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Kastor Closes Well to Win U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials at Boston
Lewy Boulet and Russell also Beijing bound; Benoit Samuelson runs final competitive marathon
By Jim Gerweck, Running USA wire

BOSTON - (April 20, 2008) - A look back at the past six U.S. Women's Olympic Marathon Trials reveals a history of upsets and surprises, with relative unknowns making the team and favorites faltering.

But in this Trials form held, as the top three finishers and now Olympic teammates - 2004 bronze medalist and prohibitive favorite Deena Kastor, Magdalena Lewy Boulet and Blake Russell (fifth and fourth at the last Trials) - were on most people's list of runners to watch for the 2008 Olympic Trials in Boston on Sunday. Perhaps it was appropriate, in a year when all the top seeds made the NCAA basketball Final Four, but it was no less surprising, nor was manner in which the final results and Beijing berths were reached.

Last time in St. Louis, Russell brazenly blazed out to an early lead before being caught by Kastor, Trials champion Colleen De Reuck, and, with less than a mile to go, by Jen Rhines, leaving her a heartbreaking fourth. This year, under blue skies and temperatures in the 50s, after a desultory first mile barely under six minute pace, it was Lewy Boulet of Oakland, Calif. who struck out alone from the other 145 anxious starters, running a solo time trial along the Charles River and through Back Bay and establishing a lead that would eventually grow to almost two minutes by the halfway point, reached in 1 hour, 14 minutes and 37 seconds.

"I planned to run my own race, and my own pace," said Lewy Boulet, 34, who in the intervening years since St. Louis has given birth to a son. "I wasn't running any crazy splits, so I was a little surprised I was so far ahead."

Behind her, a chase pack of a dozen women keyed off Kastor, 35, who had been instructed by her Team Running USA coach Terrence Mahon not to begin racing until halfway. "I started picking up the pace then, but I was hearing Magdalena was still 1:40 ahead," the now three-time Olympian said. "For a while, I was thinking I'd misjudged things and been too conservative. I was beginning to feel like I'd have to settle for only one of my goals coming here, to make the team, and wasn't going to win."

As Lewy Boulet crossed the Massachusetts Avenue bridge for the fourth and final loop of the criterium style course, her pace began slowing to the high-5:50s per mile, although it never topped six minutes, at the same time, Kastor of Mammoth Lakes, Calif. was slicing big chunks off the margin. The two swapped places just past 23 miles, and the questions then became how much Lewy Boulet would continue to slow, and would she reprise Russell's agonizing last mile heartbreak of 2004.

Meanwhile, Russell, 32, intent on not repeating her mistake of '04, had been running solidly in third after Kastor's move shredded the chase pack. After shedding her initial company of Mary Akor, Russell of Pacific Grove, Calif. was alone for the first half of the third Cambridge loop, but quickly found herself faced with a challenge similar to St. Louis, this time in the person of Desiree Davila of the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project. At 22 miles, Davila, in just her second marathon, had closed to within five seconds and looked to be moving much more freely than Russell.

But as Russell later stated, "I knew a lot can happen in the last six miles of a marathon," and this time it was nothing good for Davila, who began a sudden fade, eventually finishing 13th. "It was a fuel issue," she said, noting that she had a hard time drinking her fluids. "But I'd rather have gone for it and finished where I did than hang back and wind up seventh or eighth and say 'What if?'"

For the top three, that's a question they won't have to answer until Beijing on August 17.

Kastor's 2:29:35 victory, her 25th USA and third national marathon titles overall, was the second fastest in women's Trials history behind De Reuck's 2:28:25 at St. Louis 2004. Runner-up Lewy Boulet set a personal record with her 2:30:19, while Russell redeemed her 2004 race with her third place 2:32:40. This was also the first Olympic Marathon Trials where the top three finishers reside in the same state, California.

Joan Benoit Samuelson, 50, the first women's Olympic Marathon champion in 1984, ran her last competitive marathon and finished 90th overall in 2:49:08, a new U.S. 50-54 age group record. The running legend and New England native, who fittingly finished the race wearing a Boston Red Sox baseball hat like she did for her first Boston win in 1979, called the crowds "amazing" and congratulated Kastor, Lewy Boulet and Russell on their races.

