Running USA wire 54, July 1, 2009

Defending national champion Abdirahman and Famiglietti headline USA Men's 10K Championship field; race purse exceeds $100,000

ATLANTA - (July 1, 2009) - True to tradition, a world class field will line up at the start for the 40th running of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race on Saturday, July 4. This year's event also serves as the USA Men's 10K Championship and the 2009 Professional Road Running Organization's (PRRO) Race of Champions. The overall prize purse for the 2009 Peachtree totals $111,300, which includes $30,000 for the USA Men's 10K Championship. In addition, two men and one woman competing in the 2009 Peachtree are eligible to receive a $35,000 PRRO bonus*.

"The addition of the USA Men's 10K Championship and the PRRO bonus have made the AJC Peachtree Road Race one of the most lucrative non-marathon road races of 2009," stated Tracey Russell, Executive Director of the Atlanta Track Club. "With our strong elite field and the different races within the big event, the 40th running of the AJC Peachtree Road Race is sure to be one of the most exciting yet."

The professional men's field is one of the largest in the event's history with close to 40 runners expected to toe the line. Two runners to watch are Sammy Kitwara of Kenya and Ridouane Harroufi of Morocco, both contenders for the $35,000 PRRO bonus. Kitwara has won four consecutive road races including the World's Best 10K (28:25), one of the PRRO qualifying circuit races, and his recent 10,000m victory at the Kenyan Championships (27:44.46) was the fastest 10,000m ever run on Kenyan soil. Harroufi ran his 10K personal best at the Azalea Trail Run 10K (28:14) in March and successfully defended his title at the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile (45:45), another PRRO circuit event.

The men's field also features newcomer Tadesse Tola of Ethiopia. Tola has two 10K runs in the top 100 fastest road performances this year, and he recently set a course record with his first place finish at the Healthy Kidney 10K (27:48) in New York City on May 16.

Top Americans competing for the USA Men's 10K title include Olympians Abdi Abdirahman, the reigning national champion, and Anthony Famiglietti (photo left from PhotoRun). Abdirahman finished runner-up (and also won the U.S. title) at the 2007 AJC Peachtree Road Race (28:11), while Famiglietti ran a personal best at the Gate River Run 15K (43:16) to win the national 15K title last March. Other top Americans expected include 2008 Olympian Brian Sell and James Carney, Ed Moran and Justin Young.

On the women's side, one runner to watch is Kenyan Lineth Chepkurui. Chepkurui's 32:24 at the Crescent City Classic 10K is the 22nd fastest women's performance this year. She is also in contention for the $35,000 PRRO bonus after qualifying with wins at the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile (53:32) and Lilac Bloomsday 12K (38:37) this year.

The women's field also features several top runners from last year returning to Peachtree including Amane Gobena (ETH) and Nadia Ejjafini (BRN). Gobena came in fifth at last year's event in 33:13, and her times at the 2009 Cooper River Bridge Run 10K (32:25) and Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K (32:37) are among the 50 fastest women's 10K road performances this year. Ejjafini, who placed 14th in 2008 (34:30), has three 10K finishes this year among the 70 fastest women's times for 2009. Also returning is Ogla Kimaiyo (KEN), last year's sixth place finisher (33:30), as well as Neriah Asiba who came in seventh (33:31) at Peachtree 2008.

The masters men's field (40+) also looks strong with last year's Peachtree masters champion (31:24) and the current USA Masters 10K champion, Sean Wade (USA) returning for the 2009 event. Also returning is Gideon Mutisya (KEN), the 2008 third place masters finisher (31:54). Two notable contenders for the 2009 masters women's field include four-time Olympian Colleen De Reuck, U.S. Masters Half-Marathon champion and second place masters finisher at the 2008 Peachtree (33:57), and Albina Gallyamova (RUS) who was the third place masters finisher (35:56) at the 2008 event.

The 40th running of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race will take place on Saturday, July 4, 2009. The race begins on Peachtree Road by Lenox Square and finishes on 10th Street near Piedmont Park. For more information on the country's largest road race, go to: www.AtlantaTrackClub.org

*If a PRRO eligible male and female runner both win the AJC Peachtree Road Race, the $35,000 will be divided in half between the two athletes.

First-ever decathlete and student-athlete from state of New Mexico to win honor

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - (July 1, 2009) - In its third decade of honoring the nation's best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in partnership with ESPN RISE, has announced senior decathlete Curtis Beach of Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque, N.M.) as its 2008-09 Gatorade National Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year.

Beach is the first student-athlete from the state of New Mexico to win Gatorade National Player of the Year honors in any sport. He is also the first decathlete to be named a Gatorade National Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the track, distinguishes Beach as the nation's best high school boys track & field athlete. A national advisory board comprised of sportswriters and sport-specific experts from around the country helped select Beach from more than 548,000 high school boys track & field athletes nationwide. Beach is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade Male High School Athlete of the Year award, to be presented at a special afternoon ceremony prior to The ESPY Awards in July.

