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Lagat, Kosgei Victorious at 20th Union-Tribune Race for Literacy 8K
By Patrice Malloy

SAN DIEGO - (May 4, 2008) - Defending champion Haron Lagat and Rose Kosgei cruised to tactical victories at the 20th Union-Tribune Race for Literacy 8K held on Sunday morning, under mostly cloudy skies with temperatures hovering in the low to mid-60s.

Over 4,500 runners participated in the fast 4.97-mile course that started in San Diego's historic Balboa Park and finished downtown.

Despite the day's ideal racing conditions and talented competition, it quickly became obvious that Monday's sports headlines would not be of a new course record, but instead, a story about a busy day for two professional runners.

In the men's competition, a pack of five ran the first two miles at a 4:50 per mile pace, much too slow to break the course record of 22 minutes, 28 seconds set by David Kipngetich in 2002. The lead pack dropped down to a Kenyan foursome at mile 3, and included Lagat, Richard Kimeli, Evance Rotich and Nelson Lebo.

The competition started with 50 meters to go with all four men sprinting to the finish line for the win. Lagat, 24, apparently the athlete with the most energy left in reserve, finished the thrilling race in 23 minutes and 15 seconds for the win and a $1000 payday. Kimeli clocked an identical time for second place and a $600 prize. Rotich was one second back (23:16) for third and Lebo placed fourth in 23:23.

Lagat, who won last year in 22:52 and who ran a 22:33 8K earlier this year, was apparently a busy man with a plan. "My plan was to just stay together and win," said Lagat. "It was a fun race."

The women's race was a textbook case on how to win with the minimal amount of energy expended. Kosgei, who led wire-to-wire, only picked up the pace when she saw another women coming up from behind, according to Kosgei and other female competitors.

The 26-year-old's winning time of 29:34 was much slower than her 8K PR of 27:08 and the women's course record of 25:31 set by Jemima Jelagat in 2006.

"I wanted to pace myself but win," said Kosgei. "I was saving my energy for the meet this evening."

"I caught up to her (Kosgei) and jokingly said 'What's up girl?" said Kim Mueller of San Diego, who placed third in 29:45. "You could tell she was holding back. Every time she saw a gal she surged."

Liza Dietrich of San Diego finished six seconds back from Kosgei for second place (29:40).

Both Lagat and Kosgei were headed to the Cardinal Invitational at Stanford University meet later in the day to pace the 10,000 meter events. Lagat, the designated pacemaker for the men's 10,000, is expected to run 13:40 for the first 5000 meters. Kosgei will pace the women at 15:35 for 5000 meters.

The unique Union-Tribune Race for Literacy course winds through Balboa Park and the colorful Hillcrest neighborhood before taking runners onto the closed Cabrillo Parkway, a picturesque highway near downtown San Diego. The race's final mile tours through the historic Gaslamp District and finishes downtown.

Managed by In Motion Events of Carlsbad, Calif., the Union-Tribune Race for Literacy weekend also included the Kid's Magic Mile fun run, which took place on Saturday, May 3. Over 3,500 children participated in the one-mile dash through Balboa Park. All event proceeds benefit The San Diego Council on Literacy, which provides reading programs to more than 100,000 San Diegans.

20th Union-Tribune Race for Literacy 8K
San Diego, CA, Sunday, May 4, 2008

MEN
1) Haron Lagat, 24, KEN, 23:15, $1000
2) Richard Kimeli, 27, KEN, 23:15, $600
3) Evance Rotich, 33, KEN, 23:16, $300
4) Nelson Lebo, 29, KEN, 23:23, $100

Masters MEN (40+)
1) Bryan Wallbank, 40, USA/CA, 26:07

WOMEN
1) Rose Kosgei, 26, KEN, 21, 29:34, $1000
2) Liza Dietrich, 27, USA/CA, 29:40, $600
3) Kim Mueller, 31, USA/CA, 29:45, $300
4) Rachel Challis, 32, USA/CA, 29:58, $100

Masters WOMEN (40+)
1) Lisa Pechin, 40, USA/CA, 30:19

For full results, visit: InMotionEvents.com

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Olympians, NCAA Champions Part of Medtronic TC 1 Mile Field
Competitors to race for one of nation's largest one mile prize purses - $25,000 plus time bonuses

MINNEAPOLIS - (May 2, 2008) - The fourth Medtronic TC 1 Mile takes off along the Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis, Thursday, May 8th and will feature its strongest fields ever, on both the men's and women's sides.

