500*
16) Phillip Castillo (CO) 1:20:37 $200
17) Phil Bedford (MI) 1:20:55 $850*
*Masters (40+) prize money

WOMEN
1) Teresa Wanjiku (KEN) 1:26:57 $4000
2) Jeanne Hennessy (NY) 1:27:18 $6000#
3) Beth Olds (GA) 1:29:30 $3500#
4) Lori Stich Zimmerman (TX) 1:32:23 $1500
5) Nicole Kulikov (CO) 1:33:41 $1000
6) Nikole Johns (CO) 1:35:03 $600
7) Sharon Stubler (MN) 1:35:42 $500
8) Eve Rukavina (MN) 1:35:43 $400
9) Kim Jones (CO) 1:36:07 $1800*
10) Connie Buckwalter (PA) 1:36:12 $200
11) Seana Carmean (MA) 1:36:31 $100
#includes Open prize money
*Masters (40+) prize money

Complete results available at the race website: http://www.riverbankrun.com

USA Running Circuit Standings

MEN
after three races
1) Abdi Abdirahman, 25, Tucson, AZ 19
2) Meb Keflezighi, 27, San Diego, CA 15
Tim Broe, 24, Ann Arbor, MI 15
David Morris, 31, Albuquerque, NM 15
5) Dan Browne, 26, Portland, OR 12
Todd Williams, 33, Knoxville, TN 12
7) Clint Wells, 27, Boulder, CO 11
8) Alan Culpepper, 29, Louisville, CO 10
Anthony Famiglietti, 23, Knoxville, TN 10
Jim Jurcevich, 25, Columbus, OH 10

WOMEN
after two races
1) Jeanne Hennessy, 24, Mahopac, NY 17
2) Deena Drossin, 29, Mammoth Lakes, CA 15
3) Elva Dryer, 30, Albuquerque, NM 12
Beth Olds, Douglasville, GA 12
5) Jen Rhines, 27, St. Davids, PA 10
Lori Stich Zimmerman, 32, Cedar Creek, TX 10
7) Colleen De Reuck, 38, Boulder, CO 7
Nicole Kulikov, 26, Ft. Collins, CO 7
9) Milena Glusac, 26, Fallbrook, CA 6
Nikole Johns, 26, Ft. Collins, CO 6

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Glusac to Defend USA 25K Title at River Bank Run
Men's Field Includes Three Past USA Champions - Williams, Found and Sence

From Running USA Wire

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - (May 9, 2002) - The USA 25K Championships return to Fifth Third River Bank Run for the eighth consecutive year and like past editions, top U.S. and international fields are expected this Saturday. The U.S. women's field includes last year's national champion Milena Glusac and Sylvia Mosqueda, while three past USA 25K champions - Olympian Todd Williams (1999), Shawn Found (2000) and John Sence (1997-98) and last year's national runner-up Peter DeLaCerda headline the U.S. men's field. Last year's USA
champion Chad Johnson was a late scratch.

"The 25th Annual Fifth Third River Bank Run promises to be a spectacular event on Saturday morning, May 11 with record participation numbers in the 25K and 5K events. Hosting the USA 25K Championship has again brought top American athletes to the streets of Grand Rapids, Michigan and we are expecting an exciting competition," said Kristen Aidif, Race Director

Last year, two-time New York City Marathon champion John Kagwe battled fellow Kenyan Ronald Mogaka until the final 800 meters before sprinting away to a 1:14:07 to 1:14:12 victory, #5 and #6 all-time performers, while Svetlana Zakharova of Russia defended her River Bank crown in 1:24:39 (a course record
and #5 all-time). Emerging U.S. runners Chad Johnson and Milena Glusac, both members of the Team USA Distance Running program, captured their first USA titles in 1:16:11 (4th overall) and 1:26:05 (3rd overall) respectively.

Like last year, there is no clear U.S. men's favorite, but veterans like Todd Williams, David Morris, Peter DeLaCerda and Eddy Hellebuyck and developing runners like Jim Jurcevich and Kyle Baker are likely contenders.