The 6-foot, 166-pound senior decathlete broke the national prep decathlon record at the Arcadia Invitational this spring, scoring 7,909 points to shatter the 16-year-old former record of 7,417 points. In that competition, Beach set personal bests in the high jump (6-9.5), the shot put (44-8), the javelin (155-9) the 400 meter dash (48.16 seconds) and the 1500 meter run (4:09.48). A three-time Gatorade New Mexico Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year honoree, Beach also led the Chargers to the Class 4A state championship as a team, winning five individual state titles in the process. He took first place in the 110 meter hurdles (14.53), the 200 meter dash (21.84), the 400 meter dash (47.99), the high jump (6-9.5) and the pole vault (15-3).

A 17-time individual state champion in New Mexico's Class 4A, Beach holds all-class state records in the 200, the 110 hurdles and the long jump. Beach took third in the 800 meter run at the Nike Outdoor Nationals with a time of 1:50.75, the nation's 11th fastest prep clocking in 2009. His season best time of 20.94 in the 200 ranks No. 3 in the nation among prep competitors.

Beach scored 7,466 points and won the Great Southwest Track and Field Classic in Albuquerque for the third straight year. Using international junior implements, he eclipsed a 37-year-old record of 7,359 points set by South Eugene (Oregon) star Craig Brigham in 1972. He also won the 2009 USA Track & Field Junior Outdoor Championships decathlon title, scoring 7,599 points using junior implements.

Beach has maintained a weighted 3.75 GPA in the classroom. He has volunteered locally as a youth coach with the Albuquerque Track Club, in a co-coordinating role on behalf of the Whittier Elementary School Health Fair and as part of multiple fundraising initiatives to benefit cancer research. Beach's senior project involved an internship with the Sandia Chile Grill during which he developed a business plan that sold more than 600 sandwiches.

"It's certainly been an amazing year for Beach," said Albuquerque Academy Head Track and Field Coach Adam Kedge. "It has only been outdone by his loyalty to his performance and his loyalty to his team. He is truly the epitome of the ultimate multi-sport athlete. I've seen him put in five-, six- or seven-hour days just training with his coaches. Then he still finds the time to be a good student and give back to his community."

Beach has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete in track and field on scholarship at Duke University beginning this fall.

"Without question, Curtis is deserving of recognition as the nation's best high school boys track & field athlete based on his statistics on the track and the impact his accomplishments had on Albuquerque Academy's success," said Gatorade Senior Vice President of Sports Marketing Jeff Urban. "But he is also a shining example to peers and aspiring young players of what a leader and a student-athlete should be. He represents everything we hope for in a Gatorade Player of the Year recipient."

For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information and lists of past winners, visit www.gatorade.com/playeroftheyear

Brady Street Challenge to include fundraiser

DAVENPORT, Iowa - (June 28, 2009) - The Quad-City Times Bix Brady Street Challenge wants to put the "fun" in fundraising and kick off the Bix weekend at the same time. The event, dubbed "Walk This Way for United Way" will give participants a chance to be part of the excitement of the Brady Street Challenge on Thursday night, July 23rd, without having to qualify - or even run up the hill. Instead, they will take part in a group walk up the hill and celebrate the start of the Bix weekend with a party at the starting line, all while helping United Way of the Quad Cities Area.

"We're excited about the opportunity to partner with United Way on this new event," said Ed Froehlich, Bix7 race director. "The Bix 7 is the biggest event of the year and we're always looking for ways to make it even better. There are thousands of people that love being part of the Bix, whether they are participants, volunteers, or spectators. This event will give them all a chance to do something to kick off their weekend that will give back to the community in a big way."

Participants in the event will pay $20, get a special commemorative t-shirt and be invited to participate in the group walk up Brady Street following the Brady Street Challenge. They will also attend a private party at the starting line of the Challenge that will include a live band and free refreshments. Quad-City Times photographers will take a group shot of everyone in their t-shirts on the hill to be published in the newspaper and in United Way materials. In addition, United Way will videotape the walk to be used as part of local public service announcements. "Walk this Way for United Way" is designed to be a twist on the traditional fundraising walk in that it's only a quarter mile long - just straight uphill. And for those wanting to participate but not inclined to walk the hill, there will be an option to say "No Way" and just enjoy the party.

Proceeds will benefit funded programs at United Way's 48 partner agencies. These 94 programs provide a broad base of support that meets the immediate needs of our community. The money will be distributed through United Way's volunteer-driven process which ensures that donations are used in the most efficient manner possible and will achieve long-term measurable results.

"As the 2009 United Way campaign chair, I am very aware of the good work that United Way is doing in the Quad Cities," said Julie Bechtel, Quad-City Times publisher. "This seemed like a great way to marry the biggest event in our area with an opportunity to really help the community at a time it's truly needed. This has been a tough period for many in the Quad Cities. There are more people than ever in need of assistance of one form or another. Through this event we can support United Way in building the strength of the community - and have fun at the same time."

To register for "Walk this Way for United Way" visit www.qctimes.com/go/walk or the Quad-City Times building during regular business hours.

