| Running USA wire 92, November 16, 2005 |
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American Teams Win First-Ever
Ultramarathon Dual Meet Competition SAN DIEGO - (November 12-13, 2005) - It took 9 months of negotiating, cajoling, strategizing and "thinking outside the box," but John Metz, race director of America's premier road ultramarathon, the San Diego 1-Day Race (read: 24 hours), finally realized the dream he had been working to realize for over two years. On Saturday morning, November 12, at 10:00am at Hospitality Point, San Diego, the 2004 Men's and Women's World 24 Hour Run champions, Ryoichi Sekiya and Sumie Inagaki of Japan, stood alongside nearly 80 of the top American long-range ultrarunners as the horn sounded for 24 consecutive hours of non-stop footracing. Then, with a total race operating budget that would barely pay the airfare for one of the Japanese ultra superstars, Metz had managed to recruit two additional of the top Japanese men and women, and used their commitments to secure the endorsement of the American Ultrarunning Association (AUA) for an historic national team dual meet between aspiring American teams (the American women had won the bronze medals at the recent World 24 Hour, the Men had finished just outside the medals) and the proven, top-of-the-world (team gold medalists) Japanese. 2004 World Champ Sekiya, easily the class of the field, took off after American Rae Clark's 15-year-old absolute U.S. All-Comers 24 hour record of 165.24 miles. His countrywoman and 2004 co-world champ Inagaki assumed the distaff lead after a few hours and never looked back. Sekiya amassed a huge margin of nearly 10 miles on defending national champ Steve Peterson by halfway, but then succumbed to intestinal woes, as did almost half the Japanese team. Peterson then ran unchallenged to the win and national title (over 148 miles), surpassing his 2004 national title total by 5 miles. Taking silver was the amazing 57-year-old Roy Pirrung, who had won his first national 24 hour title in 1988 and had finished among the top 3 in most years in between. Inagaki was closely pursued through the mid-race hours by defending national champion Rebecca Johnson. But the usual rock-steady Johnson faltered in the waning hours, and seemingly out of nowhere came 2003 national champ Pam Reed to mow down Johnson and offer a last-minute, unexpected challenge to the exhausted and visibly suffering Inagaki who covered over 136 miles. The American teams prevailed handily in both Men's and Women's team competitions in this historic event. San Diego 1-Day Race: American
National 24 Hour Championships MEN WOMEN Men's National Team Competition Women's National Team Competition Full results and race commentary at: AmericanUltra.org Return to top / Return to main page MEDIA CONTACT: Laurence Cohen, TLC Mediaworks, (310) 474-5116; go2l@pipeline.com Kenyans Munji, Okayo Headline International Field
at Inaugural New Las Vegas Marathon LAS VEGAS - (November 15, 2005) - With an elite field of over 30 athletes assembled from all over the world competing for a portion of the $302,000 prize purse, there will be a number of accomplished racers at the inaugural New Las Vegas Marathon on Sunday, December 4. The men's field will be led by Kenyan Titus Munji, who placed third in the 2003 real,-Berlin Marathon in a personal best time of 2:06:15. Munji is the seventh fastest marathoner in the world and his 2003 Berlin Marathon performance is the 10th fastest marathon finish of all-time. Top competitors in the men's field also include fellow countrymen Stephen Kiogora (second in 2005 Coca Cola Zero Rock n' Roll Marathon) and Haron Toroitich (winner of the 2004 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon). Also joining the field is Girma Tola, who comes from an Ethiopian track background. Although somewhat new to marathon running, Tola won the 2004 Enschede Marathon in 2:10:33. Gilbert Koech, winner of the former Las Vegas Marathon in January of 2005, returns to Las Vegas with hopes to dominate the field again. Perhaps Munji's greatest competition will come from
the stellar group of women athletes led by Kenyan Margaret Okayo, the
8th fastest female mar
athoner all-time, who will compete against each
other to win "The Challenge." The New Las Vegas Marathon will
offer a $50,000 bonus to the winner of "The Challenge," an
innovation created by the Los Angeles Marathon, which allows the Elite
Women to start the race ahead of the Elite Men in a unique time handicap
format. "The Challenge" rewards the first person, man or woman,
to cross the finish line and promises to deliver an exciting race as
the athletes compete for the $50,000 bonus and $50,000 first place finish.
