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Torrence, Yoder Begley, Myers, Willard Win Indoor Titles in Boston
By Parker Morse, Running USA wire

BOSTON - (March 1, 2009) - David Torrence, Amy Yoder Begley, Rob Myers and Anna Willard became national champions in the men's and women's 3000m and 1500m respectively at the USA Indoor Championships, held Saturday (February 28) and Sunday (March 1) at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center here in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood.

Torrence was the surprise of Saturday evening, winning his first-ever Senior national title when he took the men's 3000m in 7:53.67. Based in Berkeley, Calif. and coached by his college coach, Tony Sandoval, Torrence was a Junior national champion in 2004 and placed 8th at the World Junior Championships that year. In 2007, he ran 3:58.62 for the mile to break Cal's 50-year-old school record, previously held by Don Bowden, the first American under 4 minutes for the mile.

The race's pace was dominated by marathoners, with Nate Jenkins (7th at the Olympic Trials) and Josh Rohatinsky (9th) leading through the 2000m point. Torrence had made his way through the pack by then, and when Daniel Huling made a move for the lead, Torrence moved to follow him. He moved to the lead on the backstretch before the bell, reasoning that others might be saving their moves for the bell. A strong challenge from Brandon Bethke was the only response; Jonathon Riley, a three-time U.S. champion in this event, was in position, but unable to cover Torrence's move.

"This is the first shot I've had at a real title," said the exultant Torrence. "It's the first time I've felt really fit, and I said to myself, you know what, you've got this. Just go out there and run smart, and it's yours."

2008 Olympian Yoder Begley ended a nine-year absence from indoor track when she won the women's 3000m. The 2000 indoor NCAA 5000m champion, Yoder Begley said until this year she hadn't raced indoors since that year. After three-time Olympian Jen Rhines opened the race at 4:40 pace, Yoder Begley took over with seven laps to go and started forcing down the pace. From the pack of five, which had also included Lindsey Gallo, Julie Culley and Sara Hall, only Hall was able to endure Yoder Begley's progressive pace increases. Yoder Begley entered the bell lap with a solid one-stride lead over Hall which turned out to be too much for the Team Running USA athlete to overcome; Yoder Begley won in 8:53.27 to Hall's 8:53.72.

"The plan was to start with a 1500 meter warm-up," said Yoder Begley, "and then from 7 to go, take off a second a lap. I figured if I'm going to come all the way down to the 3000 meter, I'm going to make it hurt a lot longer than the last 400 meters."

"I'm hoping to prove I'm not just a one-hit wonder" this year, she continued. "I'm the healthiest I've ever been. It's great to win indoors, but these are short, hard races. I'm looking forward to going back to the 10,000 again this spring and lowering my PR."

Myers won his third indoor 1500m national title when he held off 2004 Olympian Alan Webb at the finish line of that race. After Webb took the pace with four laps remaining, Myers moved smartly through the pack with two laps to go and burst into the lead at the bell. Webb gave chase and almost caught Myers at the line, when the latter appeared to stumble slightly, but the win went to Myers in 3:45.73 to Webb's 3:45.82. It was the slowest time of Myers' wins.

"I thought I had him," said Webb afterward. "I think I spotted him a bit too much" on the last lap. "I was trying to stay as relaxed as I could," he added, "but I think I was too relaxed."

Myers, for his part, professed no pre-race plan. "I just wanted to respond to what came along." On coming down the homestretch with Webb in hot pursuit, Myers said, "It's pressure, but it's more incentive for me to run hard. Alan wasn't in the races I won before, so even though it's only indoors, it does mean something. Still, it's only indoors. I want to stay healthy and run well outdoors."

Steeplechase Olympian Willard ran away from a field including 2004 Olympian Shayne Culpepper and Sara Hall to win the 1500m in 4:17.37 here on Sunday evening. Willard, who ran at the Reggie Lewis Center often as a collegian at Brown, was back for her first indoor season in four years.

Willard grabbed the lead immediately and never relinquished it, passing 400 meters in 1:12.5 and 800m in 2:25.9. Hall moved up to challenge as the pack shrank to five with two laps remaining, but Willard had another gear left and shredded the pack with a 30-second closing last lap. Culpepper moved up to catch Hall in the homestretch.

"I was surprised nobody came up on me in the earlier laps," said Willard, who said she intends to run both the 1500m and the steeplechase this summer. "I wanted to work on my speed" this season, she explained. Willard, a native of Maine, had a family fan base in the stands. "It felt like the whole town was here."

