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Team Running USA Reaches More Milestones in 2008
Hall runs 2:06:17 marathon at London; four 2008 U.S. Olympic team members; four national titles

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - (December 14, 2008) - Team Running USA - led by Ryan Hall's stellar 2:06:17 marathon at London - has again distinguished themselves as one of the best distance training groups in the country. The Mammoth Lakes, Calif. based group also put four athletes on the Beijing Olympic team - Hall, Deena Kastor, Jen Rhines and Ian Dobson; more than any other U.S. training group.

"The hard work and dedication of the Team Running USA athletes and our coaches Terrence Mahon, Bob Larsen and Joe Vigil have produced another impressive year. We admire and salute their efforts and achievements and thank our team sponsors for their support. Since 2001, this training group has been an integral part of the U.S. distance running resurgence, and we look forward to their continued development and success," said Susan Weeks, Running USA CEO.

Team Running USA athletes and coaches also attracted the attention of major media outlets with feature pieces in Sports Illustrated, The New Yorker, USA Today, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Runner's World, Boston Globe, Outside, Scripps Howard News Service and Forbes.com as well as cover shots on Runner's World and Running Times.

Below are the top 2008 achievements for the Team Running USA development program.

2008 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM (4)
Ian Dobson, 5000m
Ryan Hall, marathon
Deena Kastor, marathon (third team)
Jen Rhines, 5000m (third team, third event)

ONE NATIONAL RECORD
En route to his 2:06:17, good for fifth at the Flora London Marathon on April 13, Ryan Hall also set a U.S. 30K record in 1:28:38. For 26.2 miles, he is the second fastest American behind U.S. record holder Khalid Khannouchi. For the year, Hall also was the 9th fastest marathoner in the world.

3 USA CHAMPIONS, 4 NATIONAL TITLES
Deena Kastor, 15K, marathon (Olympic Trials)
Kate O'Neill, half-marathon (first national title)
Sara Slattery, 8K (first national title)

2 USA NATIONAL RUNNERS-UP, 4 TIMES
Dan Browne, 10K, 15K
Jen Rhines, 3000m indoors, 5000m outdoors

USA RUNNING CIRCUIT GRAND PRIX CHAMPION
Deena Kastor (defends USARC GP title)

#1 U.S. PERFORMANCES for 2008 (5)
3000m
Jen Rhines, 8:51.29
5000m
Jen Rhines, 14:54.29
15K
Deena Kastor, 49:36 (#3 world)
Half-Marathon
Kate O'Neill, 1:11:57
Marathon
Ryan Hall, 2:06:17 (#9 world)

About Team Running USA
Team Running USA, formerly Team USA California, is a national athlete development program created by Running USA, a national industry organization. The mission of Team Running USA is to support, promote and assist the development of U.S. distance runners.

Since 2001, Team Running USA athletes have won two Olympic medals, four major marathons and 12 World Cross Country Championship medals, set one world road record, 23 national records and numerous personal records, earned 61 national titles and six USARC Grand Prix titles and added to world and U.S. all-time lists. In short, they are the most accomplished training group in the United States.

Supported by the New York Road Runners, Running USA, Town of Mammoth Lakes, USA Distance Project and Atlanta Track Club, the program's athletes utilize the resources at Mammoth Lakes for high / low altitude training and the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista for sea level training throughout the year. Renowned and Olympic coaches Joe Vigil and Bob Larsen and coach Terrence Mahon coordinate this elite group.

For more information on Team Running USA including sponsorship opportunities or to make a donation, contact: Ryan Lamppa, (805) 696-6232, ryan@runningusa.org or visit: RunningUSA.org

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McMillan Elite, Boulder Running Company / adidas Capture USATF National Club Cross Country Crowns
Bauhs, Donaghue win individual titles
By Jim Estes, USATF

SPOKANE - (December 13, 2008) - McMillan Elite and Boulder Running Company / adidas easily took the respective men's and women's titles Saturday at the USATF National Club Cross Country Championships at Plantes Ferry Recreation Park in Spokane, Wash.

Saturday's races were held under windy and blustery conditions, with a light dusting of snow that accumulated the night before. Temperatures were in the high 20s with the wind chill making it feel at least 10 degrees colder for the 900 plus participants representing America's top post-collegiate club teams vying for top honors and bragging rights as the nation's top cross country team.

As the afternoon progressed, the wind picked up dramatically, and the temperature dropped to the mid-teens by the conclusion of the Open men's 10-kilometer race.