Environment is one of the event's top priorities

SAN FRANCISCO - (June 22, 2009) - The San Francisco Marathon(tm), scheduled for Sunday, July 26, 2009, has announced a number of leading edge "green" initiatives to minimize the impact of the event's 20,000 runners on the environment. In 2007, the event made a conscious effort at "going green," when most road races were still figuring out how to preserve precious natural resources.

Since then, The San Francisco Marathon (SFM) became one of the first races to appear on Runner's World magazine's list of environmentally friendly events. Last fall, an article in the New York Times ("Saving the Earth, One Road Race at a Time," 09/24/08) described how in 2008 SFM spent about $10,000 specifically on environmentally sound operations.

Road Race Management includes SFM as an environmentally responsible industry leader in its Guide to Greener Running Events. Running USA, a nationwide membership organization of road running events, noted in its Running USA wire news blast how product marketers are tripping over each other to associate with pro-green organizations, and how SFM "lined up an impressive list of sponsors to help implement its green plan."

Last year, runners from all 50 states and 56 countries participated in the San Francisco event's signature marathon (26.2 miles), two half-marathons and 5K run / walk.

"In an eco-responsible state such as California, our event feels an obligation to implement ambitious and inventive earth-friendly policies as an important example and service to our participants," said Sophia Li, the San Francisco Marathon's Race Director. "Today, we've infinitely increased our quantities of recyclable and compostable tonnage while significantly decreasing the amount of waste a race can create. At the end of the day, our goal is to eliminate all unnecessary waste and preserve all ecological resources while providing a quality race for our runners."

The amount of garbage alone that a large road race can produce has been ignored for too long according to some environmentalists: thousands of pounds of discarded paper cups and bib numbers, water bottles, uneaten food, paper registration forms, entrant and results sheets, plastic goody and tote bags, and dumped runner's clothing. The CO2 emissions generated by thousands of runners traveling to a race, shuttle vans and other race vehicles, and power generators run by petroleum gas contribute to global warming.

But, the road running industry, with an estimated 9.2 million finishers annually (2008) in the U.S., is making a dedicated effort toward environmental responsibility, according to Keith Peters, the President of Eco-Logistics, a consulting firm that advises road races about greening their events, and the author of Guide to Greener Running Events.

"Although there's no real count of green races, per se, 67 percent of the races I've polled have changed their environmental outlook in the past 18 months," Peters said. "This change in outlook can be summed up in just a few words: Race directors are responding to market trends and media coverage to reduce their environmental footprints. Races are becoming more green because the information and resources are out there to help race directors produce greener events."

From collecting donations by race entrants that are directed at energy offsets to using alternative fuel options, the San Francisco Marathon is talking a lead role in this trend:

* SFM's stated environmental policy is: Try to do everything possible related to the environment and try to set an example by thinking of innovative ways to address environmental issues.

* At last year's event, SFM recycled and composted 20,000 pounds of race day garbage. SFM creates and implements recycling plans with all of its vendors.

* After the 2008 race, 10,000 pounds of leftover food, and more than 1,000 pairs of used running shoes, were donated to local charities such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Delancey Street.

* Compostable drinking cups only are distributed to runners on the race course, and before and after the race.

* Starting with this year's race, biodegradable goody bags that can be reused as runner drop / sweats bags will be distributed to all entrants. SFM creates reusable tote / equipment bags from old street banners. All paper entrant lists, on-site results printouts, heatsheets and runner D-tags (timing chips) will be recycled.

* SFM's entry fees are lower for runners who enter online versus paper registration, providing an additional incentive to reduce waste. Approximately 99 percent of SFM's participants register electronically. All finishers receive an online electronic finisher's certificate rather than a paper certificate.

* Newsletters and other informational updates are distributed to entrants via e-mail and the race website - another tree-saving measure. The website includes a "How Green are You" section that offers race-day conservation tips such as: Reuse your cup at each aid station rather than using and discarding multiple cups.

* All unused products from the race are donated to local shelters.

* SFM encourages all race registrants to donate an additional amount ($5 this year) beyond basic registration fees towards its Going Green Initiative. In 2008, the race donated over $5,000 from this initiative to Native Energy for its pioneering projects to reduce carbon emissions. In 2007, $2,600 was donated to Native Energy.

* Biodiesel fuel blends are used for the event's power generators on race day. SFM is investigating natural gas options for its spectator and participant buses to cut emissions.

* The race provides preferred parking for participants who carpool and bicycle to the race and pre-race San Francisco Marathon Expo (Friday-Saturday, July 24-25 at the San Francisco Design Center). Race entrants and volunteers are encouraged to conveniently sign up online for a carpool through PickupPal. Valet bicycle parking is offered through the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition.

* SFM provides detailed public transit information for race day and the Expo on its website.

* Instead of lead / pace vehicles, SFM uses lead / pace bicyclists.

* SFM has created a 5-year plan for continuing its environmental efforts. It includes eco-strategies such as partnering with a non-profit environmental organization via the event's Cause to Run fundraising program. When the partnership is established, race entrants can raise money for the partner organization and receive tips and advice regarding environmentally sound practices.

For more information, visit: www.runsfm.com