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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 75, Aug 15, 2002 | |
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State of the Sport Report, Part II SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - (August 15, 2002) - The total number of finishers in 2001 results received by the USA Track & Field Road Running Information Center (USATF RRIC) increased by 3% over the previous year. For the same events (results were received for both 2000 and 2001), the increase was 2%. The USATF RRIC estimate for total finishers in road running events in 2001 is 7,632,000. Numbers of finishers are tracked instead of entrants to ensure verifiable accuracy and typically equal 80% to 85% of the entrant totals. As was reported in the Running USA wire #35, for the first time since the mid-1980s, the estimated number of marathon finishers in the United States declined - from 451,000 finishers in 2000 to 424,500 in 2001. The loss of marathon numbers also resulted in a lower number of finishers in the largest 100 races (1,335,849 compared to 1,352,515 in 2000). These minor decreases, however, were a direct result of September 11 - especially for events like the larger marathons that are dependent on air travel. For the same 146 U.S. marathons, there was a 6% decline in finishers from 2000 to 2001. With the addition of new marathons such as Comcast Baltimore (4,829 - 6th largest debut), Oklahoma City Memorial (1,890) and Mystic Places in CT (1,074), the overall decrease in marathon finishers was only 3%. Other large races affected by September 11 included the Great Cow Harbor 10K in New York and the Army Ten-Miler in DC which were cancelled. Strong growth in the charity events, 8K, 10 mile and 4 mile events made up for the other losses to produce the overall increase of 3%. Half of the increase in the 8K (5% of the 10% total for the same 74 events) was accounted for by impressive growth in the LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle. The 10 mile growth (10% up over the previous year for the same 47 events) was primarily spread across the Crim, Cherry Blossom and Broad Street races whereas most of the 4 mile growth was attributable to Central Park events - both before and after September 11. The half-marathon continued to show steady growth with a 5% gain. That increase (based on results over two years) did not include the 2001 debuts of Rock 'n' Roll Half-Marathon (10,757), B.A.A. Half (2517) and Western Hemisphere Half (2474) which should elevate the 2002 growth for the distance another notch. The three charts below give a snapshot of race preferences for 2001. With 38.5% of the race finishers (from results received by the USATF RRIC), 42% of the events and 54.7% of new USATF certified courses, there is no doubt that the 5K is still the most common race distance in the U.S. Growth for the distance was primarily in the Race for the Cures (up 12% over 2000) and the Revlon Runs for women in New York and L.A. (5%). Estimated U.S. Road Race Finishers in '01
based on results received by USATF RRIC Percent of Events in 2001 out of total results
received by USATF RRIC Preferred Distances for USATF Certified Courses
in order of New Courses in 2001: LARGEST RACES Complete lists of the Largest Races and Run/Walk Events in the following categories for the last 3 years can be found on the www.runningusa.org and www.usaldr.org websites: Largest 100 Races (timed running events) Go to: http://www.runningusa.org/cgi/index_largest_races.pl Source for all data in this report: USA Track & Field Road Running Information Center Information on 2001 and 2002 events outside of the U.S. should be emailed to USATFRRIC@aol.com or faxed to (805) 696-6252. U.S. road race results for 2002 are also needed as soon as possible for preliminary state rankings. They can be emailed to rric@runningusa.org or Results@LDRResults.com. Performances for state and national rankings must be run on USATF or IAAF/AIMS certified courses. The USATF certified course lists can be found at: http://www.runningusa.org/cgi/cf.cgi
Contact: Neil C. Finn, Neil Finn Sports Management, Inc., (619) 222-5621 AMERICA'S FINEST CITY HALF MARATHON
TO CELEBTATE 25TH YEAR SAN DIEGO, Calif. - (August 15, 2002) - Registration for the 25th Anniversary America's Finest City Half Marathon, to be run Sunday, August 18, is filling at a record rate. The AFC Half Marathon, presented by Southwest, is limited to 6,000 entrants. The AFC 5K has a 1,200-entry limit. The start time for both events is 7 a.m. Race registration will be available, as long as space permits, at the two-day AFC Fitness Expo will be held at the host hotel, Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, on Friday, August 16 (12 noon - 7 p.m.) and Saturday, August 17 (10 a.m. - 5 p.m.). The Sheraton is located on Harbor Island near the San Diego Airport. On-line registration will be available at www.afchalf.com until midnight August 14, space permitting. Another top international field is expected including the women's defending champion and 2002 Boston Marathon champion Margaret Okayo, and once again, $11,000 in prize money and bonuses will be available to top finishers. Any U.S. citizen finishing in the top 5 will receive a bonus of an additional 25% of the prize money they earn. The first San Diego County resident (male & female) to finish will each receive two roundtrip tickets on Southwest Airlines to any of the 58 destinations served by Southwest coast-to-coast. MEN'S FIELD WOMEN'S FIELD To help celebrate the 25th anniversary of the event, each entrant in the Half Marathon will be wearing a silver bib number. At the awards ceremony in Balboa Park, four runners who will have completed all 25 runnings of the America's Finest City Half Marathon will be honored for their accomplishment. The honorees are Gordy Adsit (Jamul), Jerry Albert (San Diego), David Parker (San Diego) and Christian Weber (Phoenix). A fifth runner, Jim Vander Plaats (Carlsbad, CA) has run the previous 24 AFC races, but suffered a knee injure training for this years event. The AFC Half Marathon follows a scenic point-to-point course from the Cabrillo National Monument at the tip of Point Loma, along San Diego Bay, through downtown, and ends in beautiful Balboa Park. The 5K starts and finishes at the Half Marathon finish line at the Hall of Champions at Pan American Plaza in Balboa Park. The event benefits the Cabrillo National Monument Foundation, a private, non-profit cooperating association of the National Park Service. The purpose of the CNMF is to support interpretive, educational, and scientific activities at Cabrillo National Monument. During its 24-year history, the America's Finest City Half Marathon has raised over $1.6 million for non-profit organizations. The America's Finest City Half Marathon is a Running USA Founding Member and is produced by Neil Finn Sports Management, Inc. For more information or to register for the 2002 AFC Half Marathon & 5K, please visit www.afchalf.com or call (858) 792-2900.
