Running USA wire 60, July 26, 2009

Ben Lloyd takes the $3500 Rhythm City Race for the Jackpot

DAVENPORT, Iowa - (July 25, 2009) - 2004 Olympic Marathon silver medalist Meb Keflezighi (San Diego, Calif.) took his third U.S. title of 2009, running 32 minutes, 25 seconds at the USA 7 Mile Championships on Saturday in Davenport. Molly Huddle (Providence, R.I.) bested the women's field as she won her second career U.S. road title in 37:39. The national championships were hosted by the 35th Quad-City Times Bix 7, a Midwest summer tradition.

Opening with a 5:01 uphill mile under clear skies and 70 degree temperatures, Keflezighi, 34, the 2009 half-marathon and cross country U.S. champion, led wire-to-wire as he out-paced 2009 USA 15K champion Anthony Famiglietti (Knoxville, Tenn.). Into the downhill second mile, Keflezighi unleashed a 4:08 that left him clear of the field as the two-time Olympian cruised to the 31 second win over Famiglietti.

Keflezighi (photo left, PhotoRun) won his second USA 7 Mile title (also Bix in 2002) as well as his 19th national title overall, the most by any active U.S. male distance runner.

"Being able to win here in 2002 was great," he told the Quad-City Times, "but this one is even sweeter." Keflezighi had suffered from a hip injury the past year plus.

James Carney (Boulder, Colo.) took third in 33:17, while Brian Olinger (Columbus, Ohio) and Antonio Vega (St. Paul, Minn.) rounded out the top five in 33:30 and 33:35 respectively.

The women's race saw 2008 USA 10K champion Huddle, 24, battle with Serena Burla (Ellisville, Mo.) and 2008 Olympic marathoner Magdalena Lewy Boulet (Oakland, Calif.) through six miles. Going up the final hill Huddle made her move and pulled away from the pair and the Notre Dame grad ran to a five second win over Burla. Lewy Boulet held on for third, running 37:46 as Ilsa Paulson (New York, N.Y.) and 2009 USA 25K champion Sally Meyerhoff rounded out the top five in 37:54 and 38:04 respectively.

With a 9/10s of a mile headstart on the professional field, Ben Lloyd, 26, a Davenport native, won the $3500 Rhythm City Race for the Jackpot. Lloyd, who became a new father on Tuesday, finished 50 yards ahead of Keflezighi, and nearly 12,000 followed Keflezighi.

The USA 7 Mile Championships were also the sixth stop for men and the fifth for women on the 2009 USA Running Circuit (USARC) and paid $50,000 in U.S. prize money with Keflezighi and Huddle picking up $12,500 each for the respective men's and women's national titles. The 2009 USARC, a USA Track & Field road series, featuring USA Championships from one mile to the marathon, attracts the best U.S. distance runners. The 2009 USARC has ten events each for men and women.

Olympian Famiglietti currently leads the men's circuit with 39 points and Boulet leads the women with 37 points. The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USARC race (15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1), with a final $12,500 grand prix purse ($6000, $4000, and $2500) for the top three men and women point scorers overall. The USARC points at the USA Marathon Championships will be doubled.

The mission of the USA Running Circuit is to showcase, support and promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USARC and its races have provided more than $8 million dollars to U.S. distance runners.

35th Quad-City Times Bix 7: USA 7 Mile Championships
Davenport, IA, Saturday, July 25, 2009

MEN
1) Meb Keflezighi (CA), 32:25, $12,500 or a 2009 automobile
2) Anthony Famiglietti (TN), 32:56, $4000
3) James Carney (CO), 33:17, $2500
4) Brian Olinger (OH), 33:30, $1500
5) Antonio Vega (MN), 33:35, $1000
6) Josh Moen (MN), 33:36, $900
7) Bret Schoolmeester (OR), 33:41, $800
8) Dan Browne (CA), 33:44, $700
9) Forest Braden (WA), 33:50, $600
10) Ian Burrell (AZ), 33:56, $500