7th U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Women's Marathon
Boston, MA, Sunday, April 20, 2008

1) Deena Kastor (CA), 2:29:35, $50,000*
2) Magdalena Lewy Boulet (CA), 2:30:19, $40,000*
3) Blake Russell (CA), 2:32:40, $30,000*
4) Zoila Gomez (CO), 2:33:53, $20,000
5) Tera Moody (CO), 2:33:54, $15,000
6) Turena Johnson Lane (LA), 2:34:17, $12,000
7) Ann Alyanak (OH), 2:34:46, $10,000
8) Dot McMahan (MI), 2:35:02, $9000
9) Robyn Friedman (IA), 2:35:02, $8000
10) Erin Moeller (IA), 2:36:51, $7000
11) Kasie Enman (VT), 2:37:14, $6000
12) Megan Hepp (NC), 2:37:29, $5000
13) Desiree Davila (MI), 2:37:50, $4000
14) Melissa White (MI), 2:37:53, $2500
15) Veena Reddy (PA) 2:38:08, $1500
16) Sheri Piers (ME), 2:38:46
17) Linda Somers Smith, 46, CA, 2:38:49#
18) Samia Akbar (VA), 2:39:19
19) Mary Akor (CA), 2:39:34
20) Sally Meyerhoff (AZ), 2:39:39
90) Joan Benoit Samuelson, 50, ME, 2:49:08#
*Does not include $10,000 bonus for Olympic Marathon participation
#U.S. age group record (previous, F45-49, 2:42:28, Joan Benoit Samuelson (ME), LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, 10/13/02 and F50-54, 2:50:26, Shirley Matson (CA), Twin Cities, 10/06/91)

Deeper results, splits, photos and more at: http://bostontrials2008.com

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Benoit Samuelson Elected to USOC Hall of Fame
From USATF and the USOC

National Track & Field Hall of Famer Joan Benoit Samuelson leads the distinguished Class of 2008 that will be inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Presented by Allstate. The induction ceremony will take place Thursday, June 19 in Chicago at the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater.

The winner of the first Olympic women's marathon at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Benoit Samuelson is synonymous with the increased popularity of long distance running in the United States. She ran her final competitive marathon at her fourth U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Women's Marathon on Sunday, April 20 in Boston and finished 90th in 2:49:08.

Benoit Samuelson, at age 26, won the inaugural 1984 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in 2:31:04, just 17 days following knee surgery, and that August she went on to win the women's Olympic Marathon in 2:24:52. The Bowdoin College graduate was ranked #1 in the world in the marathon on two occasions, and is a former world and U.S. record holder in that event. She also was the 1981 U.S. 10,000m champion, won the 1983 Pan Am Games 3000m gold medal and set numerous U.S. record records.

Recognized as a pioneer of women's marathoning, Benoit Samuelson who resides in Freeport, Maine won the 1979 and 1983 Boston Marathons, the 1985 Chicago Marathon and the 1992 Columbus Marathon. In 1985, she was awarded the prestigious AAU Sullivan Award as the nation's finest amateur athlete.

Additional 2008 inductees to the USOC Hall of Fame include Wrestler Bruce Baumgartner, figure skater Brian Boitano, boxer Oscar de La Hoya, equestrian J. Michael Plumb, basketball athlete David Robinson, swimmer Amy Van Dyken, shooter Lones W. Wigger, Jr. and Paralympic swimmer John Morgan who will be inducted as individuals. Figure skating coach Carlo Fassi will be inducted in the Coach category along with Olympic figure skating gold medalist Carol Heiss Jenkins in the Veteran category. The members of the 1996 Women's Gymnastics Team - Amanda Borden, Amy Chow, Dominique Dawes, Shannon Miller, Dominique Moceanu, Jaycie Phelps and Kerri Strug - will be honored in the Team category, as will legendary Hollywood producer Frank Marshall as the Special Contributor.

Tickets to the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony can be purchased at: www.usolympichalloffame.com

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International City Racing Takes Helm of the Avia OC Marathon

The OC Marathon Board of Directors has announced the hiring of Long Beach-based International City Racing to produce and manage the 2009 Avia OC Marathon, presented by Nutrilite.

