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Contacts: Richard Finn, (212) 423-2229 | rfinn@nyrr.org or Kerrin Perniciaro, (212) 423-2294 | kperniciaro@nyrr.org, Media Relations Department, NYRR Keflezighi Hoping Third Time's the Charm in New
York NEW YORK - (September 6, 2006) - After two consecutive top three finishes at the ING New York City Marathon, Olympic marathon silver medalist Meb Keflezighi of the United States will give the 26.2-mile course through New York's five boroughs another go on Sunday, November 5. Keflezighi's plan to participate in the 37th running of the ING New York City Marathon was announced by race director Mary Wittenberg, president and CEO of New York Road Runners. Keflezighi joins a professional men's field that includes defending champion and marathon world record holder Paul Tergat of Kenya and fellow Americans Alan Culpepper and Dathan Ritzenhein. "'Third time is the charm' should be Meb's mantra this time out," said Wittenberg. "I think this is Meb's year to win New York. He is fit, strong, healthy and experienced. There's no time like the present for him." Seventy days after capturing the 2004 Olympic marathon silver medal in Athens, Keflezighi finished as New York's runner-up with a time of 2 hours, 9 minutes, 53 seconds, his personal record. Last year, the Team Running USA athlete posted a time of 2:09:56 to place third behind Tergat and Hendrick Ramaala. His marathon debut was at the 2002 New York City Marathon, where he placed ninth in a time of 2:12:35. |
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"I am very excited to come back for the ING New York City Marathon," said Keflezighi, a resident of San Diego. "It will be my eighth marathon and the fourth time in New York City. The ING New York City Marathon allows me to perform on a world stage against the best marathoners in the world. I am looking forward to competing against the announced field and I know there will be more great runners added in the near future." Keflezighi, 31, is currently tied for fifth on the men's 2006-07 World Marathon Majors leader board. The UCLA grad ran the series-opening Boston Marathon in April where he turned in a third place performance (2:09:56). Other notable achievements for Keflezighi this year include his second place showing at the inaugural NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE (1:01:28), which was his debut performance at the distance. Keflezighi was edged out by Tom Nyariki of Kenya (1:01:22), who recently announced that he will also run the ING New York City Marathon this year. Keflezighi also won the 2006 USA 15K road title (43:43) and was second in the 10,000 meters at the USA Track & Field Championships (28:18.74). To-date, he has won 15 national titles (track, roads and cross country). Keflezighi was seventh at the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in 2003 (2:10:03) and placed second at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in Birmingham, Alabama, with a time of 2:11:47. The ING New York City Marathon |
Return to top / Return to main page Inaugural Saint John's Santa Monica 5000 Set for October
22 SANTA MONICA, Calif. - (September 6, 2006) - Generic Events has announced a flat, fast and fun course for the inaugural Saint John's Santa Monica 5000 on Sunday, October 22, 2006. This scenic 5K and 10K race starts and finishes near the world-famous Santa Monica Pier and features great ocean views and a post-event Party on the Pier. The 5K and 10K events start just south of the Santa Monica Pier at Ocean Park and Barnard Way and run along Main Street and Ocean Avenue with views of the Pacific Ocean. The Santa Monica 10,000 will head north to San Vicente and east to Lincoln before heading south to the Pier. Both races finish at the Santa Monica Pier with a post-race party. Complete course maps are available at: SantaMonica5000.com The race will feature $5000 in prize money, including $1000 for the men's and women's winner in the 5K race in addition to time bonuses and incentives for the top Santa Monica finishers. For the complete prize money structure, visit: SantaMonica5000.com "The Santa Monica 5000 is a great community that will feature some of the top runners from throughout the Southland," said Event Director Brennan Lindner. Race funds will help Saint John's Health Center build its replacement hospital, which will include a new Emergency Department. With 30,000 patient visits each year, the Saint John's 24-hour Emergency Department provides life saving services to the community each and every day. It also features a Fast Track program to provide care for life's minor bumps and bruises. "Saint John's has served the people of Santa Monica and neighboring communities for over 60 years. We are pleased to be the beneficiary of such a wonderful health and fitness event right here in our own community," said Robert O. Klein, Saint John's Vice President of Foundation and Health Center Relations. Contact: Karen Kalan, Generic Events, (310) 365-2904 or karen@genericevents.com Return to top / Return to main page Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon
