Contact: Sara Hunninghake, New York Road Runners, (212) 860-4455 x344 | shunninghake@nyrr.org

Khannouchi to Make New York Professional Debut at Healthy Kidney 10K
U.S. marathon record holder joins Mottram and Ritzenhein at top of Central Park field

NEW YORK - (May 14, 2007) - For the first time in his professional career, former marathon world record holder Khalid Khannouchi will race in New York's Central Park. New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg has announced that Khannouchi will run the Healthy Kidney 10K on Saturday, May 19.

"At long last, America's fastest marathoner will run here in New York City as our hometown favorite," Wittenberg said.

Khannouchi, 35, who lives in nearby Ossining, New York, and is the U.S. marathon record holder (2 hours, 5 minutes, 38 seconds), leads a solid contingent of Americans competing in the third edition of the Healthy Kidney 10K. The event is another race through Central Park on the road to Beijing, as many of the top American runners, including Khannouchi, are eyeing a return to New York for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon on Saturday, November 3.

Other American professionals rounding out the Healthy Kidney field include Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein and up-and-comers Matt Gonzales, Patrick Gildea and Justin Young. Two-time defending champion Craig Mottram of Australia heads an international group that also includes Michael Aish (New Zealand), Andrew Letherby (Australia) and Richard Kiplagat (Kenya).

"Central Park is a hotbed of racing this year. We know the men will turn on the heat to go for the win," Wittenberg said. "The Americans will get a bonus: Most of this race is on our Olympic Trials course."

A native of Morocco, Khannouchi moved to Brooklyn, NY, in 1993 and became a U.S. citizen in 2000. He is one of only two men in the last 80 years to break the world marathon record twice, and the only man in history to have run under 2:06 three times. In his 1997 marathon debut, he won the first of four LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon titles (he also won in 1999, 2000, and 2002). Khannouchi's first world record came in the 1999 Chicago race, in which he clocked 2:05:42 to take down Ronaldo da Costa's record of 2:06:05. In 2002 at the Flora London Marathon, he lowered his own world mark with a time of 2:05:38 and claimed his fifth title in a World Marathon Majors race.

"I'm very excited about running in New York City, especially in what has so far been a disappointing season," said Khannouchi, who dropped out of last month's Flora London Marathon with an injury. "I look forward to competing and doing my best." Khannouchi has a 10K personal best of 27:58.

Mottram will be the runner to beat: He is undefeated in his two previous Healthy Kidney appearances. Mottram returns to New York after finishing second in the Wanamaker Mile in a memorable race with Bernard Lagat at the 2007 Millrose Games in February. He and Khannouchi will face considerable competition from Ritzenhein, an 11th-place finisher in his marathon debut at the ING New York City Marathon 2006, and Aish, a 2004 Olympian for New Zealand who trains in Gunnison, CO. Gonzales, of Albuquerque, NM, was the 2004 NCAA Cross Country Championships runner-up and has qualified for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Young is another Olympic Trials qualifier who expects to return to New York in November.

The Central Park 10K record of 28 minutes, 10 seconds is in jeopardy, as race sponsor Embassy of the United Arab Emirates has put up a prize purse of $20,000, including $7500 for the champion, and is offering a $20,000 bonus for breaking the record that Paul Koech of Kenya set in 1997.

The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates is sponsoring this race to benefit the National Kidney Foundation, Inc., in appreciation of American medical excellence in the kidney transplant field. The late UAE president Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan benefited from American expertise, knowledge and research when he received a kidney transplant in 2000.

For more information, visit: NYRR.org

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Contact: Jim Estes, LDR Programs Manager, Jim.Estes@usatf.org; (317) 713-4661

Team USA Marathon Squad Set for IAAF World Championships in Osaka

INDIANAPOLIS - (May 15, 2007) - USA Track & Field announced Tuesday the Team USA marathon squad for the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, to be held in Osaka, Japan August 24 - September 2.

