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Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, San Jose Professional
Field Announced SAN JOSE, Calif. - (October 3, 2006) - Following the announcement last week that 2004 Olympic Marathon silver medalist Meb Keflezighi, 31, will compete at the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in San Jose on Sunday, October 8, Elite Racing, Inc. has released the professional athlete fields for the race. On the men's side, challenges to the top American Keflezighi of San Diego will come from a strong Kenyan representation lead by Reuben Chebii, 24, who holds the fastest half-marathon time in the men's field (60:59). Fellow Kenyans Charles Kiama, Luke Kipkosgei and William Chebon join Chebii. Kiama recently finished fourth at San Jose's sister race, the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach, Va. Two-time Olympian Jen Rhines, 32, who was third at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, leads U.S. chances for victory in the women's field. Rhines, a Team Running USA teammate of Keflezighi, will face Edna Kiplagat, 26, from Kenya, who recently won the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach (71:08) and finished second at the Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run (70:12). |
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From Europe, Russian Silvia Skvortsova and Romanian Nuta Olaru both hold impressive half-marathon times of 69:37 and 69:00 respectively. In April, Skvortsova finished second at the 2006 Nagano Marathon in 2:29:28. Olaru is no stranger to the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon. She has competed four times in Virginia Beach since 2002 and was victorious in 2004 (70:50). Local Oakland resident Magdalena Lewy Boulet also joins the women's field. Lewy-Bouley was fifth at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials where she set a personal best time of 2:30:50. In San Jose, the professional athletes will be vying for $51,700 in guaranteed prize money with $8000 for each race champion. In addition, there are cumulative record bonuses for State ($2000), U.S. ($5000), U.S. All-Comers ($5000) and World ($10,000) Records. For more information about the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, San Jose go to RnRSJ.com or call (800) 311-1255. 2006 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon
Professional Field MEN WOMEN |
Return to top / Return to main page Contacts: Richard Finn, (212) 423-2229 | rfinn@nyrr.org, Media Relations Department, NYRR Largest Guaranteed Prize Purse in Marathon History,
More Than $700,000, at ING New York City Marathon 2006 NEW YORK - (October 4, 2006) - New York Road Runners announced Wednesday that a special prize bonus funded by ING has helped create the largest guaranteed prize purse in marathon history. The prize purse, totaling more than $700,000, includes a $130,000 first place payout for both the men's and women's champions at this year's ING New York City Marathon. ING, the global financial services company and advocate for the sport of running, has also extended its title sponsorship of the race through 2010, further emphasizing its commitment to the sport. As part of this extension, ING will provide an additional special bonus of $65,000 to the 2006 men's professional prize purse, bringing the men's purse to the same level as the women's. "New York Road Runners' belief in and commitment to our world-class athletes is steadfast. As so many of the world's best athletes prepare to join us for this year's ING New York City Marathon, we are delighted to add some additional gold to the pot at the end of the marathon rainbow thanks to our relationship with ING," said Mary Wittenberg, president and CEO of New York Road Runners and race director of the ING New York City Marathon. "Over the last four years, our relationship with New York Road Runners has flourished as we've worked together to further develop the sport of running through the ING New York City Marathon," said Toby Hoden, chief marketing officer for ING U.S. Financial Services. "We are looking forward to building on this success through the end of this decade." Injuries have forced two professional runners to withdraw their names from the ING New York City Marathon field. Mara Yamauchi, owner of Britain's second-fastest female marathon time and winner of the Fortis Half-Marathon in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on September 10, will put her ING New York City Marathon debut on hold because of hip problems. The ING New York City Marathon 2003 champion, Martin Lel, who also won the 2005 Flora London Marathon, will not compete in New York this year due to