Two-time NCAA Division II cross country champion Scott Bauhs, representing Transports adidas Racing Team eased his way into the lead in the Open men's ten kilometer race, then held off a late challenge by Andrew Carlson of McMillan Elite to win his first national championship as a professional, clocking 30 minutes, 47 seconds to Carlson's 30:49.

Bauhs, an Olympic Trials qualifier this year at 10,000 meters, and a member of this year's World Cross Country Championships squad, took the lead shortly after the mile mark, while hotly pursued by several members of the winning McMillan Elite squad.

As the wind gusted up to speeds hovering around 30 miles per hour at times during the race, Bauhs began to extend his command over the rest of the field, except for Carlson, who hung on gamely to Bauhs through the final lap.

"I ran in snow at the NCAA D-II meet a few weeks ago, but this was worse. I wanted to get out reasonably hard, then take the lead and go from there. I thought that I could hold off Andrew Carlson (on the final stretch). I wasn't completely confident with the conditions, but I felt that I could hold him off at the end," Bauhs said.

Carlson's runner-up finish, combined with Brett Gotcher and Gilliat Gebray's 4-5 finish led McMillan Elite to their first national title, as the Flagstaff-based squad scored 47 points, defeating the Bowerman Athletic Club by 17 points. Four-time men's team champions Hansons-Brooks finished third with 107 points.

In what can be best described as a race of attrition, Rebecca Donaghue survived the heavy winds and the early challenge of a group of four runners, including runner-up Toni Salucci, Kara June, Alisha Williams and Jennifer Donovan to win the national title in 21:38. The five women were the only ones to break 22 minutes for the 6-kilometer course.

After the race, Donaghue commented, "Truthfully, these were the worst conditions I've ever run in. I can't feel my face; I can't feel my fingers. The wind blew me over at about a mile and a half. I drafted off of other people, as the wind was absolutely brutal. I ran in the NCAA Cross Country Championships a few years ago where it was this cold, but never that windy. This is real cross country weather."

Despite Donaghue's overall win, last year's third place team Boulder Running Company / adidas dominated the team competition with 69 points, defeating the women of New Balance Boston by 31 points. Three-time team champions Boston Athletic Association took third with 128 points.

In the day's opening race, Carmen Ayala-Troncoso of Austin, Texas, 49, representing Rogue Running, won yet another masters USA title, after taking an early lead over former Team USA cross country team member Liz Wilson of the Eastside Runners, extending the lead over the final lap.

Wilson won the individual age group title in the 40-44 division and Ayala-Troncoso the 45-49. Other age group winners included Regina Joyce (50-54); Suzanne Ray (55-59) and Patty Foltz (60-64).

Team champions included Club Northwest (40-49) and the Impala Racing Team (50-59).

Simon Gutierrez of Alamosa, Colo., 42, used a strong surge on the final lap of the race to break away from masters men's runner-up Dan Franek of the Dirigo RC to win his first national cross country title, running 33:50.

Gutierrez and 2006 champion Tracy Lokken were part of the lead group that broke away early from a chase pack that included the Fluffy Bunny TC trio of David Schumacher, last year's national champion Peter Magill and Christian Cushing-Murray.

Other individual age group titles went to Magill (45-49); Bob Winn (50-54); Mark Billett (55-59); Terry Delph (60-64); Doug Goodhue (65-69); Thom Weddle (70-74) and Mel Preedy (75-79).

Team titles were won by the Fluffy Bunny TC (40-49); Club Northwest (50-59); Boulder Road Runners (60-69) and the Snohomish TC (70+).

Clubs competed for a total prize purse of $24,000, with $19,000 going to the top Open teams.

10th USATF National Club Cross Country Championships
Spokane, WA, Saturday, December 13, 2008

MEN - 10K
1) Scott Bauhs (CA), 30:47
2) Andrew Carlson (AZ), 30:49
3) Forest Braden (ID), 31:00

OPEN TEAM
1) McMillan Elite, 47 points, $3500
2) Bowerman Athletic Club, 64, $2300
3) Hansons-Brooks Distance Project, 107, $1500
4) Boulder Running Company / adidas, 136, $1200
5) ASICS Aggie Running Club, 150, $1000

WOMEN - 6K
1) Rebecca Donaghue (PA), 21:38
2) Toni Salucci (NC), 21:46
3) Kara June (CA), 21:51

OPEN TEAM
1) Boulder Running Company / adidas, 69 points, $3500
2) New Balance Boston, 100, $2300
3) Boston Athletic Association, 128, $1500
4) New York Athletic Club, 138, $1200
5) Run Ohio / Second Sole Racing Team, 147, $1000

Full results and more at: www.usatf.org/events/2008/USATFClubXCChampionships/

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Ivuti, Shimahara Win 36th Honolulu Marathon in the Rain
From Ron Stanton

HONOLULU - (December 14, 2008) - Kenyans dominated the men's race, while the Japanese prevailed in the women's race at Sunday's 36th Honolulu Marathon.