Launches Youth Running Program MINNEAPOLIS - The Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon (MTCM) has announced a youth running program to promote exercise among Minnesota children and to provide families with resources on how to exercise together. The Medtronic TC Kids Marathon will serve as the cornerstone of a shared mission between Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. and Medtronic to support and inspire healthy lifestyles, especially among children. The program got off to a running start on Tuesday, August 8 with more than 200 children from the St. Paul Parks and Recreation Department taking the first steps in a six-week "progressive marathon" training program where participants will run 26 miles one mile at a time. Participants will be invited to run mile 26 at one of the family events during marathon weekend, Sept. 29-Oct. 1. A similar summer running program was also launched this summer with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Department. For families interested in exercising together, a downloadable "Family Training Program" is now available on MTCMarathon.org. The program combines short-distance running and other physical activities to make running fun and achievable, while building a team between kids and their parents. The third component of the initiative is a year-long running program that will be launched this fall and made available to metro-area elementary schools. The multi-week program is geared to elementary students and emphasizes activity, teamwork and goal setting to improve physical fitness. "Our partnership with Medtronic is allowing us to expand and enhance programs that get kids running and families exercising together while having fun," said Virginia Brophy Achman, Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon executive director. "The sooner we can instill healthy lifestyles in our kids, the better health they will have later in life. Of course, a major contributor to a healthy lifestyle is getting regular exercise." As part of the reward of training, Brophy Achman invites children and their families to run together in the Medtronic Family Events, which include a half-mile, one-mile and 5K run/walk races. Younger children also can take part in the "Diaper Dash" and "Toddler Trot." All of the events will take place in St. Paul on the State Capitol grounds on Saturday, Sept. 30. Registration information is available at MTCMarathon.org. The 25th Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon weekend will take place Sept. 29 - Oct. 1, 2006. The three-day weekend celebration of fitness includes a 5K run/walk, children's fun runs, pasta dinner, health and fitness expo and Medtronic TC 10 Mile, in addition to the marathon, the USA Championships. Return to top / Return to main page Omaha Marathoner Will Participate in His 98th Marathon OMAHA, Neb. - (September 6, 2006) - Leonard Vavra won't let a wheelchair or a prosthetic leg stop him from crossing the finish line of another marathon. "My goal has always been to complete 100 marathons," said Vavra. He's come close. At age 78, the Omaha man carries the honor of completing 97 marathons. The Omaha Marathon on Sunday, September 24 will be number 98. "Once it gets into your blood, it's hard to stop running," said Vavra. "I was very sad when I lost my leg and when my running career came to a screeching halt." Vavra lost his leg two years ago due to complications from knee replacement surgery. Just when he says he was starting to accept the fact that he may never cross a finish line again, several of his old running buddies came up with a plan to make it possible for Vavra to participate in the 2006 Omaha Marathon. Volunteers will take turns pushing Leonard in his wheelchair and medical staff from The Nebraska Medical Center and OrthoWest will monitor his health during the race. Each of the 26 volunteers will push Leonard for a mile. "We're calling it the 'Crazy Leonard Relay'," said Susan Smisek, Omaha Marathon Race Director. "During all of his past races, Leonard made a name for himself. He always was hooting and hollering as he ran and we always wondered, 'Who is this crazy guy running?' Thus the nickname 'Crazy Leonard.'" Vavra's running story began about twenty eight years ago. At age 50 after purchasing his wiemaraner dog named Blue, Vavra started running to exercise with Blue. "At that time, there were only a few runners out there and there weren't any running clubs. Because there were only a few avid runners who entered races in Omaha, we became close friends. The camaraderie drove me to the races." Vavra traveled the nation entering races in different cities every weekend. "Once I started, all I thought about was running. I really got into it." His wife, Delphine, says he lived out of his car traveling from one race to another. "I was cleaning out his 1983 Oldsmobile last year to sell it and I found his Boston Marathon medal under the car carpet," said Delphine. "That brought a smile to my face thinking about the old times." Total Respiratory & Rehab, a company that specializes in customized and specialized rehab equipment, is donating the racing wheelchair. "We researched several wheelchairs to find the perfect one. This wheelchair is built like a jogging stroller that can handle a 26 mile race. It also has adjustable handle bars to make it comfortable for those joggers pushing Leonard," said Rob Matuszeski of Total Respiratory & Rehab. However, the wheelchair won't be used the last 20 feet of the race. Vavra plans to walk across the finish line with his new prosthetic leg. "Although I lost a leg, I still consider myself a marathoner," said Vavra. "I have a lot of fun racing. I'm not sure if I'll hoot and holler during this race, but I just might!" Contact: Andrea McMaster, (402) 559-7037; amcmaster@nebraskamed.com Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director |