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Wire 16, March 4, 2003 In this edition of the Running USA wire: 1) Keflezighi,
Drossin to Defend USA 15K Titles at Gate River Run Team USA
California sponsored by Nike Copyright
© 2003 Running USA UPCOMING EVENTS: Gate River
Run 15K, Jacksonville, FL, March 8 ********************************************* Keflezighi,
Drossin to Defend USA 15K Titles at Gate River Run JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - (March 4, 2003) - For the tenth consecutive year, the Gate River Run 15K will host the USA Championships and like past editions, deep, competitive U.S. fields are expected for the Saturday, March 8 title tilt including defending champions Meb Keflezighi and Deena Drossin plus other top American distance runners like Olympians Abdi Abdirahman, Nick Rogers, Marla Runyan, Colleen De Reuck and Amy Rudolph. In addition to national road titles, athletes will also vie for a $47,000 championship purse ($10,000 for the national champion) and USA Running Circuit points. Last year at Gate, Drossin three-peated with an American record (48:12), while Team USA California teammate and fellow Mammoth Lakes, Calif. resident Keflezighi defended his title in 42:48 (4th fastest American all-time). The River Run is also the home of the U.S. men's 15K record (42:22) set by Todd Williams in 1995. "With our national champions Meb and Deena returning against top fields, we are anticipating great racing Saturday morning although rain is forecast. The Drossin and Runyan match-up could produce some fireworks and perhaps a new U.S. record," said Doug Alred, Race Director. This year, Keflezighi, 27, returns for a possible three-peat against a formidable field. In 2002, the UCLA graduate won five national titles (5K, 7 mile, 10,000m, 12K cross country and 15K) and was world ranked 9th in the 10,000 meters. In May 2002 at Stanford, the 2000 Olympic Trials 10,000 meter champion ran 27:13.98 to break the nearly 15-year U.S. 10,000 meter record by over 6 seconds. His top competitors at Gate include: 1) Abdi Abdirahman, 26, (Tucson, AZ), 5th 2003 USA 12K Cross Country Championships; 2002 USA 12K Cross Country, 10,000m, 7 Mile and 15K Championships runner-up; 2001 USA 10,000 meter champion and USA 10K national runner-up; 2000 Olympian 10,000 meters (3rd at Olympic Trials) - finished 10th in Olympic 10,000m final 2) Nick Rogers, 27, (Lake Springfield, OR), 4th 2003 USA 12K Cross Country Championships; 2001 USA 10K champion (28:18) and 7th at River Run (45:05); 2000 Olympian 5000 meters (3rd at U.S. Olympic Trials) 3) Ryan Shay, 23, (East Jordan, MI), 2003 USA marathon champion (2:14:29, Birmingham, AL); 2001 NCAA 10,000m champion and nine-time All-American at Notre Dame; Team USA California member 4) Chad Johnson, 26, (Portland, OR), 6th 2003 USA 12K Cross Country Championships; 2002 USA 10K Championships runner-up (28:29) and 2001 USA 25K champion; coached by Alberto Salazar Other top U.S. men confirmed for the River Run: Dave Davis (Portland, OR), 3rd 2002 USA 10K Championship (28:31); Peter DeLaCerda (Alamosa, CO), 2002 USA half-marathon champion and Team USA California; Mike Donnelly (Portland, OR), 10th 2003 USA 12K Cross Country Championships; Keith Dowling (Reston, VA), 2001 USA Half-Marathon Championships runner-up; Eddy Hellebuyck (Albuquerque, NM), top master/1996 Olympic marathoner; Jim Jurcevich (Columbus, OH), 2002 USARC Grand Prix runner-up and USA Half-Marathon Championships runner-up; Jerry Lawson (Jacksonville, FL), former American record holder in the marathon; Chris Lundstrom (St. Paul, MN), 3rd 2001 USA Marathon Championship and Team USA Minnesota; David Morris (Albuquerque, NM), 2002 USA 25K champion and former U.S. record holder in the marathon; John Sence (Cincinnati, OH), 1997 USARC Grand Prix champion and 1997-98 USA 25K champion; Dennis Simonaitis (Draper, UT), top master; Matt Thull (Wauwatosa, WI); Alfredo Vigueras (Woodland, CA), 1999 USA marathon champion; Chris Wehrman (Chicago, IL); Clint Wells (Boulder, CO), 5th last year (44:30) and Mike Wisniewski (St. Paul, MN), Team USA Minnesota In the women's national championship, Deena Drossin, 30, can make history if she wins again because no U.S. woman or man has won four consecutive USA 15K road titles. Three weeks ago in Houston, the 2000 Olympian at 10,000 meters defended her USA 8K Cross Country crown with a 36 second victory over Colleen De Reuck. Last year, the 7-time U.S. cross country champion had a banner year as she won the silver medal at the World Cross Country Championships and set the 5K world record (14:54) at the Carlsbad 5000, the U.S. 10,000m record (30:50.32) at Stanford and the U.S. 15K record (48:12) here. Drossin faces perhaps the best U.S. female field in Gate history as last year's top finishers - De Reuck (4), Milena Glusac (5), Sylvia Mosqueda (7) and Jeanne Hennessy (9) - return. In addition, 2002 three-time national champion and 2000 Olympian Marla Runyan - who beat Drossin at the USA 5000m Championships last June - adds to the competitive depth. 1) Marla Runyan, 34, (Eugene, OR), 2002 USA 5000m, 5K and 10K champion, 3rd USARC Grand Prix and 2:27:10 marathon debut at New York City; 2001 USA 5000m champion; 2000 Olympic 1500m finalist (8th place); has rare eye condition (legally blind) 2) Colleen De Reuck, 38, (Boulder, CO), 2003 USA 8K Cross Country Championships runner-up; 2002 World Cross Country Championships bronze medalist at Dublin, USARC Grand Prix champion, won USA 7 Mile and 20K titles and set U.S. 12K road record (38:53) at Lilac Bloomsday; 4th last year at Gate (49:36); 2001 USA 8K champion; 2000 Crescent City Classic 10K, Bay to Breakers 12K, Steamboat Classic 4 Mile and Bix 7 winner; the former South African became a U.S. citizen December 2000; holds the world record for 10 miles (51:16) set in 1998; 1996 Berlin Marathon winner (2:26:35); three-time Olympian for South Africa 3) Milena Glusac, 27, (Fallbrook, CA), 3rd 2003 USA 8K Cross Country Championships; 5th last year at Gate (49:42) and USA 10,000m national runner-up (32:15.09); 2001 USARC Grand Prix champion as she won three U.S. road titles (20K, half-marathon and 25K); Team USA California 4) Katie McGregor, 25, (Edina, MN), 4th 2003 USA 8K Cross Country Championships; 2002 USA 7 Mile national runner-up and 3rd USA 10,000m Championship (32:17.49); 1998 NCAA cross country champion at Michigan; Team USA Minnesota 5) Sylvia Mosqueda, 36, (Los Angeles, CA), 3rd 2002 USA 5K Championship (15:58, Freihofer's); second 2001 Gate (49:22) and 3rd USARC Grand Prix; 6th 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials 10,000 (32:18.06); 1988 NCAA 10,000 meter champion Other top U.S. women expected are: Dana Coons (Charlottesville, VA); Jenny Crain (Eugene, OR); Rosa Gutierrez (Glendale, OR); Jeanne Hennessy (Mahopac, NY), 2002 USA 25K champion and Team USA California; Nicole Jefferson (Gunnison, CO); Turena Johnson Lane (Statesboro, GA), Amy Rudolph (Providence, RI), two-time Olympian (5000m 1996/2000) and Team USA California; Rachel Sauder (Auburn, AL); Sarah Toland (Boulder, CO); Sara Wells (Minneapolis, MN), 6th USA Cross Country 8K Championships and Team USA Minnesota and Deeja Youngquist (Albuquerque, NM) The guaranteed USA Championship prize purse totals $47,000 and goes ten-deep: $10,000, $4000, $3000, $2000, $1000, $900, $800, $700, $600 and $500. The Gate River Run also offers bonuses for course, U.S. and world records ($3000, $3000 and $10,000 cumulative respectively). The Gate River Run is also part of the 2003 USA Running Circuit, a USA Track & Field road series that features USA Championships from the 5K to marathon and offers over $340,000 in prize money and a $25,000 grand prix. 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. In conjunction with the national championship, the River Run also has a 5K run/walk and adidas sponsors the Jr. River Run One Mile. The loop course - which goes over the Hart Bridge - starts and finishes in downtown Jacksonville. In 2002, for its 25th edition, a record 7,568 finished the race to make it the second largest 15K in the country and the fifth largest in the world. For more information and results, visit the Gate River Run website at: www.1stplacesports.com # # # 2003 Gate River Run Fast Facts 9 Olympians in the Field Abdi Abdirahman