Here are the top U.S. men at the River Bank Run:

* Todd Williams, 33, (Knoxville, TN), 1992/1996 Olympian - 10,000m; 1999 USA Running Circuit Grand Prix champion; 1999 USA 25K champion; 17 U.S. titles (9 road, 5 track and 3 cross country)

* David Morris, 30, (Albuquerque, NM), top U.S. at recent World Half-Marathon Championships (1:03:26, 26th); former U.S. marathon record holder (2:09:32)

* Peter DeLaCerda, 30, (Alamosa, CO), second 2001 USA 25K Championships; 2nd 2000 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials; Team USA California

* Jim Jurcevich, 25, (Columbus, OH), 36th at recent World Half-Marathon Championships (1:03:51, PR); 6th 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials 10,000m

* Kyle Baker, 26, (Mason, MI), 2002 Hillsdale Relays 10,000m winner (28:34.79)

* Mike Donnelly, 27, (Providence, RI), 3rd 2001 USA 25K Championships

* Kevin Collins, 31, (Alamosa, CO), 2002 Valley of Sun Marathon winner (2:17:31)

* Shawn Found, 30, (Boulder, CO), 2000 USA 25K champion

* John Sence, 31, (Cincinnati, OH), 1997 USARC Grand Prix champion; 1997-98 USA 25K champion

* Eddy Hellebuyck, 41, (Albuquerque, NM), top master

* Jerry Lawson, 35, (Jacksonville, FL), former U.S. marathon record holder (2:09:35); 1993 Old Kent River Bank champion

* Peter Sherry, 33, (Great Falls, VA), silver medalist at 1991 World University Games 5000m

* Paul Aufdemberge, 37, (Redford, MI), 1999 USA 25K national runner-up

In the women's USA Championship race, Milena Glusac of Fallbrook, Calif. returns to defend her title. 2001 was a breakout year for the 26-year-old Glusac as the Team USA California athlete won three U.S. road titles (20K, half-marathon and 25K) and the USA Running Circuit Grand Prix. Thus far in 2002, the Oregon graduate has finished 5th at the USA Cross Country 8K Championships and USA 15K Championships (49:42, personal record) and 23rd at the World Cross Country 8K Championships which helped the U.S. team win the silver medal.

Her main competitors for the national crown should be:

* Sylvia Mosqueda, 36, (Los Angeles, CA), 7th 2002 City of Los Angeles Marathon (2:36:38 - personal record); 3rd 2001 USARC Grand Prix; 1988 NCAA 10,000 meter champion

* Jeanne Hennessy, 24, (Mahopac, NY), 5th 2001 USA Marathon Championships (2:39:58)

* Connie Buckwalter, 31, (Lancaster, PA), 2002 Penn Relays Distance Classic 20K winner (1:14:52)

* Linda Somers Smith, 41, (San Luis Obispo, CA), 1996 Olympic marathoner; 5th 2001 USA 25K Championship

* Michele Byrne-McGoldrick, 29, (Dallas, TX), 4th 2000 USA 25K Championship

* Kim Jones, 44, (Ft. Collins, CO), 1997 USA 25K champion and USARC champion

* Jane Welzel, 47, (Ft. Collins, CO), 1996 USA 25K champion

The River Bank 25K is also the next stop on the 2002 USA Running Circuit - a USA Track & Field road series featuring USA Championships from 5K to the marathon. The 2002 USARC, the eighth edition for the men and seventh for the women, offers over $340,000 in championship prize money plus a $25,000 grand prix purse.

Per USARC race, the first ten U.S. runners earn points (15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1) with a final $12,500 grand prix purse ($6000, $4000 and $2500) for the top three men and women point scorers overall.

Total race prize purse equals $78,100 including a $21,200 USA Championship purse. U.S. men and women will compete for $10,600 respectively ($4000, $2000, $1500, $1000, $600, $500, $400, $300, $200 and $100). The top three finishers overall will earn $4000, $2000 and $1500 respectively. There is
also a Fifth Third World Record bonus of $5000.

