| Running USA wire 85, October 23, 2005 |
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Canada Again Claims Crown at
North American 5K Team Championship CHULA VISTA, Calif. - (Oct. 23, 2005) - Under cool, overcast conditions on Sunday morning, Canada's Paul Morrison and Emilie Mondor took home top individual honors and led their country to its second straight North American 5K Team Championship. The elite 3.1-mile foot race, which also involved the United States and Mexico, was held in conjunction with the 17th annual Arturo Barrios 5K & 10K Invitational. In the unique three-nation team competition, Morrison broke free from the USA's Fernando Cabada and Mexico's Juan Luis Barrios (no relation to race namesake Arturo) on the final of three laps on the 3.1-mile course around Chula Vista Harbor, to finish in a time of 13:58 and secure Canada's first individual men's title in the four-year championship history. "We knew we (Canada) had a strong team coming," said Morrison, who attended Princeton and is now a graduate student at the University of Texas. "The Mexican men have always been really strong at the finish. I didn't want to leave it to the kick. They are all 1500 meter runners, so fast. My strategy worked perfectly, to go out fast. I'm really happy. Any time you wear the Canadian jersey, you want to perform well. It's a source of pride and you want to step it up." For Mondor this year's victory, at 15:37, marked her third consecutive North American 5K individual title, though it was just shy of last year's course and Canadian national record time of 15:16. "I said from the start, I'm going to go out fast and I'm going to win or I'll die trying," Mondor added. "It was a big gamble, but I felt confident." A prize purse of $25,000 was awarded to the teams, with Canada receiving $12,000, the United States $6000, and Mexico $3000. Morrison and Mondor each earned $1300 for their individual victories. In the low score cross country-type format where the top two from each gender score, the U.S. and Canada were tied as the race entered its latter stages. The championship was determined when Canada's Tara Quinn Smith battled past America's Amy Mortimer for third place behind Mondor and American Amy Yoder Begley. That gave the Canadian women four points and the American women six. Behind Morrison's one point victory, teammate Reid Coolsaet finished third for the second straight year, combining with Morrison for a total of four points. America's chances waned when 23-year-old Fernando Cabada, a senior at Virginia Intermont College, faded from his second place position all the way back to seventh at the finish. That left countrymen Pete Julian (fourth, 14:11) and Ian Conner (sixth, 14:19) as America's scoring duo at 10 points. In the previous three years, each country had scored a first, second and third finish in the team competition, making 2005 the tie-breaking year. Mexico's men, who had won the previous two individual titles, failed to find their usual form as Barrios and Teodora Vega finished second and fifth, respectively. Their top women, America Mateos (16:41) and Gisel Bautista (16:57) could only manage 15th and 16th overall. The U.S. women's team lost one of its stars just before the start of the race when 2005 USA Outdoor 5000 meter runner-up Lauren Fleshman pulled out with a foot injury suffered in her warm-up. A pair of UCLA student-athletes won the "People's 5K" race, with Erik Emilsson, 23, running 14:56 on the men's side and San Dieguito High School product Jenna Timinsky, 21, winning the women's race in 17:05. In second place, behind Timinsky was three-time Boston Marathon champion Uta Pippig, 40, who finished in 17:26. Pippig, a native of Germany, is now a U.S. citizen and lives and trains in Boulder, Colo. In the 10K, Nick Arciniaga, 22, of Fountain Valley, Calif. won in 30:47 and Jessi Stensland, 29, a professional triathlete from San Diego, captured the women's race in 36:19. In all, more than 4,300 runners and walkers enjoyed the 17th annual "Fiesta by the Bay" at Chula Vista Marina. During that span over $225,000 has been raised for the South Chula Vista Library. 4th North American 5K Team
Championship Team Championship MEN WOMEN Arturo Barrios 5K / 10K results at: EliteRacing.com Contact: Ian Monahan, Elite Racing, Inc., (408) 655-6967 Return to top / Return to main page Trio of Ethiopian Stars Added
to ING New York City Marathon 2005 Field NEW YORK - (October 19, 2005) - Reigning Boston Marathon champion Hailu Negussie of Ethiopia will run the ING New York City Marathon 2005, it was announced by New York Road Runners president and CEO and race director Mary Wittenberg. Negussie joins a men's field that is the deepest and fastest in the history of the race, including world record holder Paul Tergat of Kenya and 2004 Olympic silver medalist Meb Keflezighi of the United States. "Individually they are all stars, but together they make a galaxy of greats," Wittenberg said of the men's talent assembled for the 36th running of the race on Sunday, November 6. "This is as good as it gets." Tergat, 36, set a world record of 2:04:55 at the 2003 real Berlin Marathon, a mark that stood up to a challenge by the legendary Haile Gebrselassie in Amsterdam on October 16. Keflezighi, 30, won the silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympic marathon, then finished second at the ING New York City Marathon in 2:09:53 just 10 weeks later. Also in the New York field are defending champion (2:09:28) Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa, 