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Carlson, Douma-Hussar Set Course Records at Emerald
Nuts Midnight Run in Central Park to Welcome New Year NEW YORK - (January 1, 2008) - Andrew Carlson (Minneapolis, MN) and Carmen Douma-Hussar (Ardmore, PA / CAN) started the new year on a high note, both shattering the course records to win the male and female divisions at the 29th edition of the Emerald Nuts Midnight Run in New York's Central Park. Team USA Minnesota's Carlson, 25, completed the four mile race in 18 minutes, 12 seconds to lower the former course record of 18:28, set by Christian Hesch in 2004. Douma-Hussar, 30, lopped 22 seconds off Amy Rudolph's 2004 record of 21:16 to win in 20:54 as she edged women's defending champion Aziza Aliyu of Ethiopia at the line. Macharia Yuot (Philadelphia, PA) was the men's runner-up in 18:33, while Demesse Tefera (Bronx, NY / ETH) crossed in third place two seconds later. On the women's side, Sara Slattery (Boulder, CO) finished in third (21:41). Carlson and Douma-Hussar each took home $800 in prize money, with the second place finishers both winning $400 and third place earning $300. Race sponsor Emerald Nuts also awarded prizes (in the form of American Express gift cards) to the top three male and female winners. More than 250 service members stationed in Al Asad, Iraq also ushered in the new year with their own version of the Midnight Run. Runners donned the same bibs and t-shirts as their companions in New York. Traditionally a Central Park staple since 1979, this was the first year in which NYRR staged the midnight run outside New York. Staff Sergeant Jacqueline Caputi, who ran in the Midnight Run in 2000 when she lived in Brooklyn, spearheaded the effort and ran the race herself. More than 4,700 recreational runners laced up their sneakers at the stroke of midnight to run in the four mile fun run. But the party started much earlier as approximately 15,000 people danced to the beat of a DJ, participated in a costume contest and parade, and enjoyed New York's first (and only) fireworks countdown - Grucci style, 10 seconds before midnight. A spectacular fireworks display by world-renowned Fireworks by Grucci provided the backdrop for the start of the non-scored four mile fun run. The race even sported a little celebrity flair, as actor Matt Dillon donned bib #4949 and ran in the race. 29th Emerald Nuts Midnight
4 Mile Run MEN WOMEN Full results att: NYRR.org |
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Return to top / Return to main page Defending Champions, Course Record Holders Among
Top Field Heading to Houston HOUSTON - (January 2, 2008) - The women's defending champion and course record holder in the marathon and the women's course record holder in the half-marathon will be among the professional runners on the start lines of the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon on Sunday, January 13, 2008. The pros will race the clock and each other for $232,500 in prize and time bonus money. The men's marathon course record and Texas state record of 2 hours, 10 minutes, 4 seconds, set in 1989, is within reach of several runners this year. Among the most likely to challenge are Ethiopian Kasime Adilo, who clocked a 2:10:20 in September; Kenyan David Cheruiyot, who won here in 2005 and 2006 and set a PR of 2:10:35 in May and Tomas Abyu of Great Britain, who ran 2:10:37 in October. Also expected in the lead pack are Ridouane Harroufi, who owns a 1:01:01 PR in the half-marathon distance; Joseph Chirlee of Kenya and Mikhail Khobotov of Russia. In the women's race, Dire Tune of Ethiopia returns to Houston to defend the course record and state record of 2:26:52 that she set in 2007. Her most likely competitors include fellow Ethiopian Worknesh Tola, who ran 2:25 in 2005 and Julia Vinokurova of Russia, who ran 2:33:25 for a third place finish here in 2006. Other women expected to lead the field include Olga Kovpotina of the Ukraine, who owns a 2:27:37 PR, and Larisa Malikova of Russia, who has a PR of 2:32:17. The Aramco Houston Half Marathon will again host the USA Half Marathon Championships, ensuring a stellar field on race day. Dan Browne, who finished sixth at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in New York City in November, finished third here in 2005 (U.S. champion), eighth in 2007 and set his half-marathon PR (1:03:09) here in 2004, finishing second. Jason Lehmkuhle finished fifth here in 2007 with a PR of 1:02:51, took fourth place in 2005 and was a top 5 finisher at the Olympic Trials in November. Fernando Cabada clocked a 1:02:45 for his half-marathon PR in 2006 and Travis Laird, the ninth place finisher here in 2007, crossed the finish line in 1:03:57. Rounding out the field are Matt Gabrielson, who ran his half-marathon PR of 1:04:06 here in 2005, Ian Dobson (1:02:33 half-marathon PR), Ryan Kirkpatrick, Steve Sundell and James Carney. Two-time Olympian Elva Dryer, the women's defending champion who broke the tape in 1:11:42 in 2007, will be back, with plenty of competition. Looking to challenge for this year's National Championship half-marathon title are the 2007 national runner-up Kate O'Neill, Michelle Lilienthal, Kristin Price, Ann Alyanak and Blake Russell. O'Neill, Lilienthal, Price and Alyanak set half-marathon PRs in 2007, and Price and Alyanak also PRed at the marathon distance last year. Also returning to Houston are Colleen De Reuck, a four-time Olympian who set the half-marathon course record of 1:10:55 in 2004 at age 39 and Kelly (Keane) Liljeblad, who won the 2005 marathon. Rounding out the field for the women are Desiree Davila, who ran a PR 1:12:54 in 2007, Kristen Fryburg, who clocked her 1:12:57 PR in 2007, and Zoila Gomez, who ran her PR of 1:13:49 here in 2007. The Chevron Houston Marathon, a Running USA Founding Member, is the nation's premier winter marathon, annually attracting participants from all 50 U.S. states and more than 24 countries. The marathon offers the only closed marathon course in Texas and is ranked among the top five in the nation by the Ultimate Guide to Marathons for fastest course, organization and crowd support. More than 5,000 volunteers organize the race, which is Houston's largest single-day sporting event. More information is available online at ChevronHoustonMarathon.com or