Patrick Ivuti ran alone the last nine miles to win handily in 2 hours, 14 minutes and 35 seconds. The 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon winner took home $40,000. Countryman Stephen Njoroge Kinyanjui was runner-up, more than three minutes back in 2:17:41. Kenyan men held the top five positions and six of the top ten.

Kiyoko Shimahara of Japan led the women to the finish line in 2:32:36 after taking the lead at the 30-kilometer / 18.6 mile mark. Countrywoman Kaori Yoshida was second in 2:34:35. Japanese won six of the top 10 women's positions.

Defending champions Jimmy Muindi (6-time winner) and Alevtina Biktimirova finished 5th overall in 2:21:43 and 2:45:06, respectively.

Rain, often heavy, began falling shortly after the start of the pre-dawn race, but there was little wind. But ponding on wet roadways slowed the runners. The rain stopped after the professional field finished, allowing age group runners better conditions.

The 23,230 registered runners included Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Hideki Okajima, who finished in 6:10:26. Ninety-year-old Glady Birrell of Prospect, Ore. was unsuccessful in her bid to set a world record for women 90-94.

36th Honolulu Marathon
Honolulu, HI, Sunday, December 14, 2008

MEN
1) Patrick Ivuti (KEN), 2:14:35, $40,000
2) Stephen Njoroge Kinyanjui (KEN), 2:17:41, $16,000
3) Pius Muasa Mutuku (KEN), 2:17:51, $10,000
4) Joseph Mutiso Wambua (KEN), 2:19:38, $6000
5) Jimmy Muindi (KEN), 2:21:43, $3000

WOMEN
1) Kiyoko Shimahara (JPN), 2:32:36, $40,000
2) Kaori Yoshida (JPN), 2:34:35, $16,000
3) Alice Timbilili (KEN), 2:37:31, $10,000
4) Olesya Nurgalieva (RUS), 2:39:13, $6000
5) Alevtina Biktimirova (RUS), 2:45:06, $3000

Deeper results and more at: HonoluluMarathon.org

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Fairfax County Schools to Receive Marine Corps Marathon Healthy School Award
Lynbrook Elementary, Eagle View Elementary and Hollin Meadows Science & Math Focus School honored for participation in Healthy Kids Fun Run

QUANTICO, Va. - (December 9, 2008) - Three schools from Fairfax County, Virginia will receive the 2008 Healthy School Awards. Lynbrook Elementary, Eagle View Elementary and Hollin Meadows Science & Math Focus School were the schools with the greatest number of students participating in the Healthy Kids Fun Run, a one-mile just for fun event, conducted on October 25, 2008, the day prior to the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM). The award is presented annually by the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) and its partner, Washington FAMILY Magazine to promote health and fitness. Washington FAMILY Magazine will make a financial donation to each the school's physical education department.

"The MCM is excited to once again partner with Washington FAMILY Magazine to present this award," said Rick Nealis, Director. "Students at these three schools have shown their dedication to health and physical fitness to their fellow students, teachers, parents and the local community and should be very proud of their efforts!"

Lynbrook Elementary School in Springfield brought 256 runners. Eagle View Elementary School in Fairfax had 225 participants. Hollin Meadows Science & Math Focus School in Alexandria registered 122 runners. This is the seventh win for Lynbrook Elementary, the third win for Eagle View Elementary and the first win for Hollin Meadows Science & Math Focus School.

The award will be presented to each school during assemblies this winter featuring exciting activities and special guests including Ronald McDonald, Miles, the MCM Mascot and the National Children's Museum's "Museum without Walls" program.

Voted "Best Marathon for Families", the Marine Corps Marathon continues a combined tradition of dedication, sportsmanship and patriotism. Runners from all walks of life have participated in the world's largest marathon to not offer prize money, deservingly earning the nickname "The People's Marathon." The 34th Marine Corps Marathon to be held on Sunday, October 25, 2009 in Arlington, VA is presented by USAA, Brooks Sports, Inc. and CVS Caremark. Visit: MarineMarathon.com

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