U.S. Records
1:14:38 Ed Eyestone INB Stepahead Stampede, IN 10/13/91
1:24:43 Joan Samuelson Old Kent River Bank Run, MI 05/10/86
U.S. All-Comers
1:13:55 Joseph Kariuki (KEN) Old Kent River Bank Run, MI 05/09/98
1:24:27 Jill Hunter (GBR) INB Stepahead Stampede, IN 10/13/91

World Records
1:13:55 Joseph Kariuki (KEN) Old Kent River Bank Run, MI 05/09/98
1:22:31 Naoko Takahashi (JPN) real Berlin Marathon split, GER 09/30/01

NOTE: Rodgers Rop's 1:13:44 at the Berlin 25K on May 6, 2001 is a pending world record.

The challenging loop course starts and finishes in downtown Grand Rapids. In conjunction with the championship race, the 25th annual event also has a 5K run/walk and kids' run (River Bank Run Junior - held May 8). Overall, race officials expect over 10,000 participants for the silver edition. Past winners of the country's largest 25K (3,675 finishers in 2001) include running greats Bill Rodgers, Greg Meyer, Herb Lindsay and 1984 Olympic marathon gold medalist Joan Samuelson.

Complete results available on May 11 after 4:00pm EST at the race website:
http://www.riverbankrun.com

Recent USA 25K Champions
1987 Greg Meyer 1:16:12 Old Kent River Bank Run, MI 05/09
1995 Keith Brantly 1:15:20 Old Kent River Bank Run, MI 05/13
1996 Alfredo Vigueras 1:15:21 Old Kent River Bank Run, MI 05/11
1997 John Sence 1:15:58 Old Kent River Bank Run, MI 05/10
1998 John Sence 1:16:15 Old Kent River Bank Run, MI 05/09
1999 Todd Williams 1:17:15 Old Kent River Bank Run, MI 05/08
2000 Shawn Found 1:17:45 Old Kent River Bank Run, MI 05/13
2001 Chad Johnson 1:16:11 Old Kent River Bank Run, MI 05/12

1986 Cathy Twomey 1:31:29 Deerbrook's, Joilet, IL 09/21
1987 Diane Brewer 1:28:17 Old Kent River Bank Run, MI 05/09
1995 Elaine Van Blunk 1:27:14 Old Kent River Bank Run, MI 05/13
1996 Jane Welzel 1:29:47 Old Kent River Bank Run, MI 05/11
1997 Kim Jones 1:26:54 Old Kent River Bank Run, MI 05/10
1998 Shelly Steely 1:29:06 Old Kent River Bank Run, MI 05/09
1999 Chris McNamara 1:28:05 Old Kent River Bank Run, MI 05/08
2000 Kristin Beaney 1:28:53 Old Kent River Bank Run, MI 05/13
2001 Milena Glusac 1:26:05 Old Kent River Bank Run, MI 05/12

USA Running Circuit Standings

MEN
after two races
1) Abdi Abdirahman, 25, Tucson, AZ 19
2) Meb Keflezighi, 27, San Diego, CA 15
Tim Broe, 24, Ann Arbor, MI 15
4) Dan Browne, 26, Portland, OR 12
5) Clint Wells, 27, Boulder, CO 11
6) Alan Culpepper, 29, Louisville, CO 10
Anthony Famiglietti, 23, Knoxville, TN 10
8) Chris Graff, 26, Palo Alto, CA 7
Nolan Swanson, 26, Eugene, OR 7
10) Matt Downin, 25, Hampstead, NH 6

WOMEN
after one race
) Deena Drossin, 29, Mammoth Lakes, CA 15
2) Elva Dryer, 30, Albuquerque, NM 12
3) Jen Rhines, 27, St. Davids, PA 10
4) Colleen DeReuck, 38, Boulder, CO 7
5) Milena Glusac, 26, Fallbrook, CA 6
6) Kim Fitchen, 33, Palo Alto, CA 5
7) Sylvia Mosqueda, 36, Los Angeles, CA 4
8) Magdalena Lewy, 28, Berkeley, CA 3
9) Jeanne Hennessy, 24, Mahopac, NY 2
10) Kelly Cordell, 32, San Luis Obispo, CA


 
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