Okayo won the 2002 BAA Boston Marathon, the 2001 and 2003 ING New York City Marathons and the 2004 Flora London Marathon. She is the course record holder at the New York City and Boston Marathons, and her 2002 finish at the Boston Marathon in 2:20:43 is the 13th fastest marathon finish of all-time. Two of Okayo's biggest competitors in the women's field are Mexico's marathon record holder Adriana Fernandez, winner of the 1999 New York City Marathon, and Romanian Nuta Olaru, runner-up at the 2004 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in 2:24:33. Also joining the deep field of women's talent is 2005 Nagano Marathon champion Albina Ivanova from Russia, who ran in the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in 2003-05, placing 4th and setting her PR of 2:25:35 in the 2003 race. Although making her marathon debut, Galina Bogomolova is the second fastest Russian 10,000 meter track runner and could definitely stir things up. Also making her debut on the women's side will be Ethiopian Merima Hashim, who placed 2nd at the 2005 Celestial Seasonings Bolder Boulder 10K in 33:17. The women's elite field represents 9 different countries - Belarus, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mexico, Poland, Romania, Russia, Tanzania and the United States. This year the New Las Vegas Marathon will feature seven leading Ethiopian marathoners. Joining Girma Tola and making his debut on the men's side will be 5000 and 10,000 meter track runner Berhanu Adane, along with Araya Haregot (2005 Salt Lake City Champion, 2:15:02), Tekeste Kebede (3rd - 2005 Coca Cola Zero Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, 2:11:48) and Assefa Mezgebu (Bronze medalist at 10,000 meters in the Sydney 2000 Olympics). In total, the New Las Vegas Marathon will be offering
$302,000 in prize money, including a $50,000 first place prize for men
and women. Race organizers will also offer a $1.25 million bonus to
the first man or woman to break the world record. In addition to the
$50,000 bonus for "The Challenge," the race will be offering
$226,000 in prize money for places 1 thru 10 for men and women along
with $10,000 each for the fastest man and woman from Clark County, Nevada. Return to top / Return to main page Nick Curl Named VP of Business Development for Devine Racing CHICAGO - (November 16, 2005) - Nick Curl, one of the most respected race directors in the world of marathons, having served as Director of Operations and Vice President of the Los Angeles Marathon for the past 15 years, has been named Vice President of Business Development for Devine Racing. Since the L.A. Marathon was acquired by Devine Racing in 2004, Curl has shared his expertise and experience with the race directors of the company's Salt Lake City Marathon, 'New' Las Vegas Marathon and other events in the company's portfolio. As Vice President of Business Development, he will supervise operations of all the company's events and take a leadership role in expanding its portfolio of races. Steve Miller, President/CEO of Devine Racing commented, "Nick Curl provides Devine Racing with 22 years of experience, global insight and business expertise. I feel like we won the 'personnel lottery'! As VP of Business Development, he will lead our team in a variety of disciplines including international expansion, acquisition strategy and event management." Curl began his tenure with the Los Angeles Marathon in 1986 where he served as Director of Operations for five years. In 1991, he took the position of General Manager of the Olympic Velodrome on the campus of Cal State Dominquez Hills. Charged with increasing revenue and exposure, Nick was able to turn a 10,000 seat cycling venue into a regular stop on the Los Angeles concert circuit. Between 1991 and 1996, Nick booked hundreds of events, including national concert tours with headliners such as Metallica, Green Day, Beastie Boys, Lollapalooza and many more. Additionally, Curl and his team were contracted to promote and book all concerts, commercials and filming on campus. In 1996, Curl returned to the Los Angeles Marathon as Vice President and Race Director. Charged with directing all aspects of the event, he handled all staffing, promotions and securing agreements with all race related venues. He coordinated sponsor commitments as well as relations with City, County and State agencies. From 1997-2000, Curl also directed the NASCAR 'LA Street Race' held on a temporary street course in downtown Los Angeles. Along with his responsibilities at the Los Ang eles Marathon, Nick continued managing his consulting and production company. His creativity and management skills have helped in the success of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, the Nike Run Hit Wonder, Freedom Flight America and Arroyofest. Committed to the celebration of individual accomplishment, Devine Racing was created to bring a new level of quality and professionalism to amateur road racing events - delivering the highest level of professional service in the industry - for participants, sponsors and communities where races are held. In the process of building its national footprint, Devine Racing currently owns the Los Angeles Marathon, the 'New' Las Vegas Marathon, the Salt Lake City Marathon, the Chicago Half Marathon and the Chicago BIG 10K. For further information, visit DevineRacing.com or call (312) 640-9700. Return to top / Return to main page See Jane Run, Hansons-Brooks Lead Team Entries for