a leg injury. In addition to naming rights to the marathon, ING has also committed to helping further enhance the race experience for elite and recreational runners, spectators and New York City children by: * Boosting the marathon's 2006 men's prize purse by funding $65,000 in extra prize money, which will supplement the cash awards to the top four male finishers and bring ING's total prize money contribution to $130,000. In 2005, ING added a $65,000 bonus to the women's purse pushing the women's prize purse higher than the men's. * Through its ING Run for Something Better program, funding track and field programs designed to introduce New York children to the sport of running and the benefits of living healthy, active lives. The program serves New York City children during the school year through the New York Road Runners Foundation and over the summer months through the City Parks Foundation, creating a 12-month fitness program. * Creating special "ING Cheering Zones" to serve as rallying points along the marathon race route to cheer the runners on and encourage community involvement. * Supporting the Run with Champions event, which gives children the opportunity to run their own race in Central Park on the Friday before the ING New York City Marathon. The young runners participate in a clinic and Q&A session with professional athletes competing in the marathon. "This is a red letter day as we add incentive for our athletes and thank ING for extending its commitment to New York Road Runners, our community, and our sport," said Wittenberg. "ING shares many of New York Road Runners' values for promoting running, community service, and health and fitness, which make this relationship a perfect match." "The characteristics of marathon running are like financial planning, with a similar journey to success. With both, you start small, continuously improve, set goals and stay committed throughout the journey," Hoden said. "Our goal is to help make it easier to achieve success, every step of the way-whether you're running or planning your financial future." ING began its title sponsorship of the ING New York City Marathon in 2003, in a three-year deal with New York Road Runners. In 2005, the sponsorship was extended through 2007. For more information, visit: INGNYCMarathon.org Return to top / Return to main page Jurek Wins Spartathlon Ultra in Greece This past weekend in Greece, Scott Jurek, 33, of Seattle, Washington, 7-time winner of the Western States 100 Mile Mountain Race and two-time winner of the Badwater 136 mile race from Death Valley to the base of Mount Whitney, has become the first American man ever to win the Spartathlon. The Spartathlon is run annually from Athens to Sparta in Greece. It was founded in 1983 by a group of London-based Englishmen (hence the name: SPART - for Sparta, ATH - for Athens, and LON - for London) to commemorate the historic run of the Greek messenger Pheidippides in 490 B.C. The Greek general Miltiades, anticipating an attack by the Persians north of Athens, sent Pheidippides to run the 245 kilometers (a bit over 150 miles) from Athens to Sparta to request military assistance from King Leonidas of Sparta in fending off the Persians. The Spartans declined, and Pheidippides then had to return by foot with the bad news. The Athenians prevailed anyway. The 245K commemorative race has attracted many of the world's top long-range ultradistance runners. The inaugural race in 1983 marked the debut of an unknown local Greek runner named Yiannis Kouros, who won by over three hours. In the subsequent quarter-century, Kouros has proven himself to be the greatest long-range ultradistance runner in history, setting and re-setting world records from 24 hours thru 6 days and from 200K thru 1,000 miles. The race is usually run in hot daytime conditions and includes some gravel and trail sections in what is otherwise mostly a road race. It climbs some 3,000 feet over the Sangas Mountains more than halfway thru the course. Until this year, only 6 men had broken 24 hours in the race, and only one, Kouros (whose course record is 20:25) had broken 23 hours. This year, Jurek dueled with two-time World 24 Hour Run champion (and former Spartathlon winner) Ryoichi Sekiya of Japan before pulling clear just past 100 miles. He then held on, alone, for one of the strongest finishing stretches in race history to win in 22 hours, 52 minutes, 18 seconds, becoming #2 behind only Kouros on the all-time course performance list. Previously, the best finish by a U.S. man had been Roy Pirrung's third place 27:56 in 1992. At that time, Pirrung was the U.S. 24 Hour Run record holder. Mary Hanudel-Larsson, then of Toledo, Ohio, was the first American to win the women's division of the race, taking top distaff honors in 1984, then three more times, culminating in a women's course record of 28:46:58 in 1998. Remarkably, Hanudel-Larsson, who now lives in Sweden, finished third among women this year in 31:41:56, twenty-two years after her first victory, as reigning World 24 Hour Run champion Sumie Inagaki won in 28:37:20. 