Willard professed to be excited by the 4:25.18 mile run by her steeple rival Jenny Barringer at the Big 12 Championships this weekend. "I love it when my competitors run fast," the Team Running USA athlete said. "It raises the bar."

Willard, who has traded the steeplechase U.S. record back and forth with Barringer for two years, will be looking forward to renewing the rivalry in the spring.

If eligible, the top three finishers at the USA Indoors took home $2500, $1500 and $500. There is no World Indoor Championships this year.

USA Indoor Track & Field Championships
Boston, MA, February 28 - March 1, 2009

SATURDAY
Men's 1500m
1) Rob Myers (OH), 3:45.73
2) Alan Webb (VA), 3:45.82
3) Steve Sherer (WA), 3:46.14
4) Liam Boylan-Pett (DC), 3:46.46
5) Matthew DeBole (DC), 3:47.43

Men's 3000m
1) David Torrence (CA), 7:53.67
2) Brandon Bethke (WI), 7:54.20
3) Jonathon Riley (OR), 7:55.79
4) David Nightingale (NC), 7:57.01
5) Daniel Huling (OH), 8:00.15

Women's 3000m
1) Amy Yoder Begley (OR), 8:53.27
2) Sara Hall (CA), 8:53.72
3) Julie Culley (VA), 8:55.62
4) Lindsey Gallo (VA), 8:56.92
5) Rebecca Donaghue (PA), 9:01.08

SUNDAY
Women's 1500m
1) Anna Willard (CA), 4:17.37
2) Shayne Culpepper (CO), 4:18.82
3) Sara Hall (CA), 4:19.30
4) Jen Rhines (CA), 4:22.16
5) Sara Vaughn (CO), 4:22.29

Complete results and more at: www.usatf.org/events/2009/USAIndoorTFChampionships

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Gilmore, Coordt Win 31st Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon
U.S. soldier in Kuwait finishes race "remotely"; race record 1,822 finish
From Mark Winitz

NAPA, Calif. - (March 1, 2009) - Peter Gilmore, 31, of San Mateo, Calif. and Mary Coordt, 39, of Elk Grove, Calif. took home victories at Sunday's 31st Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon (NVM). Both runners registered clear-cut wins, well ahead of their competition. Gilmore's winning time was 2 hours, 23 minutes and 5 seconds, the second fastest men's time at this race in the past 15 years. Coordt topped all women in 2:48:54 and claimed her third victory at NVM (also 1997 and 2005).

Despite rainy, but otherwise temperate conditions, a remarkable 1,822 runners out of 1,895 starters finished the 26.2-mile race that runs the length of the beautiful Napa Valley. It was the all-time highest finisher count for the race for the second year in a row. The event is limited to 2,300 registrants, which is largely determined by the number of available hotel rooms in the world-renowned Napa Valley wine producing and tasting region.

Gilmore is a world class runner who owns a swift personal best in the marathon of 2:12:45, but this year's NVM marks his first marathon victory ever. Andy Martin, 34, of Bend, Ore. led the men's race for almost 16 miles, as Gilmore followed, but he could not match Gilmore's strong second half of the race over the rolling, point-to-point course.

"It took me a while for my body to loosen up because I didn't get a chance to warm up at all before the race," Gilmore said. "My goal for this race was to run a good training run, to go out at 5:30 or 5:40 (per mile) pace and then speed up. That's just what I did. I ran miles 21 through 25 pretty hard, which was part of the plan."

Gilmore is preparing for a competitive, prize money marathon this coming spring, but he hasn't finalized plans for a specific race yet. He finished 8th at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, but an untimely chest cold forced him to drop out of the 2008 Trials race midway, thwarting his Olympic aspirations.

"It turned out about how I expected," said Martin who won three marathons last year, but whose 2:20:04 personal record is almost eight minutes slower than Gilmore's. "Peter ran a strong race. I tried to keep the pace honest for as long as I could."

Martin finished second in 2:27:23, over four minutes behind the winner. Former University of California-Berkeley All-American James Nielsen, 29, of Palo Alto, Calif. was third in 2:31:45.

Coordt equally dominated the women's race following a strong fourth place finish at last year's NVM in which she ran a time of 2:46:30, a personal record that qualified Coordt for her third U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. This year, Coordt took the lead from the starting gun and never relinquished it. Her nearest rivals were Jenni Johnson, 29, of Tustin, Calif. who finished second in 2:56:08 and third placer Monica Ochs, 39, of Anacortes, Wash. in 3:03:46.