National Club Cross Country Championships ROCHESTER, N.Y. - (November 14, 2005) - The seventh annual USA Track & Field National Club Cross Country Championships sponsored by Brooks Sports will see America's top post-collegiate club teams converge upon Genesee Valley Park in Rochester on Saturday, November 19. The USATF National Club Cross Country Championships features the top clubs from across the United States vying for top honors and bragging rights as the nation's top cross country club team. A field of nearly 900 competitors is expected to compete in this event labeled the "Feast in the East" by the local organizers. Featured races include a 10-kilometer men's race and a 6-kilometer women's race. Led by 2005 World Championships marathon team members Brian Sell, Clint Verran and Chad Johnson, the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project from Rochester Hills, Mich., are aiming to win their fourth national club championship in five years. The Hansons squad was upset by the Palo Alto, Calif., based Farm Team in last year's championships in Portland, Ore. The Farm Team won the national club title scoring 89 points to the Hanson's 114. Other top returning clubs include last year's third place team, ASICS Aggie RC, the Sports Warrior TC and Wisconsin Runner Racing Team. Some of the leading entries in the men's race include past world cross country team members Fasil Bizuneh (Big Sur Distance Project), Jared Cordes & Isaiah Festa (Wisconsin Runner RT), Paul Kezes (Team XO) and Matt Tegenkamp (unattached). In the women's race, the team from Southern California's See Jane Run rolls into Rochester looking to prove that their victory in the national title meet last year in Portland was no fluke. Led by last year's 15th-place individual finisher Erika Akfuli and teammates Linn Schulte-Sasse, Kirsten O'Hara and Graciela Torres, the 2004 See Jane Run title squad returns for what looks to be a rematch of last year's close team race. Looking to reclaim their title from See Jane Run will be the 2003 team champion Farm Team, as well as teams from the Boston Athletic Association and Wisconsin Runner RT. Many of the country's top masters (athletes 40 years and older) squads also will do battle on the Genesee Valley Park turf for age division championship titles over 10 or 6 kilometers. Brian Pope of the SoCal Track Club aims to defend his 2004 individual title, and add to the 5K national harrier title that he won last month. Some of the top contenders looking to unseat Pope include last year's third place finisher, Peter Magill of Team Runners High, and one of America's premier masters runners in the 1500 and mile, Tony Young of Club Northwest. In the women's masters competition, the road to the individual national title goes directly through Carmen Troncoso of Rogue Running. In 2004, the former world cross country team member won the national 6K title in Portland, running 25:10.58. Troncoso, like Pope, looks to add the 6K crown to the 5K harrier title won last month. Karen Steen of Club Northwest appears to be the runner with the best chance to unseat Troncoso for top individual honors. Steen is at the forefront of Club Northwest's title defense in the women's 40-49 age division. Other top masters that are expected to vie for age division national titles include; David O'Keeffe (M45). James Robinson (M50), Don Coffman (M60), Ray Parrella (M70), Richard Sullivan (M75), Patricia Ford (W50), Carolyn Smith-Hanna (W55) and Elizabeth Szawlowski (W70). The following is the schedule for the USATF National Club Cross Country Championships on Saturday, November 19, 2005: 10:00am - Community 4K Fun Run For more information on the event, please visit: www.usatf.org/events/2005/USATFClubXCChampionships Return to top / Return to main page Runner's World, KidsRunning.com and T-Bone Productions Announce the Winner of the School Year Fitness Contest ASHEVILLE, N.C. - (November 14, 2005) - Lynda Grigar won an appearance by T-Bone for her school Rustic Oak Elementary in Pearland, Texas. Her response to the question of "What does your school do that's special in the area of health and fitness for the students" was randomly drawn from the numerous contestants. "We are very excited to have the opportunity of hosting an appearance by fitness educator T-Bone. Our students are looking forward to his T-Bone Fitness Mania assembly performance," said Ms. Grigar, PE specialist at the school. The appearance is slated for Friday, November 18, 2005. "I'm really jazzed about sharing my assembly program with the students at Rustic Oak Elementary. Thank you Runner's World and KidsRunning.com for this cool opportunity," said T-Bone. Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Direc
tor (805) 696-6232, fax (805) 696-6252 |