"We could not be more pleased with the level of competition for this year's mile," said Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. race director Brian Mastel. "The fields include two Olympians, a three-time NCAA Champion, an age group world record holder and nine men who have broken the four-minute barrier. We have a couple of athletes in both fields who like to push the pace, so we expect a fast race on the 8th."

Joining two-time champion of the event, Luke Watson, will be Team USA Minnesota runner Brad Lowery, in addition to former Team USA Minnesota runner Ryan Kleimenhagen. The field also includes two runners who've recently been added to the list of sub-four minute milers, Steve Sherer, ranked second in the United States at the mile indoors and Jordan Fife, ranked 6th in the United States at the mile indoors, as well as several runners from Kenya, including Haron Lagat, Vincent Rono, Josephat Kithii, Eliud Njubi and Benson Chesang.

The women's field will feature 2004 Olympian Carrie Tollefson, former NCAA 1500 meter champion Tiffany McWilliams and the top returning runner from last year's race, Colleen Newhart. This year's race will also have a strong international field with such runners as Rose Kosgei, Margaret Chirchir, Meskerem Legesse and Marina Munca.

Men's Championship Wave presented by M&I Bank
BIB# / NAME / AGE / COUNTRY / 1500 - MILE PR / FACT - COMMENT
1 Steve Sherer, 27, USA (MI), N/A - 3:56.00; broke 4-minutes for the first time in February, ranked #2 in 2008 U.S. indoor mile.
2 Christian Hesch, 29, USA (CA), 3:40 - 4:02; 6th at USA Men's 8K Championships in March
3 Haron Lagat, 24, Kenya, 3:46 - 3:58; ran a 13:36 PR at the Carlsbad 5000 in April.
4 Luke Watson, 27, USA (IN), 3:42.43 - N/A; won the Drake Relays 8K in 23:59 in April.
5 Sean McCabe, USA (TX), 3:57.80-4:03.33
6 Ryan Kleimenhagen, 26, USA (WI), N/A - 3:59.00
7 Vincent Rono, Kenya, 3:37.96 - 3:59.63; 3rd in the Drake Relays mile in 4:06.71
8 Josephat Kithii, Kenya, 3:41.5 - N/A
9 Eliud Njubi, 28, Kenya, 3:38.18 - 3:56.84
10 Aucencio Martinez, USA, 3:40.85 - 4:01.58
11 Jordan Fife, 24, USA (IN), 3:44.06 - 3:59.74; 2-time all-American at Indiana State, ranked #6 at 2008 U.S. indoor mile.
12 Brad Lowery, 25, USA (MN), 3:42.44 - 4:01.67; 9th in the Drake Relays 1500m in 4:16.94

Women's Championship Wave presented by M&I Bank
BIB# / NAME / AGE / COUNTRY / 1500 - MILE PR / FACT - COMMENT
17 Carrie Tollefson, 29, USA (MN), 4:06.13 - 4:27.95; 2004 Olympian in the 1500m
18 Tiffany McWilliams, 25, USA (AL), 4:06.30 - 4:29.56; 3-time NCAA 1500m champion at Mississippi State
19 Colleen Newhart, 27, USA (IL), 4:19.12 - N/A; finished 4th at last year's TC 1 Mile in 5:08.
20 Marina Munca, 25, Serbia, 4:08.02 - 4:34.67; 7-time all-American at Villanova
21 Alisa Harvey, 42, USA (DC), 4:08.33 - 4:29.65; 9-time all-American at Tennessee
22 Rose Kosgei, 26, Kenya, 4:10 - N/A; ran a 15:21 PR at the Carlsbad 5000 in April.
23 Zofia Wieciorkowska, 45, USA (CT), ran 4:40.40 for 1500m in February to set World Age Group Record for 45-49 year olds.
24 Margaret Chirchir, 29, Kenya, 4:11.69 - N/A; won the Shamrock 8K in Virgina Beach in 26:58.
25 Meskerem Legesse, 21, Ethiopia, 4:03.96 - 4:42.77; 2004 Olympian for Ethiopia
26 Rasa Troup, 31, USA (MN), 4:17:13 - 4:39.5; 2nd at Drake Relays in Steeplechase in 19:51:28

Runners will be battling for their share of the largest prize purse in the history of the event. The 2008 Medtronic TC 1 Mile prize purse is $25,000, one of the largest mile prize purses in the nation, with $4000 to the race champion. As an added incentive, $10,000 will be awarded to the first man and woman to break 4:00 and 4:28, respectively.

