Past Champions and Legends Returning for 111th Boston Marathon
John J. Kelley to Serve as Grand Marshal

BOSTON - (March 22, 2007) - Each year, the Boston Athletic Association honors a number of past Boston Marathon champions and legends. In 2007, that group includes John J. Kelley (1957 champion), Kathrine Switzer (women's running pioneer), Nina Kuscsik (1972 champion) and Toshihiko Seko (1981 and 1987 champion). Boston's past champions are integrated into the race-week festivities, and they will also be involved on race day, Monday, April 16.

GRAND MARSHAL
No name is more synonymous with the Boston Marathon than Johnny Kelley. John A. Kelley, the elder, won the race in 1935 and 1945, and competed on 61 occasions. John J. Kelley (no relation), the younger, finished second five times, winning his lone Boston Marathon title 50 years ago, on April 20, 1957. The younger Kelley also linked several generations of Boston legends. After being mentored by John A. Kelley, he guided Amby Burfoot to the 1968 Boston crown; Burfoot, in turn, inspired his college roommate, Bill Rodgers, who went on to win four Boston Marathons. John J. Kelley returns this year in the role of Grand Marshal, and will ride the course in a convertible. Kelley will then run the final stretch of Boylston Street, through a ceremonial break-tape at the finish line.

ELITE WOMEN'S FIELD OFFICIAL STARTER
Thirty-five years ago, seven women were entered in the first official women's field in Boston history. The champion on that day was Nina Kuscsik, with a time of 3 hours, 10 minutes, 26 seconds. The women's division has flourished since then, growing from seven athletes to more than seven thousand. When the B.A.A. created a separate, earlier Elite Women's Start in 2004, the top women had the road to themselves for the first time in Boston. Kuscsik will return in 2007, on the anniversary of her historic 1972 victory, to fire the starting gun for the Elite Women's Start and USA Women's Marathon Championship, at 9:35am.

FIRST PITCH AT FENWAY
One of the most dominant marathoners of the 1980s, Toshihiko Seko captured two Boston Marathon titles - first in 1981 and then in 1987. He returns to Boston this year to celebrate the latter, when he pulled away from former world-record holder Steve Jones in the final miles. Seko will be honored at Fenway Park on Sunday, April 15, when he throws out the first pitch before the Boston Red Sox game.

ALSO RETURNING
Kathrine Switzer marks the 40th anniversary of her first Boston Marathon in 1967 - best known for Jock Semple's attempt to tear Switzer's bib number off mid-race - with the publication of her autobiography, Marathon Woman. Switzer will also be covering the event as a commentator for WBZ-TV.

Eighteen years after becoming Boston's first Ethiopian champion, Abebe Mekonnen is returning to once again compete in the Boston Marathon. Now 43 years old, Mekonnen will be a top contender in the Masters Division.

Keizo Yamada, the 1953 champion, will be running his 17th Boston Marathon (13th consecutive). Yamada, frequently a top finisher in the 70-and-over division, finished in 4:16:07 last year at the age of 78.

One hundred years after Tom Longboat won the 11th Boston Marathon, four members of his family will return to Boston. In his lone appearance in Boston, Longboat - an Onandaga Indian from Hamilton, Ontario - set a course record of 2:24:24, defeating, among others, 1908 Olympic champion John J. Hayes. Longboat's daughter, Phyllis Winnie, will be accompanied by his grandson Brian Winnie and great granddaughters Nichole DiGiacomo and Jessica Winnie. Additionally, members of Team Longboat, a Canadian running club, will be running this year's Boston Marathon in Longboat's honor.

Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of managing athletic events and promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A.'s Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon, and the organization manages other local events and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round running programs. Since 1986, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been John Hancock Financial Services. In 2006, the Boston Marathon launched - along with the Flora London Marathon also in April - the World Marathon Majors Series. Other events in the series include the real,- Berlin Marathon, LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon and ING New York City Marathon.

Visit the race website at: BostonMarathon.org

Media Contacts:
B.A.A.: Jack Fleming, (617) 236-1652, x2627; fleming@baa.org
or Marc Chalufour, (617) 236-1652, x2632; chalufour@baa.org

Return to top / Return to main page

Contact: Richard Finn, New York Road Runners, (212) 423-2229 | rfinn@nyrr.org

Susan Loken Looks to Three-Peat at More Magazine Marathon in Central Park on Sunday, March 25
World-class runners Denisova and Painter to team up in half-marathon event

NEW YORK - (March 21, 2007) - Two-time defending champion Susan Loken of Phoenix, Ariz., will look to solidify her ranking as the #1 masters marathon runner in the United States when she headlines the field at the More Magazine Marathon on Sunday, March 25, in New York's Central Park, it was announced by New York Road Runners officials. The fourth annual event is the world's only marathon exclusively for women over 40.

Loken, 43, set the event record of 2 hours, 45 minutes, 35 seconds in her first appearance in 2005; the time remains the fastest-ever for a marathon run by a woman entirely in Central Park. A mother of three, Loken is also the reigning U.S. masters marathon champion, a title she has won twice.

"I am very excited to come back to New York and run the More Magazine Marathon," said Loken, who claimed last year's title with a time of 2 hours, 50 minutes, 1 second. "This event has given me some great memories, and I'm proud to serve as an example to women my age that we can still compete at such a high level."

The event also features a half-marathon in which teams of two women, one of whom must be over 40, compete together. Leading this year's field is the team of Lyubov Denisova, 35, a Russian who lives in Gainesville, Fla., and Trina Painter, 40, of Flagstaff, Ariz. Denisova is the 2006 Honolulu Marathon champion and finished in the top three at the ING New York City Marathon in 2002 and 2004. Painter is just beginning her comeback as a competitive runner. She is the former U.S. record holder for 20K (1:07:07) and was the U.S. champion at that distance in 1995. In January, she won the U.S. masters title for the half-marathon in Houston.