Contact: Sherlynn Everly, (810) 235-3396 Woman's Marathon World Record Holder Catherine Ndereba Returns to Flint to Share Her Wisdom and Insight FLINT, Mich. - (August 15, 2002) - The Crim Festival of Races and the Riverfront Character Inn and Conference Center are pleased to welcome Catherine Ndereba back to Flint. Since we last saw Catherine at the 2001 Crim Festival of Races, she set the World Record at the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. Her time: 2:18:47. Raised on a farm in Kenya, Catherine has dominated the long distance running circuit since 1995. In 2001, Catherine competed against the best runners in the world and won 14 of the 16 races she ran in! She has been named RUNNER'S WORLD Road Runner of the Year five times. Catherine, her husband, Anthony Maina, and their daughter, Jane, will be returning to Flint to defend her Crim Women's Open Title for the sixth time. While she's here, Catherine will be sharing her wisdom and insight with runners and non-runners alike. Catherine's first speaking engagement will be at the New Jerusalem Full Gospel Baptist Church on Wednesday, August 21, 6-8:00 p.m. Catherine will be sharing stories of her experiences with the F.A.C.E.D. Health Team Network, which currently consists of 45 interdenominational and multicultural churches working within the Flint Community. Their mission: Spreading the Good News of Good Health. The general public is invited to share in this exciting and informative evening. New Jerusalem Full Gospel Baptist Church is located at 1035 East Carpenter Road, Flint (corner of Saginaw Street and Carpenter Road). Light refreshments will be served. Catherine's second speaking engagement will be at the Crim Running Clinic at the Riverfront Character Inn during the Crim Sports and Fitness Expo. Scheduled for Friday, August 23 at 3:30 p.m., this FREE clinic will give you an opportunity to meet Ms. Ndereba and learn some of her training tips and race strategies. Roger Samuel, Publisher of The Flint Journal and noted local runner will be hosting the clinic. And finally, after the race, you'll have the opportunity to meet Catherine and all the Crim elite athletes at the International Institute's International Festival at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 24. Join them in the Hall of Nations to watch WFUM's 26th same-day broadcast of the Crim 10 Mile Race. The International Institute is located at 515 Stevens Street, telephone (810) 767-0720.
Contacts: Catherine Rogan, (713) 752-1900; crogan@hillandknowlton.com
Annual Kickoff Party Begins Countdown to 2003 hp houston marathon and ep 13.1 miler HOUSTON - (August 15, 2002) - Marathon season officially
begins in Houston September 9, as more than 2,500 area runners are expected
to register for the 2003 hp houston marathon and ep 13.1 miler at the
annual kickoff party. "The annual kickoff party has become an important part of the overall race experience for our runners," said race director Brant Kotch. "The gathering helps them get focused, get into the spirit of the event and provides a source of motivation for the training ahead. Participants also can choose to make their race mean even more by signing up to 'Run for a Reason' to support a local nonprofit organization." Run for a Reason is the hp houston marathon's popular
charity program. Over the past eight years, nearly $1.7 million has been
raised for local charities by the marathon, ep 13.1 miler and fun-run
participants through pledges and donations. The marathon entry fee is $65 and fee for the ep 13.1 miler, $45. Both races offer a $5 discount for registering online. The hp houston marathon - a Running USA Founding Member - is the nation's premier winter marathon, annually attracting participants from all 50 U.S. states and several foreign countries. In 2002, more than 15,000 runners took part in four marathon weekend events (the marathon, ep 13.1 miler and four-mile run all held on Sunday and a children's run held on Saturday). The hp houston marathon offers the only closed marathon course in Texas and is ranked among the top five in the nation by the "Ultimate Guide to Marathons" for fastest course, organization and crowd support. More than 5,000 volunteers organize the race, which is Houston's largest single-day sporting event. For more information, visit the marathon website (www.hphoustonmarathon.com) or call (713) 957-3453. |
| 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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