Return to top / Return to main page

Browne Wins USA Men's Half-Marathon Title at Houston
By Steve Sievert, Running USA wire

HOUSTON - (January 16, 2005) - So much for a post-Olympic hangover.

Dan Browne, who represented the U.S. in both the marathon and 10,000 meters at the 2004 Athens Games, dispelled any concern of a post-Olympics letdown with a strong late-race surge to claim victory at the 2005 USA Men's Half-Marathon Championship in Houston.

An upset stomach forced Browne, 29, from Beaverton, Ore., to begin the race cautiously. He tucked himself into a pack of about 30 runners who spent the first few miles of the race looking around for a definitive leader on cool (36 degrees at the start) and windy race morning.

Teddy Mitchell and Justin Young were among those setting the pace, along with Kenyans Julius Kibet and Sammy Nyamongo, as the national championship race was staged in conjunction with the Open event in the Aramco Houston Half Marathon. The pack shed about five as it coasted through four and five miles at a comfortable five-minute-mile pace.

The first move of the day came from Kibet, 22, who found another gear at the 10K mark and quickly built a sizeable lead. At that point, Browne and the other elite Americans had to think it was a race for second and the national title.

"It's a hard thing to admit sometimes, but I knew with the way my body was feeling going after him was going to be tough. I decided to hang back a little bit to see what happened in the pack," said Browne.

Browne, Young, Matt Gabrielson and Jason Lehmukuhle formed the chase group that tried to keep in Kibet in sight, while jockeying for position to decide the U.S. crown. It was the West Point grad, Browne, who had the most left for a late push to the finish in 1:03:56 - 10 seconds better than Gabrielson, and he also won $8500 and the first event on the 2005 USA Running Circuit, a national road championship grand prix. Browne was the 2001-02 USARC Grand Prix champion.

"A national championship is a great way to get the year started," said Browne, who also won the national half-marathon title in 2001 and his 14th U.S. title overall. "It gives me a lot of confidence going into the rest of the year, hopefully headed toward Helsinki in either the 5000 or the 10,000."

The 26-year-old Gabrielson ran a strong second half of the race to take the national runner-up spot in 1:04:06 - a finish just as surprising to him as it was to the rest of the field.

"I kind of came into the race blindfolded," said Gabrielson, who trains with Team USA Minnesota in Minneapolis/St. Paul. "This the first time I've run the half-marathon distance. It was my first race over seven miles, and I knew it was a tough field. I just tried to maintain focus when Kibet made his move."

"It was just Dan and me at 12 miles. He made a move I couldn't cover, but I'm pleased with my finish."

So, too was Kibet, who slowed late in the race, but was never threatened. "I looked over my shoulder, but couldn't see anyone," said Kibet, whose lead in the second half of the race swelled to as much as 45 seconds. His winning time was 1:03:17.

In the women's division in the Aramco Houston Half Marathon, Russia's Olga Romanova led a pack of eight through a sluggish 5K in 18:01. The group was still stuck in slow motion at the 10K mark, covered in 35:22, before Romanova and countrywoman Lioudmila Kortchaguina decided it was time to step it up.

The pair surged and stayed together over the next several miles before Romanova, 24, made a decisive move.

"I ran really hard the last mile and a half," said Romanova, whose 2005 goal is to represent her country on the track at this summer's World Championships. "I think I ran a smart race."

Romanova's winning time of 1:12:36 was 19 seconds better than Kortchaguina. Colleen De Reuck, 40, who won the Houston Half last year, was the top American women. Her 1:14:05 was good for fifth.

In the accompanying 33rd running of the HP Houston Marathon, David Cheruiyot, of Kenya, and hometown girl Kelly Keane, from Houston suburb The Woodlands, were victorious. Cheruiyot, 34, led from mile 9 and won in 2:14:50, while Keane grasped the lead from Poland's Wioletta Kryza at mile 21 to win in a nearly four-minute PR of 2:32:27.

An HP Houston Marathon record of 17,206 runners participated in the marathon, half-marathon and companion 5K.

Aramco Houston Half Marathon: USA Men's Championship
Houston, TX, Sunday, January 16, 2005

MEN
1. Julius Kibet (KEN) 1:03:17, $5,000
2. Dan Browne (USA/OR) 1:03:56, $3,500, plus $5,000 for USA title
3. Matt Gabrielson (USA/MN) 1:04:06, $2,500 (plus $3,500 U.S.)
4. Jason Lehmukuhle (USA/MN), 1:04:08, $1,500 (plus $2,000 U.S.)
5. Chris Gaff (USA/CA), 1:04:17, $750 (plus $1,750 U.S.)
6. Matt Lane (USA/CA), 1:04:18, $1,500 U.S.
7. Justin Young (USA/CO), 1:04:36, $1,250 U.S.
8. Peter De La Cerda (USA/CO), 1:04:48, $1,000 U.S.
9. Mike Morgan (USA/NE), 1:04:48, $750 U.S.
10. Calvin Staples (CAN), 1:05:00

WOMEN
1. Olga Romanova (RUS), 1:12:36, $5,000
2. Lioudmila Kortchaguina (RUS), 1:12:55, $3,500
3. Firaya Sultanova-Zhdanova (RUS), 1:13:26, $2,500
4. Nicole Stevenson (CAN), 1:13:37, $1,500
5. Colleen De Reuck (USA/CO), 1:14:05, $750
6. Lyubov Denisova (RUS), 1:14:30
7. Dana Coons (USA/MN), 1:15:00
8. Garina Alexandrova (RUS), 1:16:01
9. Ann Gaffigan (USA/NE), 1:17:12
10. Katie Blackett (USA/CO), 1:17:26