"Being over 40 is now a reason for women to celebrate, and what better way than being part of the exclusive More Magazine Marathon - the only marathon in the world limited to women over 40," said Mary Wittenberg, president and CEO of New York Road Runners and race director of ING New York City Marathon. "It's a work-hard party for women who are strong and want to feel good about life."

More than 6,000 women are expected to gather in Central Park for the race, which is sponsored by Speaking of Women's Health, St. Joseph's Aspirin, Florida Department of Citrus, California Raisins, and media partner WPLJ, and offers a $14,000 total prize purse, with $2000 going to the marathon champion. Registration remains open until 5:00pm Saturday, and the race begins at 8:00am Sunday on Central Park's East Drive at 70th Street.

For more information, visit: NYRR.org

Return to top / Return to main page

Contact: Ian Monahan, Elite Racing, (858) 450-6510; imonahan@eliteracing.com
Kim Dettwiller, CMM, (615) 330-5656; teamstrategies@comcast.net

Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon Running Wild in Nashville
Race officials announce half-marathon will sell out; runners and walkers encouraged to register now; Sara Evans post-race concert

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - (March 20, 2007) - A little bit country and a little bit rock 'n' roll. The eighth annual Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon is set to host its largest participant field in race history. Nearly 30,000 runners and walkers are expected on race day Saturday, April 28, 2007.

Elite Racing, Inc., organizer of the Nashville event, announces the half-marathon will sell out on or around April 10. Runners and walkers are encouraged to register now. With the expected April 10 close date, registration will not be available for the half-marathon at the annual Health & Fitness Expo. Registration is still available for the (full) marathon, and will remain open online through April 22 and at the Health & Fitness Expo on April 26 and 27.

From the Grand Ole Opry to the honky tonks, Nashville's streets have always been filled with live music. For the past seven years, the music has been accompanied by thousands of runners, exactly the way Adam Zocks, general manager for the Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon, likes it.

"This race grew from humble beginnings, and many doubted the concept of blending country music with running," Zocks said. "I think it is clear that there is something special about this race, which now draws people from around the world to the city of Nashville."

In combination with the popularity of the half-marathon, an entertaining tourism destination and outstanding bands, who accent the marathon and half marathon courses with their music, the Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon has added to Nashville's attractions and energized the region's running culture.

"I have watched this race grow into a success and become a highlight on Nashville's star-studded calendar of events," said Marilyn Edwards, Director of Special Events for the Nashville Mayor's office. "The event's impeccable organization and energy continues to delight our local participants and impress those who visit from out of town."

With a participant field that has grown by 60% percent over the past year, solid organization will be even more of a priority for Elite Racing.

"We (Elite Racing) value each runner's experience," Zocks said. "The increase in participation means that we have ramped up existing procedures and implemented new strategies to ensure runners and walkers have a smooth flowing race from beginning to end."

These adjustments include more corrals at the start line, increased time between wave starts and more crowd control on the busy Belmont Boulevard section of the course.

For more information and to register for the Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon, go to CMMarathon.com or call (615) 742-1660.

COUNTRY MUSIC STAR SARA EVANS CELEBRATES WITH RUNNERS
Following the race, country music's leading female vocalist Sara Evans will headline the post-race concert at the Nashville Arena (formerly the Gaylord Entertainment Center), beginning at 7:00pm CST. All registered participants and all registered YMCA Country Music Kids' Marathon participants receive free admission to the concert with their race number. Concert tickets are general admission and seating is first come, first serve. Tickets went on sale to the public for $25 on March 19, 2007. Tickets can be purchased through TicketMaster charge-by-phone at (615) 255-9600, at TicketMaster.com or at the Arena Box Office.

In its seven-year history with the Nashville-based event, Team In Training has raised over $14 million (net) for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® and will raise approximately $2 million (net) this year. On Friday, April 27, 3,000 kids will kick off race weekend in the YMCA Country Music Kids' Marathon. Tennessee Titan head coach Jeff Fisher will be at the finish line "high-fiving" kids as they cross the finish line.

Return to top / Return to main page

Inaugural Subway Eugene Marathon Kids' Run Reaches Area Youth

EUGENE, Ore. - (March 15, 2007) - Interest in the Subway Eugene Marathon Kids' Run continues to grow among area youth. Kids have two options, either to track their progress over 26.2 miles or just to participate in the final event. Either way, they get the thrill of being able to race the last portion of the marathon course with Subman, crossing the finish line next to Auzten Stadium.

"Our goal is not only to address personal fitness, but to build self-esteem and confidence through goal setting and teamwork. We are very excited about the interest among area youth who are coming out to participate. We hope to see 300 to 400 kids competing and having fun on marathon Sunday," said Subway Eugene Marathon Kids' Run coordinator Jill Roblin.

The inaugural Subway Eugene Marathon will be held Sunday, April 29, 2007. The marathon course will begin in front of famed Hayward Field and ends adjacent to the University of Oregon's Autzen Stadium, taking runners through Eugene and Springfield on city streets and bike paths, and along the Willamette River. Live music along the marathon and half-marathon routes and at the finish will help motivate runners and entertain by-standers. The music-filled family event will also include half-marathon and 5-kilometer runs.

For more race information or to register go to: EugeneMarathon.com

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director
(805) 696-6232
Ryan@RunningUSA.org | www.RunningUSA.org