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USA Distance Project Athlete Grant Awards Announced

INDIANAPOLIS - (October 27, 2008) - The USA Track & Field Foundation and sponsors - Twin Cities Marathon Inc., Chevron Houston Marathon and Marathonguide.com - have announced the 2008 USA Distance Project Individual Athlete Grants.

Athletes receiving $4000 grants include Molly Huddle, Melissa Cook, Brent Vaughn, Ed Moran and Nate Jenkins.

"These five athletes excel at the 5K, 10K and marathon events and are representative of both the terrific resurgence and the promising future of USA distance running," said Foundation Board member Jack Wickens.

The USA Distance Project is dedicated to advancing elite distance running in America through support of group training centers and "up & coming" athletes. This program is a collaborative partnership between major distance running events, USA Track & Field and the USA Track & Field Foundation.

"We are proud sponsors and partners to the USA Distance Project," said Virginia Brophy Achman, Executive Director of Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. "It is a pleasure to support the mission of elite training centers and the future of fine young men and women like Molly, Melissa, Brent, Ed and Nate."

During 2008, The Distance Project, with presenting sponsorship from the New York Road Runners (NYRR), made substantial grants to the following elite training centers: Team USA Minnesota, Running USA Mammoth, ZAP Fitness, Team Elite Indiana, Performance Training Group and Tempo Sports Boulder.

For more information on the USA Track & Field Foundation, visit: USATFfoundation.org

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Universal Sports: Live Coverage of ING New York City Marathon

Universal Sports, in conjunction with NBC Sports, will present live webcast coverage of the 2008 ING New York City Marathon (coverage begins at 8:45am ET) on Sunday, November 2 at UniversalSports.com. The ING New York City Marathon webcast will be available worldwide and free to all viewers.

In addition to the webcast, viewers can watch a live TV broadcast of the ING New York City Marathon on the Universal Sports Network, a 24-hour television channel available to 30 million households including New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Chicago, Dallas / Ft. Worth, Hartford / New Haven, Omaha (Neb.), Las Vegas and Reno (Nev.). Universal Sports is home to the World Marathon Majors (Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London and New York City) and includes a special marathon section updated with news, photos, results and more on UniversalSports.com. Universal Sports is the preeminent year-round multi-platform destination of Olympic and lifestyle sports. Check your local listings to see if Universal Sports is available in your area. If not available, call your local cable or satellite provider to request.

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Hesch, Karrh Win Inaugural Healdsburg Wine Country Half Marathon
From Matt Dockstader

HEALDSBURG, Calif. - (October 25, 2008) - Christian Hesch of Morro Bay, Calif. and Tamara Karrh of Marietta, Ga. won the inaugural Healdsburg Wine Country Half Marathon on Saturday morning. Hesch took an early lead and then cruised to victory in 1 hour, 14 minutes, 36 seconds, besting runner-up Kenneth Burgess by almost two minutes. Over 1,100 runners competed in the first edition with 1,022 finishers.

Karrh also ran her first Wine Country Half Marathon in 1:20:52, defeating Susan Loken, 45, a 2-time Wine Country Half Marathon winner (Santa Barbara) and 3-time USA Masters marathon champion, who ran a 1:23:42, but was not discouraged.

"I was not in my best shape going into the race but wanted to come anyway," said Loken. "It was absolutely the most gorgeous course I have ever run and I really enjoy spending time in the wine country."

The winners each took home $400 in cash, a double magnum of Rosso & Bianco wine and a $2500 Ball Watch. Top three finishers in each age category won a bottle of wine.

Race Director Matt Dockstader was impressed with the efforts of Hesch and Karrh and said, "Christian ran a very conservative pace, but he also stopped at one aid station to sample wine and on many occasions would pick up a fallen course cone and place it in the right spot, while Tamara flew out here on her own and did not even register as an elite."

Runners raved about the 13.1 mile course that started at Francis Ford Coppola's Rosso & Bianco Winery and finished at the Lake Sonoma Recreation Area in the Dry Creek Valley near Healdsburg, California. The course ran through autumn-colored vineyards and 22 wineries, one of which poured wine on the course at mile six. The post-race Wine & Music Festival was held at the recreation area and featured an awards ceremony, exhibitor booths, live band and wine tasting from fourteen local wineries.

