| Running USA Wire 110, December 29, 2003 |
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to main page DULUTH, Minn. - (December 29, 2003) - The Minnesota Elite Athlete Development Program (MEADP) is proud to announce that they will award a total of $4000 in grant money to five Minnesota elite distance runners. Matthew Gabrielson of Apple Valley, Jeremy Polson of Duluth, Johanna Olson of Bloomington, Sara Wells of Edina and Marie Parker-Sample of Marshall were selected through an application process to receive funds that will help cover training, travel and competition expenses. The grants will be awarded to the athletes at the Minnesota Distance Running Association (MDRA) Annual Meeting on Saturday, January 24. In addition, MEADP will present checks worth $250 to all Minnesota distance runners who have qualified to compete in 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials events ranging from the 5000 meters to the marathon. "We have great faith in the talent of our up and coming Minnesota elite athletes, and want to help them have adequate resources to take their training and competing to the highest level possible," says Scott Keenan, executive director of Grandma's Marathon and a member of the MEADP committee. MEADP was created in 1998 by Grandma's Marathon, the Twin Cities Marathon, MDRA and the USA Track & Field to provide financial assistance to Minnesota distance runners who have completed their academic running career. Grants are awarded annually to assist qualified runners in reaching their fullest potential. Contact: Return to top / Return to main page Contact: Susan Reid/Audra Fleming, (858) 450-6510 Elite Women Ready to Rock at Inaugural Marathon SAN DIEGO, Calif. - (Dec. 29, 2003) - A stellar field of elite female runners is shaping up for what is expected to be a fast race at the inaugural P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon on January 11, 2004. As with the men's elite field, past women's champions and standouts from musical marathons around the country highlight the field for the race that runs through the flat and fast terrain of downtown Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe. Romania's Aurica Buia, 33, is a two-time Country Music Marathon champion, having won the Nashville race in 2001 and 2002. She earned the 2001 title by posting a time of 2:34:40, nearly two minutes ahead of the second place finisher. Buia owns a personal best of 2:31:39. Challenging her will be Tanzania's Banuelia Mrashani, 26, who owns the fastest PR in the field thus far at 2:24:59. Mrashani won the 2002 Tokyo International Ladies Marathon when she upset local favorite Rie Matsuoka. Also in the forefront are Romania's Anuta Canuta, who has a personal best of 2:27:34 and Russia's Ramilia Burangulova (2:27:58) and Lioudmila Kortchaguina (2:29:53). Canuta and Kortchaguina both placed in the top 10 at the 2003 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach. Both the men's and women's elite fields will battle for a prize purse that exceeds $100,000, with the champion in each marathon receiving $20,000. The P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon & 1/2 Marathon is the fourth in a series of musical road races that feature a live band staged along every mile of the 26.2 and 13.1-mile race courses to provide runners and spectators with continuous entertainment. The day concludes with an evening concert featuring the Grammy-nominated Goo Goo Dolls at Tempe Beach Park. For more information on P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona or to register for the race, visit www.rnraz.com or contact Elite Racing, Inc. at 5452 Oberlin Drive, San Diego, CA 92121, or call (858) 450-6510. P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon Name/Age/Country/PR Return
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to main page Contact: Steven Karpas, (713) 957-3453 skarpas@hphoustonmarathon.com Bank of Texas Supports HP Houston Marathon as Official Banking Sponsor HOUSTON - (Dec. 29, 2003) - Bank of Texas has signed on as a flagship sponsor of the 2004 HP Houston Marathon and will serve as the official banking sponsor of the 32nd annual event. In its first collaboration with Houston's premier running event, Bank of Texas will have its company name displayed on race-number bibs worn by runners in the marathon. In addition, Bank of Texas will host two cheering stations along the course: one in West University and another in the Tanglewood neighborhood. "The HP Houston Marathon is more than a race, it's a community-wide event in which thousands of people get involved," said Rich Jochetz, president of the Houston division of Bank of Texas. "The event shares our vision of community involvement and supporting this Houston tradition underscores Bank of Texas' commitment to the community where our employees live and work." Bank of Texas employees will staff the two on-course cheering stations and serve spectators "breakfast on the boulevard" in Tanglewood, near the 17-mile mark. "I continued to be heartened by the outpouring of support from the Houston business community," said Brant Kotch, race director. "We are very fortunate to benefit from such strong corporate support in Houston and look forward to working with Bank of Texas in 2004." The HP Houston Marathon, Halliburton International Half Marathon and Houston Press/METRO 5K are scheduled for Jan. 18. 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 nearly 20 foreign countries. In 2003, more than 17,000 runners took part in four marathon weekend events (marathon, half-marathon, four-mile run and children's run). 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 at www.hphoustonmarathon.com or call (713) 957-3453. Return
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to main page Contact: Franca Gargiulo, Director Media Relations (415) 922-2870; franca.gargiulo@att.net Big Sur International Marathon Announces Near Sell Out and Training Clinics CARMEL, Calif. - (December 29, 2003) - In a move to handle the high demand for race entries, the 19th Big Sur International Marathon increased its registration numbers for the 26.2 mile road race from 3500 to 4000 and later to 4500 entries. Entry to the marathon is nearly sold out at 85% capacity. Other events such as the Power Walk and the 10 Mile Walk were sold out last month, only 8 weeks after the opening of registration. There are still entries available for the Relay and the KION 5K. "We are very pleased with such an early response for our April events and are particularly pleased that both walk events have sold out," stated Wally Kastner, Race Director. In an effort to properly prepare runners, Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP) has once again partnered with the marathon to present training clinics. "The purpose of the clinic is to inspire those first time runners (as well as veterans) and provide practical, no nonsense training tips," said Mike Dove, world class runner and head of the training clinics. "And there is nothing like the group support to cheer on those athletes who may have doubts about tackling such a difficult endeavor." The schedule for the January and February clinic sessions, held on Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. in conference Rooms A, B, C at CHOMP are as follows: * January 6 - Nutrition and Staying Motivated The clinics are free and open to the public and continue until Marathon day - April 25, 2004. Additional information on registration and other race related questions
can be found on the website at www.bsim.org. Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services USATF Road Running Information Center 365 Oak View Lane Santa Barbara, CA 93111 (805) 696-6232, fax (805) 696-6252 http://www.runningusa.org
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