by calling (713) 957-3453. Return to top / Return to main page Navarra Succumbs to Cancer at 55 Victor Navarra, the retired New York City firefighter who was the start coordinator of the ING New York City Marathon for 25 years, died on Sunday morning, December 30th after being in a coma for two days. He was 55 and had suffered from cancer which had begun in his sinuses. "The more someone gives in life, the harder it is to lose them," said ING New York City Marathon race director, Mary Wittenberg, in a prepared statement. "Vic was a giver. In every way. Of his time, energy, emotions and passions." Although he was retired, Navarra volunteered to work at Ground Zero after the attacks of 9/11 in 2001, spending long hours on "the pile" as the rescue workers called the massive heap of rubble left after the World Trade Center was brought down. In 2005, he was diagnosed with malignant tumors adjacent to his sinuses. Efforts to eradicate the cancer failed, and Navarra's health was failing in the lead-up to this year's marathon. Nonetheless, he was still engaged in the planning process and was still at the start of the race despite losing his eyesight to the cancer. "Vic was a gentle giant in life as well as in our sport," said former ING New York City Marathon race director, Allan Steinfeld, in an e-mail message to friends. "There is both relief and sadness in Vic's leaving us: relief because he is no longer suffering and sadness because we will miss dearly his friendship, his smile and his wisdom." Navarra worked for other races besides the ING New York City Marathon. He was the race coordinator for the Stephen Siller-Tunnel to Towers Run which honored another firefighter who ran through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to get to Ground Zero on 9/11. Siller lost his life along with 342 other firefighters that day, and Navarra was the perfect person to direct this race. He also worked at the Boston Marathon and the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon series produced by Elite Racing. The New York Road Runners, which organizes the ING New York City Marathon, had prepared thousands of black ribbons to be worn by staff and volunteers at their race this year in case Navarra died before race day. Instead, they were worn to commemorate Ryan Shay, the marathoner who died unexpectedly at the U.S. Olympic Trials the day before. Vic was "noted for his wonderful personality and his love of running," commented athletics photographer Victor Sailer in an e-mail message. "Vic, you will be sorely missed for your great smile, human compassion and being a great guy." Navarra is survived by his wife of 37 years, Joanne, and daughters Kristie and April and his grandchildren, Marissa and Logan. The local all-news cable channel in New York City, NY1, has a video report posted on their website on Navarra. To see the report, go to: www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=77040 Return to top / Return to main page Fleet Feet Sports, Balega International Partner to Assist African School CARRBORO, N.C. - Fleet Feet, Incorporated, the nation's leading franchisor of running specialty stores, and Balega International, a manufacturer of technical running socks, have a partnership that goes beyond that of retailer and supplier. Over the past two years, the companies have joined forces to raise funds in support of a South African school for physically disabled and visually impaired children. Their joint efforts raised enough money in 2007 to purchase a much needed handicapped-accessible bus for the school. Balega is an international company with roots in South Africa. While headquartered in the U.S., Balega develops and manufactures its socks at its Cape Town, South Africa, production facility. Balega supports the Ethembeni School, located in rural KwaZulu Natal, as a way to give back to the South African communities on which it relies. In 2006, Balega invited Fleet Feet to become its partner in the Lesedi Project, a fundraising initiative for the school. Balega recognized that Fleet Feet's commitment to building communities and to giving back made it a natural partner for the project. In addition to making corporate contributions, Fleet Feet Sports stores sell beadwork produced by Ethembeni students and a CD of South African music, and hold special events to benefit the school. Fleet Feet Sports in Carrboro, North Carolina has taken a special interest in the Lesedi Project. As winners of the 2007 InDuna Award, presented annually by Balega in recognition of community-based charitable contributions, store owners Rona Van Willigen and Bobby Biles have become drivers for the project within the national Fleet Feet organization. Earlier this year, they traveled to South Africa to present the Ethembeni School with a check for funds raised by Fleet Feet stores, and they have played an active role in bringing the stores together to raise money for the purchase of the bus. Balega and Fleet Feet brought in additional industry vendors as well, receiving support from Descente and Superfeet. "It is a great privilege for all of us at Balega to be part of an industry which shows such great generosity of spirit and which continually inspires us to redouble our fundraising efforts," says Balega CEO Russell Clark. Fleet Feet, Incorporated CEO Tom Raynor and President Jeff Phillips recently traveled to South Africa with representatives of Balega to present the bus to the school. Headmaster A.A. Mouton describes the reaction of the children upon seeing the bus: "They cannot believe that this wonderfully decorated, brand new bus is for them. This donation has instilled in them, a wonderful sense of pride towards themselves and their school. There is such excitement in the air - they cannot wait to go on their next outing!" According to Jeff Phillips, "there is a synergy between Fleet Feet and Balega that goes beyond our business relationship that has enabled us to accomplish something tangible and meaningful for the children of Ethembeni. It has been tremendously rewarding to work together towards this goal." For more information, contact Robyn Goby, Fleet Feet, Incorporated, (303) 581-1065 or robyn.goby@fleetfeet.com Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director |
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