1. Colleen DeReuck Wins First USA Championship at Carolina 8

Copyright (c) 2001 Running USA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DeReuck Wins First USA Championship at Carolina 8K
By Carol McLatchie, Running USA wire

COLUMBIA, SC - (February 10, 2001) - New U.S. citizen Colleen DeReuck showed why she is one of the world's best road runners with a convincing win at the Carolina 8K, the USA Women's Championship. Under partly cloudy skies and 70 degrees, the long-time Boulder, Colo. resident took control of the noon race from the start as the former South African passed the slightly downhill first mile in 4:45 with the trailing pack--led by Vicki Mitchell, Susannah Beck and Kim Pawelek--14 seconds back.

Over the three lap rectangular course in Ft. Jackson, DeReuck continued to build her lead. With a 21 second advantage at four miles (21:11), victory was virtually assured, and later she cruised home in 26:16. Beck of Eugene, Ore., the 1998 USA 12K champion, finished second in 26:33 with Mitchell and Pawelek third (26:53) and fourth (27:19) respectively.

"I was pleased with my race overall, and it feels great to win a U.S. title. This race was an excellent prep for the Paris Marathon in April," beamed the new USA 8K champion.

For her first major race on U.S. soil as a U.S. citizen, the three-time Olympian earned $4000 as national champion plus an extra $800 as the leader after every mile. In addition, DeReuck, 36, set a U.S. single age 8K record with her 26:16. The top master and 6th overall, Mary Knisely, 41, of Naperville, Ill., also set a U.S. single age record (27:34).

Annette Peters of Eugene, Ore., a race favorite, was unable to get to Columbia due to weather problems during a Chicago stopover. Shelly Steely also was a late scratch due to the flu.

The Carolina 8K also opened the 2001 USA Running Circuit, a USA Track & Field road series. The 2001 USARC, the seventh edition for the men and sixth for the women, offers over $290,000 in prize money plus a $25,000 grand prix purse. All USARC events--six for men and eight for women--are USA Championships. U.S. men open their Circuit at the Gate River Run 15K (joint national championship) in Jacksonville, Florida on March 10.

Per 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. At the USA Marathon Championships, USARC points will be doubled.

Carolina 8K: USA Women's Championship
Columbia, SC, February 10, 2001

PL	NAME	AGE	HOME	TIME	PRIZE $
1	Colleen DeReuck	36	Boulder, CO	26:16	$4800*
2	Susannah Beck	32	Eugene, OR	26:33	$2500
3	Vicki Mitchell	31	Amherst, NY	26:53	$2000
4	Kim Pawelek	27	Jacksonville, FL	27:19	$1500
5	Betsy Kempter	34	Chapel Hill, NC	27:27	$1000
6	Mary Knisely	41	Naperville, IL	27:34	$950#
7	Katie Courtwright	36	Dallas, TX	27:44	$600
8	Robin Lawhorn	30	Frankfort, KY	27:58	$500
9	Kim Kauls	31	Forest Lake, MN	28:18	$400
10	Kristin White	30	Fayetteville, NY	28:19	$300
11	Amanda Lynch	23	Kingsport, TN	28:20	$100
12	Michelle LaFleur	28	Savannah, GA	28:21	$100
13	Emily Nay	23	Ogden, UT	28:35	$100
14	Janice Addison	40	Columbia, SC	28:42	$250#
15	Judy Johnson	23	Atlanta, GA	28:58	$100

*includes mile primes ($200 as each mile leader)
#includes masters prize money

For complete race results and more, go to the race website at:
www.carolinamarathon.org/marathon.html

USA Running Circuit Standings
after one race

PL	NAME	AGE	HOME	PTS
1	Colleen DeReuck	36	Boulder, CO	15
2	Susannah Beck	32	Eugene, OR	12
3	Vicki Mitchell	31	Amherst, NY	10
4	Kim Pawelek	27	Jacksonville, FL	7
5	Betsy Kempter	34	Chapel Hill, NC	6
6	Mary Knisely	41	Naperville, IL	5
7	Katie Courtwright	36	Dallas, TX	4
8	Robin Lawhorn	30	Frankfort, KY	3
9	Kim Kauls	31	Forest Lake, MN	2
10	Kristin White	30	Fayetteville, NY	1

Next USARC race:
Gate River Run 15K (men & women), Jacksonville, FL $46,800 March 10

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Coordinator
Media Services USATF Road Running Information Center
5522 Camino Cerralvo
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 696-6252 www.usaldr.org

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