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2003
Michelob Ultra USA Women's Marathon Championship to be held April 5
ST. LOUIS, Missouri (March 13, 2003) - The 2003 Michelob Ultra USA Women's Marathon Championship will be held in St. Louis on April 5, 2003 as part of this year's Spirit of St. Louis Marathon and Family Fitness Weekend presented by Sara Lee Bakery Group. The race will determine the women's marathon national champion who will be awarded $15,000 - an additional $35,000 will be divided amongst the top 10 finishers. Results also determine spots on the U.S. Team for the World Championships in Paris this August. The Championship race, which will feature more than 50 elite female athletes, will be held at St. Louis' Forest Park. The race will begin at Washington University's Francis Field - site of the 1904 Olympic Marathon - at 7:00 a.m.; runners will finish on Government Drive, below the World's Fair Pavilion. The historic route will act as the same course for 2004 Olympic Team Trials - Women's Marathon. Dave McGillivray, best known for his work with the Boston Marathon, is the event's Race Director. "It is an honor for the St. Louis Marathon and The St. Louis Sports Commission to be hosting the 30th USA Women's Marathon Championship in April and the Olympic Trials next year. " said Nancy Lieberman, President, Spirit of St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend. "Bringing world-class athletes to St. Louis twice in two years is a thrill for our community and something that makes all of us involved very proud. They serve as role models, inspiring us to achieve our personal fitness goals." Each of the women competing in the Championship qualified for the race by achieving a marathon time of 3 hours, 5 minutes or less; a half-marathon time of 1:30 or less; or a 10K time of 38:30 or less between October 1, 2001 and March 1, 2003. The USA Women's Marathon Championship is part of the 2003 USA Running Circuit - a USA Track & Field road series featuring national championships from 5K to the marathon. With 9 events for men and 7 events for women, the 2003 USARC, the ninth edition for the men and eighth for the women, offers over $340,000 in national 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. The USARC points at the USA Marathon Championships will be doubled. In addition to the Marathon Championship on Saturday, April 5, the elite racers are expected to participate in a special pre-game ceremony as part of Marathon Day at Busch Stadium where the St. Louis Cardinals will be taking on the Houston Astros. Official awards will be presented to the top 10 finishers during the Pasta Party at historical St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Saturday evening. For more information on the Spirit of St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend visit the official web site at www.stlouismarathon.com. Additional information on USA Track & Field can be found at www.usatf.org.
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