33rd HP Houston Marathon

MEN
1. David Cheruiyot (KEN), 2:14:50, $10,000
2. Andrej Naumov (UKR), 2:15:16, $8,000
3. Marek Jaroszewski (POL), 2:15:34, $6,000
4. Dmitry Burmakin (RUS), 2:22:13, $4,000
5. Tesfaye Eticha (ETH), 2:24:57, $2,000

WOMEN
1. Kelly Keane (USA/TX), 2:32:27, $10,000
2. Wioletta Kryza (POL), 2:35:25, $8,000
3. Kay Ulrich (NZL), 2:39:08, $6,000
4. Maria Portilla (Peru), 2:40:59, $4,000
5. Magdalene Karimali (Greece), 2:45:29, $2,000

For full results, go to: www.hphoustonmarathon.com

Return to top / Return to main page

Contact: Karen Boe, (801) 484-8971; kboe@devinerace.com

SALT LAKE CITY MARATHON A TOP NATIONAL PICK FOR 2005
Runner's World, Competitor and Rocky Mountain Sports List SLC in Top Marathons

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - January 12, 2005) - The Salt Lake City Marathon was among 12 new favorites listed by Runner's World in the 2005 Marathon Guide in their January article: "Small Wonders: Big Fun, Big Scenery, Big Rewards." January's Competitor Magazine and Rocky Mountain Sports Magazine both tout Salt Lake City as the "Best Race at Altitude."

"We are thrilled to be recognized by the national sports press. We've heard very positive feedback from last year's participants and we have big plans in store to offer runners a thrilling experience in 2005," said Greg Reid, Race Director. It is expected that total participant numbers from last year will more than double on the second annual running on April 23, 2005.

Runner's World author Bart Yasso states: "After Salt Lake City hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics, the city wanted to put on another world-class event, and in 2004, the Salt Lake City Marathon made its debut. In April, you get a great view of the snow-capped Wasatch Mountains while you run through the valley's floor in spring bloom. The relatively flat, net-descent loop starts at the Olympic Legacy Bridge at the University of Utah, the site of the Olympic Village, at 4,800 feet. The course goes through city parks and heads south, with the Wasatch Mountains on the left, to the halfway point, then swings back through residential neighborhoods before finishing at the Olympic Legacy Plaza. Participants get a long-sleeve technical T-shirt. Take a nap before the evening's post-race party - last year the B-52's provided the "boogie." If your legs are up for it, you can even do the "bump" to complete the race theme of 'Run, Bump & Boogie'"

Both Competitor Magazine and Rocky Mountain Sports call Salt Lake City the "Best Race at Altitude". "Yes, the air is thin...but the vociferous encouragement may make you forget. This town took the race as its own and made it special. Special included a finish through the Olympic Plaza and boisterous crowds, in addition to race management that sweated the details."

The second annual Salt Lake City Marathon & 5K "Run, Bump & Boogie" will be held on April 23, 2005. Online registration is available at www.saltlakecitymarathon.com. With a 25 percent increase in the prize purse to $125,000, this race is expected to attract even greater attention from world-class runners around the globe. The website has easy-to-use registration forms, training information, travel and accommodation links, special stories and photographs from the inaugural event. In addition, participants can find course maps and details on the entire weekend of festivities. The Devine Racing offices are located at 136 E South Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah. For race information, contact Greg Reid, Race Director at (801) 412-6087 or greid@devinerace.com

Return to top / Return to main page

Contact: Tim Arem, (828) 298-4789; tbonerun@hotmail.com

"T-Bone" to Appear at Too Good for Drugs Jr. Gasparilla Distance Classic

"T-Bone," the nationally-known kid's entertainer, fitness advocate and educator, will be motivating and inspiring children and families at the Too Good for Drugs Jr. Gasparilla Distance Classic on January 22, 2005 at 11am. The event will be held at the University of Tampa track; distances will vary according to age. Every child will finish the event feeling like a winner with a shiny gold medal. Education through entertainment and enthusiasm helps participants and their families gain knowledge and understanding about the importance of fitness and health.

The man behind the brightly colored costume and entertaining persona is award-winning fitness educator Tim Arem M.Ed. His personal commitment is to share health, fitness and entertainment with children and adults of all ages. As the energetic health and fitness character, "T-Bone," Arem has been involved in 500 races and has worked with 1.5 million families at fitness events for over 15 years. His mission - "health and fitness as a way of life from childhood to adulthood" - inspires and motivates thousands of families nationwide.

All registered racers will receive a 2005 Too Good for Drugs Jr. Gasparilla t-shirt, goody bag, post-race treats and a Jr. Classic "I Did It" medal." The age limit is 3-10 years old and is free for all runners. Serious competition is not the driving force of the event. There are usually over 1,800 participants each year. T-Bone" will be warming up the children and leading them to the finish line with enthusiasm and encouragement. To register, visit www.tampabayrun.com or call (813) 254-7866.

For information on the Too Good for Drugs program, contact the Mendez Foundation at: www.mendezfoundation.org. This foundation is an innovator in Drug and Violence program education throughout the nation.

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org

www.runningusa.org