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and supported by grants from The New York City Marathon and USA Track & Field
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Team
USA California is Sponsored by Nike
and supported by grants from The New York City Marathon and USA Track & Field |
| Wire 74, Aug 12, 2002 | |
In this Edition of the Running USA Wire
Copyright © 2002 Running USA All Rights Reserved Upcoming Events
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CONTACT: Audra Hoffmeyer, 858/450-6510 Champions Return to Defend Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon Titles South Africa's Shadrack Hoff and America's Own Deena Drossin; Back to Recapture Their Crowns Virginia Beach, VA - (August 9, 2002) - The 2001 men's and women's champions will return for a chance at the second annual Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon title on Sunday, September 1, 2002. Shadrack Hoff of South Africa and Deena Drossin of the U.S. will battle a talented field of elite athletes all capable of grabbing a victory in Virginia Beach and a piece of the $80,000 total prize purse. At last year's Inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, Hoff averaged 4:45 per mile to win in 61:11. Shadrack's core competition for the 2002 run will come from Kenya's John Gwako, who took 2nd at last year's Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon only a second behind Hoff, and Gharib Jaouad of Morocco, who placed 2nd this year at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Brussels. On the women's side, Deena Drossin's win at the 2001 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon began a record breaking season for the 29-year-old. Her 7th place, 2:26:58, American debut-record at the 2001 New York City Marathon sustained her status as a top international elite of the road racing community. The Team USA California athlete continued her sovereignty by setting a world record (14:54) at the 2002 Carlsbad 5000 and winning a silver medal at the World Cross Country Championships in Dublin. "It's always gratifying to have last year's champions return," said Mike Long, Elite Athlete Coordinator for the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon. "Deena and Shadrack are not only great athletes, but also charismatic spokespeople for our sport. We're proud to have them back." Drossin will face tough competition from Kenya's Margaret Okayo (68:51), the 2001 New York City and 2002 Boston Marathon champion and course record holder; who knows a thing or two about rock 'n' roll having won two straight Suzuki Rock 'n' Roll Marathon titles in San Diego (2000-'01). Okayo finished a disappointing 3rd at last year's inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon and is looking to strike back this year. "Within the next few weeks we expect to have some dramatic announcements regarding the elite athlete fields," said Mike Long. "It is our goal to assemble the finest field of international and American athletes ever on American soil." Both Hoff and Drossin have experienced tribulations leading up to this year's race. Hoff has had visa problems trying to get back into the country, and is not expected to arrive in the States until late this month. Drossin put a halt to her summer racing schedule after the USA Outdoor Championships in Palo Alto late this June. Drossin's coach, Joe Vigil, felt Drossin had become a little stale after a year of peak performances beginning with her victory in last year's Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon. The lack of racing before Virginia Beach makes them both susceptible to sharp competition. The Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon starts on 19th Street at the Virginia Beach Pavilion Convention Center and finishes on the oceanfront boardwalk at 4th. For optimal television coverage and spectator viewing, the women's invitational field will start at 6:45 a.m., 15 minutes before the men's invitational field and the official start. The course will be lined with 20 live bands and 14 local high school cheer squads. Following the race, participants will be treated to an evening concert at 5th Street Stage featuring LIVE with special guest Cracker.For more information on the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, contact Elite Racing, Inc. at 5452 Oberlin Dr. Suite B, San Diego, CA 92121, call 800/311-1255, or visit the website at www.RnRHalf.