2005 Flora London Marathon winner Martin Lel of Kenya (also the 2003 ING New York City Marathon champ) and New York course record holder and 2001 champion (2:07:43) Tesfaye Jifar of Ethiopia. Negussie, 27, joined that trio of "Big Five" marathon champions with his victory at Boston this year. In the biggest win of his career, Negussie outlasted the field in warm conditions to win in 2:11:45. His victory was the first by an Ethiopian man in Boston since Abebe Mekonnen won in 1989. Derartu Tulu and Gete Wami are two of the most decorated athletes in Ethiopia's rich tradition of distance running. Both will be making their ING New York City Marathon debuts. Tulu, 33, won three Olympic medals at 10,000 meters - gold in 1992 and 2000 and bronze in 2004 - and was the 2001 Flora London Marathon champion. She finished fourth in a personal best time of 2:23:30 at the IAAF World Championships Marathon in Helsinki last August. Wami, 30, won Olympic medals at 5000 meters (bronze, 2000) and 10,000 meters (bronze, 1996; silver, 2000) and is the Ethiopian marathon record holder (2:22:19, Amsterdam 2002). New York Road Runners officials also announced that reigning two-time men's world marathon champion Jaouad Gharib of Morocco has withdrawn, citing difficulty in recovering completely after winning his second world marathon crown in Helsinki in August. In an e-mail to race officials, Gharib's manager, Gianni Demadonna, wrote, "The training is not going how he and his coach would like, and they were forced to take the decision to cancel his participation. He is very sad because he was very confident after the World Championships, but now that the marathon is approaching he feels day after day that he cannot be ready, and as a serious professional runner he doesn't want to spoil his name with a bad race." The ING New York City Marathon Return to top / Return to main page Contact: Chris Gallegos, (303) 382-4072 Inaugural Post-News Colorado Colfax Marathon to Host
2006 USATF Club Relay DENVER - (October 19, 2005) - The inaugural Post-News Colorado Colfax Marathon continues gaining national prominence. Race officials from the Colfax Marathon Partnership have announced that the USA Track & Field Club Relay Marathon National Championships will be contested during the May 21, 2006 running of the Post-News Colorado Colfax Marathon. Officials from USA Track & Field (USATF) cited the popularity of marathon and relay running in their decision to bring the championships to the state. "We applaud the efforts of the Post-News Colorado Colfax Marathon to bring our national championship event to Colorado. Here at USA Track & Field, we are committed to do everything we can to make this event a success and bring added national significance to our running club program," said Bill Roe, President, USATF. This will only be the third time the USATF has held a club relay marathon national championship. Club relay marathon competitions are one of the few opportunities runners have to compete as a team since most marathon events only involve individual running competitions. Colorado USATF spokesman John Tope said Colorado clubs, such as the Boulder Road Runners, are excited to compete for the national championships in their home state. "There will be clubs coming from all over the country and we have to defend our home turf," Tope said. "This is a great opportunity to show the rest of the country that Colorado running clubs are among the best in the nation." The club relay marathon national championships will include USATF clubs and members and will feature five runners with each running either 5K, 10K or 12K legs. The event joins the Wheelchair Track & Field USA National Wheelchair Marathon Championships in selecting Colfax to host their competitions. "For Colfax to be selected for this unique event is truly an honor," said Jay Gershen, Executive Vice Chancellor for the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center and the Chairman of the Colfax Marathon Partnership. "I'm certain that communities along the Colfax corridor and throughout the state will show these elite competitors the passion we have for the sport." The inaugural Post-News Colorado Colfax Marathon will be held on Sunday, May 21, 2006. Dubbed "America's Main Street Marathon", it starts on historic Colfax Avenue in Aurora, passes the state capitol in Denver and finishes at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Lakewood. Race organizers predict more than 6,000 amateur and professional athletes will pa rticipate in either the full or half-marathon, or join others in the unique five-person relay. Proceeds from the event will be donated to local community-based charities that support youth health and fitness. To learn more about the Post-News Colorado Colfax Marathon, visit: ColoradoColfaxMarathon.org Return to top / Return to main page Marine Corps Marathon Taps