"We are delighted to welcome ICR on board to help achieve our goal of making The OC Marathon a galvanizing community event for promoting health and fitness, particularly among our kids," said The OC Marathon board chairman Scott Baugh. "We look forward to boosting participation and buzz about The OC Marathon to even greater levels with Olympic hero Bob Seagren and the entire ICR team."

To compliment the race's new professional management, the event date will move from January to later in the year while the course is being retooled to include more of Orange County's spectacular coastline. A new race date will be announced soon.

The OC Marathon was founded in 2003, with the first event run in December 2004. The race helps raise money for official Orange County children's charities, which partner with The OC Marathon. Nearly $2 million has been raised by and for The OC Marathon charities through the event since 2004.

In 2008, The OC Marathon hosted nearly 10,000 runners in the Full Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K and Kids Run. About 1,400 students from Orange County schools participated in their first Marathon event through The OC Marathon Kids Training Program - a boost from 600 who ran in 2007. The popular two-day event, including The OC Marathon Health and Fitness Expo, attracts everyone from elite athletes to everyday runners and spectators from around the world.

International City Racing, Inc. (ICR) specializes exclusively in the development, management and implementation of world-class endurance, health and fitness events. Among their signature events are the Long Beach International City Bank Marathon held in October (18,000 participants), the Pacific Open Water Challenge held in June (2000 participants) and the Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K & 5K held on Thanksgiving Day (11,000 participants). Additionally, ICR also works on behalf of the City of Long Beach and the Long Beach Sea Festival Association to help oversee the annual Charter Sea Festival which includes over 100 events held over the summer in the city.

"ICR is very honored and excited to have the privilege to add the Avia OC Marathon, presented by Nutrilite, to its growing stable of world class events," said ICR CEO Bob Seagren, one of the world's greatest pole vaulters, who won Olympic gold in 1968 and a silver medal in 1972.

"Orange County has some of the most beautiful running areas and scenic coastline in the country," Seagren continued. "It's our goal to help develop a marathon course that reflects the very best that Orange County has to offer. We want to help The OC Marathon become one of the elite running events in the nation - one that represents Orange County and benefits the local community."

For more information on The OC Marathon, contact Angie Rowe at (949) 222-0456 x105 or visit: OCMarathon.org

For more information on ICR, call John Parks at (562) 427-4606, x5.

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Contact: Ed Froehlich, (563) 359-9197

Quad-City Times Bix 7 Anticipates Growth for 34th Edition
Success of chip timing a year ago to fuel participation increase

BETTENDORF, Iowa - Officials with the Quad-City Times Bix 7, slated for Saturday, July 26, are anticipating growth for its 34th edition - thanks in part to chip timing. Last year, the race used chip timing for the first time in the event's history as 11,326 finished the country's largest 7 mile road race. The smooth transition for volunteers and competitors will enable more people to participate and "feel great" doing the Bix 7 in 2008.

"The success of the chip timing was overwhelming," said race director Ed Froehlich, entering his 29th year at the helm of the race. "Now we hope to expand on this system as we look to have one of our largest races ever in 2008."

For those unfamiliar with the transponder system, small computer chips are attached to a runner's shoelaces and are activated and deactivated by crossing mats at the start and finish lines. This means that runners' actual running time starts when they reach the start mat and also means that runners will encounter a smoother finishing area since chutes are no longer needed.

It not only assists those running the main race, but those that choose to run the Lee Enterprises "Quick Bix" two-mile option.

The Bix 7 organizers also welcomed the Scott County Regional Authority as the sponsor of the "All City Challenge" and the Cardiovascular Medicine and Dr. Michael Giudici now serve as the official hosts of "Bix Legends" and Olympians Bill Rodgers and Joan Benoit Samuelson.

The weekend kicks off once again with the Alcoa Jr. Bix on Friday, July 25 at 6:00pm. The event will welcome Children 12 & Under to share in the excitement of race weekend. Opening night concludes with the Brady Street "Sprint" immediately following the Jr. Bix.

Registration for the Bix 7 events, a midwest summer tradition, is available through applications in the Quad City Area or at the event's website: Bix7.com

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