"I ran with some men for as long as I could, but I was alone from 18 miles to the finish," said Coordt, who will turn 40 in June. "The weather actually wasn't that bad, but I didn't feel perfect. Yet I'm very happy to get my third win here."

Christine Iwahashi (West Sacramento, Calif.) is the only other three-time women's winner ('86-87, '90) of NVM.

"I think Mary (Coordt) is awesome," said Iwahashi, 53, who is Coordt's teammate on the Sacramento-based Buffalo Chips running club. "This is a very special race for both of us. It's neat to see Mary's consistency here, and in running in general."

Iwahashi topped the women's 50-54 division at this year's race in 3:41:33.

Each overall winner (Gilmore and Coordt) also took home titles as 2009 Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) national champions. Both winners won five cases of premium wine donated by the Napa Valley Silverado Trail Wineries Association. Each winner also carried home a specially produced, etched bottle of Napa Valley wine.

Johannes Rudolph, 43, of Boulder, Colo. finished fourth overall in 2:33:41 and captured the men's masters (40 years of age and older) victory. Cinthya Vielma, 42, of San Jose, Calif. won the women's masters title in 3:06:15.

Although Major Tim Burgess, 37, a soldier based in Kuwait, couldn't be on this year's starting line, he ran the Napa Valley Marathon "remotely" on his U.S. Army base at Camp Virginia this morning. Burgess, who lives in Healdsburg, Calif. was accompanied by another soldier, Captain Sam Kang, for 15 miles. He ran the remainder of the 26.2-mile distance alone except for two supporting Medics. Burgess finished his solo jaunt in 4:26:15, and he will be placed in the official NVM results.

"I felt great for the first 11 miles before I felt any soreness," Burgess reported via e-mail. "Then, just after mile 17, I started to slow. After mile 21, I kind of shuffled along. The last two miles were pretty tough. But I'm proud that my finishing time is almost five minutes faster than what I ran last year at the Napa Valley Marathon."

Burgess is the first "remote" overseas participant to finish NVM.

"We're very proud of the accomplishments of all of this year's Napa Valley Marathon finishers, including Major Burgess' valiant run," said Co-Race Director Rich Benyo. "Finishing a marathon is a unique personal achievement, and we salute these runners' commitments."

All proceeds from the Napa Valley Marathon (a non-profit organization) are donated to local charities in the Napa Valley.

31st Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon
Napa, CA, Sunday, March 1, 2009

MEN
1) Peter Gilmore (CA), 2:23:05
2) Andy Martin (OR), 2:27:23
3) James Nielsen (CA), 2:31:45

WOMEN
1) Mary Coordt (CA), 2:48:54
2) Jenni Johnson (CA), 2:56:08
3) Monica Ochs (WA), 3:03:46

Full race results, plus a personal commentary and photos of Major Burgess' remote NVM, are available at: NapaValleyMarathon.org

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Electronic Timing Added for All Participants in the AJC Peachtree Road Race
Online registration also available for the country's largest road race

ATLANTA - (February 26, 2009) - The Atlanta Track Club, organizer of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race, is adding electronic timing for all participants for the 40th edition of the 10K event. Previously, only runners in Time Group One and the seeded waves - approximately 7,500 runners - received timing devices with their race packets. This year, all 55,000 participants will be officially timed.

"We are always looking at ways to improve the event experience for participants in the AJC Peachtree Road Race," stated Tracey Russell, Executive Director of the Atlanta Track Club. "Providing official timing for all participants will give runners the opportunity to see how they perform in one of the largest road races in the world."

When race number packets are mailed in the middle of June, all registered Peachtree participants will also receive a ChronoTrack D-Tag timing device in their race packets. The light-weight, one-time-use D-Tag attaches to participants' shoes and is activated when they cross the start line. The ChronoTrack D-Tag system was recently used at the Atlanta Track Club's other signature event, The Weather Channel Atlanta Marathon and Half Marathon, this past Thanksgiving and was well-received by event participants and race volunteers.

"With an event the size of the Peachtree, using traditional forms of electronic timing wouldn't work because chip retrieval after the runners cross over the finish line often causes bottlenecks with that high of volume over a short period of time," commented Jon Hughes, President of Event Marketing and Management International (EMMI), the official timing company of the AJC Peachtree Road Race. "The ChronoTrack D-Tag system eliminates the need to retrieve the timing devices when runners cross the finish, and we are excited to incorporate this new timing technology into the largest race in the U.S."