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jennifer Labrecque, 800/311-1212 ROCK 'N' ROLL HALF MARATHON OFFERS LARGEST HALF MARATHON PRIZE PURSE IN U.S. VIRGINIA BEACH, VA - (August 12, 2002) - The Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon (tm), set for September 1st in Virginia Beach announced a total prize package valued at more than $80,000, the largest half marathon purse in the United States. The prize purse features $12,000 for the male and female champions. Other winners will receive: * 2nd Place - $7000 The Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon is offering a $10,000 world record bonus (men's record is 59:17 by Paul Tergat and women's record is 66:44 by Elana Meyer); a $5000 American record bonus (men's is 60:55 by Mark Curp and women's is 68:34 by Joan Benoit); and a $5000 American soil record bonus (men's is 60:27 by Khalid Khannouchi and women's is 68:30 by Catherine Ndereba). In addition, the first male and female finishers from Hampton Roads will receive $500 each. Second place will each take home $250. Both men's and women's masters winners collect $1000 in prize money while second place receives $500. The wheelchair race will present the top male (finishing under 60:00) and top female (finishing under 80:00) $1000 in prize money while second place grabs $500. This does not include hand cranks. The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon prize purse is larger than all other races in Virginia combined. "With a prize purse of this magnitude, we've attracted some of the finest athletes from around the world," said Tim Murphy, president of Elite Racing, Inc., producer of the event. "The Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon course is extremely flat, so these athletes are coming to Virginia Beach with intentions of taking down world and national records." The Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon will host 15,000 runners from all 50 states and several foreign countries and feature 20 live bands along its seaside course. In addition, local high school cheerleading squads will root for participants in a "Spirit on the Course" competition. LIVE will headline a post-race concert on the boardwalk. The 13.1-mile event starts at the Pavilion Convention Center at 6:40 a.m. with the Invitational Wheelchair Start. The Women's Invitational begins at 6:45 a.m. followed by the start of the Men's Invitational and the entire half marathon field at 7:00 a.m. The Women's Invitational field begins first for optimal television coverage of the elite women's competition. The race finishes with a spectacular post-race party on the beach. For more information on the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon
visit www.RnRHalf.com, or call 800/311-1255 or contact the Rock 'n' Roll
Half
USA 50K Trail Championship in Sausilito, CA on August 24 The Golden Gate Headlands 50K will host the USATF 50K National Trail Championship for both Open and Masters runners on August 24, 2002. The race will be run on coastal trails and fireroads a few miles north of San Francisco. A national class field is assembling and it is anticipated that both the men's (3:59:34) and women's (4:29:11) course records are likely to fall. A list of registered runners is available on the race website at http://www.headlands50k.org. The race, in its fifth running this year, welcomes
runners of all abilities and ages, with a single moderate cutoff of 7-1/2
hours at the 25 mile mark. USATF National Championship Open awards go
10 deep in the men's and women's divisions. USATF Masters awards go three-deep
in 5 year age groups starting at 40-44 for both men and women. USATF team
competition is also offered in both the men's and women's divisions. In
addition to well-staffed aid stations and friendly volunteers, there is
a promise of either great views or The course has seven significant climbs and descents, but otherwise good footing. In an attempt to provide something for everyone, there are few hundred yards of beach running, lots of single track and fireroads, a short ladder, a few steps, three or four downed trees, a couple of short technical sections (rooty or rocky downhills) and even a few hundred yards of pavement. According to Peter Franks, the race's championship coordinator, if a strong uphill runner, a downhill specialist, a technical trail runner, and a roadie are all together at the bottom of the last and steepest hill in the race (around the 29 mile mark), the lead might change four times before the finish! Registration is still open and will be until race day. Only USATF members will be eligible for USATF Championship awards. USATF membership is available online at http://www.usatf.org. There are various lodging options in the area from twenty minutes to an hour driving time from the start, including camping, a hostel, and many motels both in Marin and on the San Francisco side of the Golden Gate Bridge. Additional information, including how to register, is available at the race's website, http://www.headlands50k.org, or feel free to contact the R/D, Guy Palmer, at guy@the.dipsea.net or Championship Coordinator, Peter Franks at peterfranks@attglobal.net. Contact Info: Peter Franks, Golden Gate Headlands 50K Championship Coordinator peterfranks@attglobal.net; 415-381-4363 |
| Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services USATF Road Running Information Center 5522 Camino Cerralvo Santa Barbara, CA 93111 (805) 696-6232, fax (805) 696-6252 |
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