The event benefited Girls on the Run of Sonoma County, American Cancer Society and local high school athletic programs. Destination Races also produces the Santa Barbara Wine Country Half Marathon and the Napa-to-Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon.

Inaugural Healdsburg Wine Country Half Marathon
Healdsburg, CA, Saturday, October 25, 2008

MEN
1) Christian Hesch (CA), 1:14:36, $400 plus wine double magnum & a watch
2) Kenneth Burgess (CA), 1:16:32
3) Craig Zelent (CA), 1:19:57

WOMEN
1) Tamara Karrh (GA), 1:20:52, $400 plus wine double magnum & a watch
2) Susan Loken, 45, AZ, 1:23:42
3) Flora Lee (CA), 1:25:41

Results and more at: DestinationRaces.com

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Reid, Gebre Set Course Records at Saint John's Santa Monica 5000
Sallberg, Bolf win 10K along the coast of Santa Monica
From Brennan Lindner

SANTA MONICA, Calif. - (October 19, 2008) - In a thrilling finish down Santa Monica's Ocean Avenue, San Luis Obispo-based runner Phillip Reid successfully held off Christian Hesch from Morro Bay to win the Los Angeles Sports and Fitness (LAS&F) Invitational at the third Saint John's Santa Monica 5000. Reid's time of 13:59.5, shattered the course record of 2006-07 winner, Kenyan Haron Lagat, by 5 seconds. Reid won $1500 for his victory, along with a $300 time bonus for breaking 14:20. The time between the three men - Reid, Hesch and Brett Gotcher - was less than three seconds, captivating hundreds of spectators on the bluffs of Santa Monica.

The LAS&F Invitational, which was first run in 2004 in Agoura Hills, brings together the best athletes from Southern California and the world to compete in the Championship of L.A. Road Racing.

"The LAS&F Invitational is the stage for California's best to compete. It makes for outstanding competition, a great race and also a wonderful event to watch," said LAS&F Publisher Danny Greenberg.

In the women's 5K race, Ethiopian Belainesh Gebre also set a course record with her 15:48, holding off Kenyan Everlyne Lagat who ran 16:05. Fellow Ethiopian and New Mexico-based Naser Teyba finished third (16:32).

In the 10K race, Jacques Sallberg of Team Running USA won the men's race in 30:33, while Christine Bolf of Los Angeles defended her crown in 36:18.

The festivities began early Sunday morning under partly cloudy skies and 60 degrees Fahrenheit as L.A. based yoga teacher Rainbeau Mars led a group stretch to the thousands of athletes. The post-race Party on the Pier featured several live bands and a pancake breakfast.

Race proceeds benefit Saint John's Health Center. With 30,000 patient visits each year, the Saint John's 24-hour Emergency Department provides life-saving services to the community each and every day.

"Saint John's has served the people of Santa Monica and neighboring communities for over 60 years. We are pleased to be the beneficiary of such a wonderful health and fitness event right here in our own community," said Robert O. Klein, Saint John's Vice President of Foundation and Health Center Relations.

3rd Saint John's Santa Monica 5000
Los Angeles Sports and Fitness (LAS&F) Invitational
Santa Monica, CA, Sunday, October 19, 2008

MEN
1) Phillip Reid (CA), 14:00*, $1800
2) Christian Hesch (CA), 14:01, $800
3) Brett Gotcher (AZ), 14:02, $600
4) Gilliat Ghebray (CA), 14:05, $300
5) Jordan Horn (CA), 14:06, $300
6) Haron Lagat (KEN), 14:14, $300
7) Ben Bruce (OR), 14:14, $300
8) Jeremy Johnson (CA), 14:29, $150
*course record (previous record, 14:05, Haron Lagat (KEN), 2007)

WOMEN
1) Belainesh Gebre (ETH), 15:48*, $1800
2) Everlyne Lagat (KEN), 16:05, $650
3) Naser Teyba (ETH), 16:32, $300
*course record (previous record, 16:16, Emily Chebet (KEN), 2006)

10K
MEN
1) Jacques Sallberg (CA), 30:33, $500
2) Brian Livingston (CA), 30:44, $300
3) Michael Chavez (CA), 31:09, $200

WOMEN
1) Christone Bolf (CA), 36:18, $500
2) Tove Berg (CA), 36:50, $300
3) Laura Conley (CA), 39:46, $200

Complete results at: SantaMonica5000.com

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