10,000 meters '00 (10th) 14 Recent USA National Champions Abdi Abdirahman,
Peter DeLaCerda, Colleen De Reuck, Deena Drossin, Milena 15K Records Event U.S. World Note: Felix Limo's 41:29 at the Zevenheuvelenloop 15K (NED) on November 11, 2001 is still pending. Previous USA 15K Champions at Gate River Run MEN WOMEN Compiled by USATF Road Running Information Center, 5522 Camino Cerralvo, Santa Barbara, CA 93111; website (www.usatf.org); email (USATFRRIC@aol.com); phone (805) 696-6232; fax (805) 967-5958 # # # Gate River Run Live Webcast The Gate River Run - the USA 15K Championship - will be shown on a live webcast by WJXT TV-4 on race day March 8 starting at 8:00am. Gate River offers over $53,000 in prize money. Over 12,000 entrants including America's best distance runners are expected in the 15K, 5K and one mile fun run. One of the features of the webcast will be 2 hours of live coverage from the finish line. Watch the webcast at: http://www.news4jax.com/riverrun/ The Gate River Run is sponsored by: Gate Petroleum, adidas, Shands Jacksonville, Zephyrhills Natural Water, Southwest Airlines, The Florida Times-Union, Toyota, Bank of America, WJXT TV-4, Cool FM 96.9, Point 102.9, Powerade, Miller Lite, The Loop, PowerBar, OES, Defeet, City of Jacksonville, Jacksonville Track Club and Sprint PCS. # # # CARLSBAD
5000 TO DELIVER FUN AND EXCITEMENT CARLSBAD, Calif. - (March 3, 2003) - The Carlsbad 5000, host to twelve 5K world road records, returns to Carlsbad on Sunday, April 13, 2003, announced event manager Elite Racing, Inc. The 18th Annual event includes the world's fastest Invitational 5K Road Race, a Wheelchair Invitational and a series of "People's Races." The event is expected to attract 15,000 runners and 50,000 spectators during a weekend of racing excitement. The Fabulous Mar Dels will entertain the crowd on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Carlsbad 5000 events begin at 7:05 a.m. with the Men's Masters Race, followed by six additional "People's Races" for runners in different age groups. These races lead up to the world renowned Invitational Race at 12:05 p.m. The Carlsbad 5000 will be featured nationally on FOX Sports Net. The 14th Annual Junior Carlsbad, for children 12-and-under, takes place Saturday, April 12. The Junior Carlsbad features a series of ten running events designed specifically to accommodate children's fitness levels. All children who run are champions and are awarded with a "star" medal as they cross the finish line. Proceeds from the Carlsbad 5000 and Junior Carlsbad will benefit Carlsbad High School athletic programs. In addition, funds will be donated to the "Kids are Worth a Million!tm" program to help raise $1 million to equip area schools with state-of-the-art technology. A "Health & Fitness Expo" will run throughout the weekend, starting Saturday, April 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 13, from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Expo combines running, fitness, nutrition, health, apparel and equipment, and features live entertainment. The Expo also serves as Race Registration Headquarters. All participants will receive an official race T-shirt and goodie bag. Sponsors include New Balance, North County Times, Dole, NBC 7/39, Baja Fresh, Active.com, PowerBar, Henry's, The Good Feet Store, Inns of America and Washington Mutual. For more information on accommodations call the Carlsbad Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-CARLSBAD. For information about the Carlsbad 5000 and Junior Carlsbad, contact Elite Racing at 5452 Oberlin Drive, Suite B, San Diego, CA 92121, call 858/450-6510 or visit www.eliteracing.com. |