Leading the men's team will be 2005-06 USA Marathon Champion Mbarak Hussein (Albuquerque, N.M.). Hussein, who has a lifetime best of 2 hours, 8 minutes, 10 seconds, won the U.S. title for the second time last October at the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon in Minneapolis, running 2:13:52.

Joining Hussein on the Osaka team will be his training partner and the runner-up from the USA Marathon Championships, Simon Sawe (Albuquerque, N.M.). Sawe has a personal best of 2:13:33.

Rounding out the five man squad will be the 25K U.S. record holder Fernando Cabada (Bristol, Va.) and Hansons-Brooks Distance Project teammates Mike Morgan (Rochester Hills, Mich.) and Kyle O'Brien (Rochester Hills, Mich.). Cabada made the Osaka team by virtue of his marathon debut at the Fukuoka International Marathon in Fukuoka, Japan last December, where he ran 2:12:27.

Morgan and O'Brien were named to the team based on their performances at the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon last fall, where they finished in 2:15:11 and 2:15:13 respectively.

The women's team will be led by the experience of Mary Akor (Gardena, Calif.), who competed for Team USA in the marathon at the 2005 World Championships, where she finished 50th. Akor was the runner-up at the USA Marathon Championships in Minneapolis last fall with a personal best of 2:33:50, and she finished fourth at the 2008 USA Women's Marathon Championships, hosted by the Boston Marathon in April.

Also qualifying for the women's team at the 2006 national championship is Zoila Gomez (Alamosa, Colo.). The former Adams State All-American finished fourth in Minneapolis with a personal best 2:35:26. Joining Akor and Gomez in Osaka will be Ann Alyanak (Bellbrook, Ohio), Kristin Price (Raleigh, N.C.) and Samia Akbar (Hendon, Va.)

Alyanak and Price were named to the team after finishing second and third, respectively, at the USA Marathon Championship in Boston, Alyanak having improved her personal best by over nine minutes, running 2:38:55, while Price broke her best by more than five minutes with a 2:38:57.

A former All-American at American University, Akbar's debut performance of 2:34:14 at the 2006 ING New York City Marathon confirmed her place on the marathon team.

The 2007 squad will look to continue the U.S. team's progress at the World Championships Marathon following a fourth-place men's team finish and sixth-place women's team finish at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland. Brian Sell (Rochester Hills, Mich.) led the men's team with a ninth place finish while Turena Johnson Lane led the women, finishing 26th overall.

For more information on the IAAF World Championships, visit: USATF.org

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ING Introduces Orange Laces to San Francisco for 2007 ING Bay to Breakers
Orange Laces program to help in the fight against childhood obesity

SAN FRANCISCO - (May 14, 2007) - The Orange Laces first appeared on the shoes of runners and spectators on the streets of New York City in November 2006. Then it was Miami in January 2007. Then Atlanta in March 2007. Now, for the 96th running of the ING Bay to Breakers, ING's trendy and celebrated Orange Laces have swept their way across the country and are ready to be laced onto the shoes of San Franciscan runners and spectators alike - all for the cause of helping kids embrace an active and healthy lifestyle.

"Since we started the ING Run For Something Better in 2003, ING has introduced thousands of children across the country to fitness as a way of life," said Toby Hoden, chief marketing officer, ING US Financial Services. "Over the years, the kids participating in the ING Run For Something Better have run enough miles to reach the moon (distance to the moon approx. 238,000 miles), but our vision for this program extends way beyond the moon. Kids fitness is one of the most significant health concerns facing our country today - and educating kids about the importance of living an active life is the cornerstone of ING's marathon platform."

"I will be wearing my Orange Laces proudly," said Tommy Greenless, a Physical Education teacher from Walnut Creek, Calif., who is also an elite runner competing in the ING Bay to Breakers on Sunday, May 20 and the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials later in 2007. "Supporting kids fitness is a great cause and the ING Run For Something Better is an effective way to help kids understand and embrace the importance of physical fitness."