In addition to adding electronic timing to the AJC Peachtree Road Race, another first for 2009 is the option to register online for the event. Online registration will open at 7:00am ET on Sunday, March 15 at www.ajc.com/peachtree. The first 45,000 race slots will be filled through online registration. For those unable to secure one of the online slots, an application will then run in the AJC on March 22, and the last 10,000 race slots will be randomly selected through a lottery from all the paper applications mailed in and postmarked by March, Tuesday 31, 2009.

The 40th running of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road race will take place on Saturday, July 4, 2009. The 6.2 mile race begins on Peachtree Road by Lenox Square and finishes on 10th Street near Piedmont Park. The race, a summer Southern tradition, will again host the USA Men's 10K Championship, featuring America's best distance runners.

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30th Shamrock Shuffle 8K Introduces Elite Club Competition

CHICAGO - (February 26, 2009) - The 30th Shamrock Shuffle 8K - set for Sunday, March 29 - introduces the inaugural Elite Club Competition. The Elite Club Competition will feature the top local and regional USATF member running clubs and racing teams competing head-to-head for $10,000 in prize money.

The Chicago area and greater Midwest boasts some of the finest distance runners in the country, many of whom train and race with the support of clubs and teammates. The Elite Club Competition is an opportunity for regional clubs to come together in a spirited team competition on the lightning-fast streets of Chicago. After a hard winter of training, lace up your racing flats and measure your team against the best in the Midwest at the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle.

The Elite Club Competition will be held in conjunction with Chicago's popular kick-off to the spring running season. The 8K route is a flat and fast tour of downtown Chicago and has been the site of numerous world class performances, including Deena Kastor's U.S. record of 24 minutes, 36 seconds in 2005, and James Kariuki's course record of 22:35 from 1998.

Divisions and Scoring:
Elite Clubs will compete in two separate divisions (men's and women's) and can enter a maximum of five (5) runners per team. Men's teams must enter a minimum of four (4) runners, and women's teams must enter a minimum of three (3) runners. In the men's division, the top four (4) finishers will count toward team scoring; in the women's division, the top three (3) finishers will count toward team scoring. The teams with the lowest combined finish time among their scoring runners will be declared the winning teams. Clock time (gun time) will be the official recorded time for all Elite Club participants.

Prize money* will be awarded to the top five (5) men's and women's teams as follows. A trophy will be presented to the overall team champions.

Team Prize Money
1st = $1500
2nd = $1250
3rd = $1000
4th = $750
5th = $500
*Prize money will be paid to the club/organization.

Qualifications and Eligibility:
Eligibility for the Elite Club Competition is based on USATF Club Rules. All participating clubs must be registered with USATF for 2009, and all athletes entering as part of a club must be affiliated with that club as part of their current USATF membership. For questions regarding USATF membership or to purchase / renew a membership, go to USATF.org or contact your local USATF association.

In order to be considered an Elite Club, team members must meet the "Top 100" qualifying standards set forth by the event. Exceptions can be made for one or more team members at the discretion of the event.

Top 100 qualifying standards*
DIST Men Women
5K 16:30 19:30
8K 27:00 32:00
10K 34:00 40:30
*Participants will be asked to verify their qualifying times prior to registration by sending an e-mail link to an official race result.

If a club or individual does not meet the qualifications for the Elite Club Competition, they can participate in the general Team Competition or as an individual. Only teams in the Elite Club Competition will be eligible for prize money.

Registration:
Club members can register individually or together as a team. All club members must pay the standard $40 registration fee. There is no additional cost to participate in the Elite Club Competition. Open registration for the Shamrock Shuffle closed when it hit its 32,500 participant capacity on Jan. 29. However, Elite Clubs are granted an extended registration deadline of Friday, March 13. Entries for the Elite Club Competition will not be accepted and cannot be altered after March 13.

To register your club, please contact Jeremy Borling at jeremy.borling@bankofamerica.com or (312) 992-6614. Upon acceptance into the Elite Club Competition, your club will be provided with a unique Active.com registration link to register your team members online.

Additional Amenities:
All Elite Club participants will receive a "Top 100" start position at the front of the field. In addition, clubs will have access to a secure tented area in close proximity to the start / finish area with secure gear check, restroom facilities, water and Gatorade.

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