Awards for first through third places in the Men's and Women's Championship Wave will be presented by M&I Bank at a special ceremony immediately following the Championship waves at approximately 8:10pm on May 8th. The ceremony will take place inside the M&I Branch at 651 Nicollet Mall.

The 2008 Medtronic TC 1 Mile is also part of USATF MN Team Circuit and prize money will be awarded based on the scoring formula used by the circuit.

For more information about the race, visit: MTCMarathon.org or contact Kristine Smith at (763) 287-3888 x13.

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Orlando Runner Heather King Wins Disney's Women Run the World 15K
Sonja Friend-Uhl claims Go Red for Women 5K title; third Minnie Marathon Weekend draws more than 5,000 participants - event record
From Marques Edge

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - (May 3-4, 2008) - Heather King(Orlando, Fla.), 33, won the Disney's Women Run the World 15K on Sunday during the 3rd Disney's Minnie Marathon Weekend at the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando. Running in her first 15K race, King was hardly challenged during the 9.3 mile course as she posted a time of 1 hour, 49 seconds to win by nearly two minutes. Cheryl Edwards (Avon, Conn.) crossed the line in second (1:02:37) and Courtney Phillips (Jacksonville, Fla.) finished third at 1:02:46. In the Master's division, Sue O'Malley (Port Orange, Fla.), 47, won in a time of 1:04:20 followed by Maureen Powers (Kissimmee, Fla.) at 1:08:27.

In the Go Red for Women 5K Run on Saturday, Sonja Friend-Uhl (West Palm Beach, Fla.) won easily defeating the nearest competitor by nearly 30 seconds. Friend-Uhl, who is no stranger to Disney's Endurance Series events, finished second in the 2008 Walt Disney World Marathon, crossed the finish line in 18:38. Maite Moscoso (Longwood, Fla.) finished second (19:06) and Edwards, the runner-up in the 15K the next day, finished third in 19:35. The top-finisher in the Master's division was Maureen O'Sullivan (Lutz, Fla.) at 23:03.

While the weekend is designed for women, men were welcome to participate on behalf of the women in their lives. Nicholas Smith of Aurora, Ontario was the top male finisher in the 15K with a time of 59:20, while Will Bridges (Orlando, Fla.) took top honors in the Go Red for Women 5K crossing the line in 17:04.

More than 5,000 runners - an event record - were entered in the various races during the Third Annual Minnie Marathon Weekend, including 3,000 in the Women Run the World 15K and 2,000 in the Go Red for Women 5K.

For more information, visit: DisneySports.com

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What Would You Trade for a Sub-3 Hour Marathon?
From Josephine Parr, Runner's World

Marathoners nationwide are willing to give up American Idol, Lost, CSI: Miami, and Dancing with the Stars during May Sweeps if only they could complete a sub-3 hour marathon.

With the spring marathon season in full swing, the editors of Runner's World magazine polled more than 2,300 avid runners at RunnersWorld.com to find out what they would give up in their everyday lives to be able to run a marathon in less than 3 hours. The interesting results follow: 20% (1 in 5) would trade TV for one month, all human contact for one week, 24 hours of their lifespan AND their sense of smell for one year. And more than 50% would give up TV privileges for a full month. Below is the survey % breakdown.

What would you trade to be able to run a sub-3-hour marathon?

1) Television privileges for one month, 51%
2) Any human contact for one week, 10%
3) 24 hours of my lifespan, 8%
4) My sense of smell for one year, 3%
5) All of the above, 20%
6) None of the above - I already CAN run sub-3, 9%

For full poll results, go to: www.runnersworld.com/cda/poll/1,7134,239,00.html?cm_re=HP-_-Opinion%2

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