ING has partnered with the San Francisco Unified School District to bring its ING Run For Something Better program to more than 1,000 seventh graders from 10 middle schools. The free, school-based running program aims to reduce childhood obesity by introducing kids to the benefits of running, a habit of physical fitness and healthy lifestyle choices.

"The ING Run For Something Better is one of the most successful fitness programs the San Francisco Unified School District has introduced in recent years," said Trish Bascom, associate superintendent, Student Support Services, San Francisco Unified School District. "We are challenging the kids every week to stretch themselves while learning how much fun it is to be active and make exercise part of their daily routine. We have ambitious goals for the students in San Francisco and are confident we can reach those goals because of the support of ING and the structure of ING Run For Something Better program."

During their 13 week running program, each student ran a total of approximately 150 miles. In addition, the students learned about all aspects of the sport - from proper stretching to competitive strategy to healthy nutrition. The program culminates with a 4K race on Thursday, May 17, in Speedway Meadow in Golden Gate Park.

"ING's Orange Laces program is a unique way for everyone in the community to get involved in supporting fitness programs for children," Hoden said. "It was successful in New York, Miami and Atlanta with thousands of people lacing up their shoes to show they are tied to supporting fit kids. We are encouraging everyone in San Francisco - whether they are running the race or cheering - to donate and wear their orange laces as a visible indicator of support for healthy and active kids."

When a $10 donation is made at OrangeLaces.com, runners and spectators alike can help support the ING Run For Something Better program by making donations that will directly benefit San Francisco kids. Everyone who donates $10 or more will get a special pair of orange shoelaces to wear in support of being "tied" to youth running. Donations can be made at OrangeLaces.com, the ING Greater Body Expo and ING Footstock.

Contact: Dana Ripley, ING, (770) 980-4865 or dana.ripley@us.ing.com

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Detroit Free Press / Flagstar Marathon to Provide 2:47 Pacers for Women's Olympic Trials Hopefuls

DETROIT - (May 14, 2007) - This fall many female Olympic hopefuls will be running the marathon to achieve the qualifying standard for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, and there is one marathon that is providing an extra incentive for the runners. On Sunday, October 21, the Detroit Free Press / Flagstar Marathon will be providing official pacers for the 2:47 U.S. women's Trials "B" standard.

Since 2003, Detroit has provided a Pace Team and for the last several years, the Pace Team offered every Boston qualifying time so that runners wishing to achieve that standard might have the on-course support of a pacer. That program has proved to be a big success and last year, there were 18 pacers offering a variety of times.

"Our marathon course is flat and fast and we know it's served as a great course for those athletes wishing to qualify for the Boston Marathon," said Patricia Ball, Race Director. "Since the 2008 U.S. Women's Olympic Marathon Trials will be hosted by Boston in April, we felt that women looking to qualify would find Detroit to be a logical choice. By offering a pacer for the 2:47 time, we are hoping to provide support for those talented athletes."

"The pacers will be provided by the marathon in accordance with USATF rules as registered runners in the event. They will be running consistently even splits to finish the race in exactly 2:47:00 which is a 6:22 min/mile pace," said Jim Crist, Director of the Pace Team.

Any registered runner may run with the pacer. The 2:47 pacer will start in the first corral and any woman wishing to start there need only submit a prior marathon finish time of 3:00 or better. Any questions on this support program may be emailed to: PacerJim@hotmail.com

The Detroit Free Press / Flagstar Marathon, an annual 26.2-mile road race certified by the USA Track & Field, is owned by the Detroit Free Press, and Flagstar Bank, the title sponsor, has been affiliated with the race since 1998. According to Running USA, the race was one of the largest 25 U.S. marathons based on finishers last year. The 2007 event marks the marathon's 30th anniversary, and all of the events during marathon weekend are endorsed by Travel Michigan and the State of Michigan Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Health & Sports.

For more information, go to: DetroitFreePressMarathon.com

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