24th Spartathlon 245.3K MEN WOMEN Return to top / Return to main page Contact: Roxana Hoveyda, Army Ten-Miler, (202) 685-3361 or roxana.hoveyda@jfhqncr.northcom.mil Army Ten-Miler Ready to Run on October 8 in DC WASHINGTON, DC - (October 2, 2006)- The 22nd Annual Army Ten-Miler, America's largest 10 mile race, attracts 24,000 runners from all over the world to participate in a jam-packed weekend of activities. Race weekend is not just for the runners - there is something for everyone. The weekend kicks off this Friday with a two-day race Expo presented by Spring! by Dannon, press conference, clinics and the GEICO Pasta Dinner at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA. The race starts at 8:00am on Sunday, October 8 at the Pentagon. Other race day activities include the Health Net Federal Services Youth Runs, the 94.7 Post Race Party featuring bands, entertainment and giveaways, the HOOAH Tent Zone - where Army Teams from around the world show their spirit, celebrate the race in over 50 decorated tents and the Health Net Federal Services Youth Activity Zone complete with displays, inflatables, the GEICO Gecko, DC Divas, magician, the Great Zucchini and much more. Below is just a sampling of the many talents at this year's Army Ten-Miler: Missing (Parts) in Action - MPIA will support four teams which are made up of military amputees and their physical therapists - who all have very inspiring stories. Some of the highlighted athletes are: Maj. David Rozelle, who lost his foot in Iraq but became the first amputee in recent military history to resume a dangerous command in the field; Spec. Derek McGinnis, an above-the-knee amputee who has shared his love of surfing with fellow military amputees and Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Casey Tibbs, who lost his right leg below the knee but left the Athens Paralympic Games with the silver medal in the pentathlon and the gold in the 4x100 meter relay. Alisa Harvey, Manassas, VA - Three-time Army Ten-Miler winner in 1998, 1999, 2003 - Harvey holds three U.S. masters track and field records in the mile run, indoor mile run and indoor 800 meter run. She is a constant victor on the Washington, DC racing scene, winning races ranging in distance from one mile to the marathon. Her personal records include: 4:08.33 (1500m), 4:29.65 (1 mile). Darrell General, Hyattsville, MD - Three-time Army Ten-Miler champion in 1987, 1988, 1991 - This year, General will try to qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials a men's record 6 times! He also competed in 11 consecutive USA Marathon Championships from 1992 to 2002; his top finish was 3rd in 1994. He is also a two-time winner of the Marine Corps Marathon in 1995 and 1997 and was the top American at the 1990 Boston Marathon. Special Operations Surviving Spouse - The Special Operations Surviving Spouses team is sponsored by the United Warrior Survivor Foundation, an organization for surviving spouses of Special Operations personnel from the Navy, Army, Air Force and Marine Corps killed in the line of duty since 9/11/2001. The members of the Special Operations Surviving Spouses team are: Carolyn Evans, John Evans, Emily Munoz, Ann Ochsner, Leslie Ponder, Suzanne Stack, Jackie Syverson and Tricia Tarlavsky Kirk. Gold Star Wives - Gold Star Wives of America, Inc. is a non-profit organization with 10,000 members and 60 chapters. All members have spouses who died while on active duty or from a service-related disability. Gold Star Wives work actively to maintain and increase the benefits available to military widows/ers. This year, Gold Star Wives is supporting two teams with a total of sixteen runners. Fort Bragg Women's Teams - 2004 Commander's Cup Female Champions and ATM Record Holders - Established in 1996, the Fort Bragg Women's Team was victorious in the Army Ten-Miler Commander's Cup competition in 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2004. In 2004, they set the race record for the active duty women's division. There are two returning runners from the 2005 team - CPT Betsy Hove and SPC Danielle Shaner. MAJ Cynthia Hazel, who served as the coach in 2000 and 2004 and will again this year, states that this year's teams look as good as the record setting team in 2004. About the Army Ten-Miler Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director |