into New Race Technology QUANTICO, Va. - (October 20, 2005) - The Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) has announced new innovations to race technology for its 30th edition on Sunday, October 30. The new services will enable spectators and families to better track a runner whether on the course or under medical care. Available through the event website - MarineMarathon.com, new technology to be unveiled include Active's Remote Runner Tracking and Map Track, new medical tracking technology and the interactive course map from The Map Network. In recent years, the MCM has introduced ChampionChip timing, the Cisco Check-Your-Runners stations and an interactive results CD created by MarathonFoto. "Over the years, the MCM has always been on the cutting edge of technology," said Rick Nealis, MCM Race Director. "I am proud of these new additions to the race to make the event safer and more enjoyable for everyone." One new feature, Map Track by Active.com allows spectators to track a runner on a simplified course map and follow their progress as they run the race. Their position on the course will be projected in real-time along the course map using their latest pace data. A status bar keeps track of the runner's progress and is updated with new pace information every time a runner crosses a split location. Spectators can track runners by signing up for Remote Runner Tracking on the MCM website. This pre-registered service sends split times and other information to a pager, email account or phone. The MCM also boasts a state-of-the-art medical tracking system for runners and spectators needing and receiving aid. This system, supported by more than 80 HAM amateur radio operators along the course, enables medical personnel to communicate between aid stations, ambulance crews and the MCM Command Center. The system also allows quick and easy access to information for family and friends by visiting the Information Tent near the MCM finish area. The Map Network offers a new communication medium for the MCM with a custom course map featuring everything runners and spectators need to know from mile markers to the water points, from medical aid stations to food stations, plus photo locations, live music, elevation and entertainment. MCM8K runners and participants in the Healthy Kids Fun Run can click through their own interactive course maps as well. Spectators can use the event map to follow the recommended route for viewing runners. Parking, shuttle bus service and Metro routes are all featured in great detail to ease any race morning transportation concerns. The sold-out Marine Corps Marathon continues a combined tradition of dedication, sportsmanship and patriotism. Since its inception, over 300,000 civilian and military runners from all walks of life have participated, deservingly earning the event its nickname "The People's Marathon." The 30th Marine Corps Marathon will be held on Sunday, October 30, 2005. Visit MarineMarathon.com for more information. For media information, contact Beth Cline, Marine Corps Marathon Public Relations Coordinator at (703) 432-1165 or Elizabeth.Cline@usmc.mil Return to top / Return to main page Contact: Jeff Darman, (610) 925-1976 Tracey Russell Named 2005 MarathonFoto / Road Race Management Race Director of the Year Road Race Management has named Tracey Russell, Director of the Monument Avenue 10K in Richmond, Virginia, as its 2005 MarathonFoto / Road Race Management Race Director of the Year. Russell accepted the award at the Road Race Management Race Director's Meeting and Trade Show in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Thursday, October 20th. The award is presented by Running Times magazine. Described by Bill Rodgers as "the Gold Medal of race directing," the award is determined by a vote of a diverse ten-member committee comprised of race directors, media, sponsors and elite athletes. "Tracey Russell is one of a new breed of race directors, coming into the sport on the wave of the less competitive, more participatory running boom. Under her leadership the Monument Avenue 10K has performed like Google after its initial public offering. The participation level of the event grew from about 2,400 at the inaugural event in 2000 to over 16,000 in just five short years. Clearly Russell knows how to cater to the runners of today as well as how to integrate the city of Richmond, VA into a successful partnership," said Phil Stewart, editor and publisher of Road Race Management, in making the presentation. The other finalists for the award, in addition to Tracey Russell, were Alan Sunio (Great Aloha Run, Honolulu, HI) and Rick Nealis (Marine Corps Marathon, Washington, DC). The MarathonFoto / Road Race Management Race Director of the Year award is made annually to recognize and promote excellence in race directing. Nominees were judged on several factors, including overall ability, reputation of race, creativity and organizational ability. Previous recipients have been: Rafael Acosta (World Best 10K), Steve Bosley (Bolder Boulder), Julia Emmons (Peachtree Road Race), Ed Froehlich (Quad-City Times Bix 7), Chuck Galford (Cascade Run Off), Susan Harmeling (Bank of America Gasparilla Distance Classic), Jon Hughes (Disney Marathon), Scott Keenan (Grandma's Marathon), Fred Lebow (New York City Marathon), Dave McGillivray (Boston Marathon), Jeanette Park (Gasparilla Distance Classic), Carey Pinkowski (LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon), Earle Reed (Utica Boilermaker), Bill Reef (Bolder Boulder), Steve Shostrom (Steamboat Classic), George Regan (Freihofer's Run for Women), Allan Steinfeld (New York City Marathon) and Harold and Louis e Tinsley (Rocket City Marathon). Road Race Management publishes a newsletter and comprehensive Directory for race and industry professionals and conducts a prestigious annual national race director meeting and trade show in Ft. Lauderdale, FL each year. MarathonFoto is the world's largest race photography company. Running Times is a national magazine known as the runner's best source. Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director (805) 696-6232, fax (805) 696-6252 |