WOMEN
1) Molly Huddle (RI), 37:39, $12,500 or a 2009 automobile
2) Serena Burla (MO), 37:44, $4000
3) Magdalena Lewy Boulet (CA), 37:46, $2500
4) Ilsa Paulson (NY), 37:54, $1500
5) Sally Meyerhoff (OR), 38:04, $1000
6) Jill Steffens (GA), 38:42, $900
7) Rachel Marchand (IN), 38:45, $800
8) Kristen Nicolini Lehmkuhle (MN), 38:54, $700
9) Meghan Armstrong (MN), 39:06, $600
10) Kelly Jaske (OR), 39:17, $500

Complete results at: www.Bix7.com

Endale, Moody half-marathon champions; record 21,000 entrants enjoy ideal Bay Area running weather

SAN FRANCISCO - (July 26, 2009) - Andrew Cook, 28, of Flower Mound, Texas and Japan's Yoko Shibui, 30, scored dominant victories at The San Francisco Marathon™ on Sunday morning. Cook topped the men's field in a finishing time of 2 hours, 26 minutes and 32 seconds for his third win in this race. He also won in 2006 and 2007. Shibui won the women's race in 2:46:34 as she successfully tuned up for the marathon at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin, Germany on August 23.

A record turnout of over 21,000 entrants participated in the marathon (26.2 miles) and two accompanying half-marathon (13.1 miles) races, plus a 5K run / walk. Ideal, overcast conditions, with temperatures in the low to mid 50s greeted the throng. Runners from all 50 U.S. states and 26 countries came to the City-by-the-Bay for its world-famous marathon.

Both Cook's and Shibui's wins were convincing. By the 8-mile point on the hilly, city-wide loop that includes an out-and-back segment over the Golden Gate Bridge, Cook shed co-leader Allen Wagner (Huntington Valley, Pa.) and then proceeded alone to the finish line near the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero.

"It's awesome to be a three-time winner here," said Cook, who is a history teacher and cross country coach at Flower Mound (Texas) High School. "But, mentally it was hard running most of the race alone. You just want to try and push yourself and stay mentally tough. I kind of fell apart a little over the last 10 miles. I was very happy to come out on top today because Allen (Wagner) is very experienced."

Wagner, whose personal best marathon of 2:18:25 is over a minute better than Cook's, faded to fifth place after making several porta-pottie stops. 45-year-old Guillermo Gonzalez (Mexico / Pasadena, Calif.) captured second place and the masters (age-40-and-over) men's victory in a distant 2:33:55. Fritz Van de Kamp, 28, of Salt Lake City, Utah was third in 2:34:01. San Francisco's Daniel Feldman, 26, was fourth in 2:35:15.

Japan's Shibui demonstrated why she is the all-time seventh fastest female marathoner in the world, with a blazing 2:19:41 on her resume. Despite using the race as a long training run in preparation for the World Championships Marathon in Berlin, the Japanese star's margin at the finish line was 13 minutes ahead of former Santa Rosa High School and Stanford University standout Julia Mallon (nee Stamps). Mallon, who now resides in Miami, Fla., was second woman in 2:59:32, while Mexico's Ligicz Ortega, 26, finished third in 3:02:29.

Shibui and her team of coaches and trainers have made Flagstaff, Ariz. their training base for the past two months in preparation for the World Championships marathon race. She wanted to briefly come down from Flagstaff's 7,000-foot altitude to test her fitness at sea level, but, she found more variances in altitude than she expected in San Francisco.

"This is a very hard course," Shibui commented through an interpreter about the up-and-down San Francisco Marathon route. "It's the toughest course that I've ever run. It was much more hilly than I expected, but overall it was a very good tune-up for me. I think if I was in top condition, like I will be in a month, I would have run with the lead man today."

Women training at altitude for the World Championships also dominated the competitive 2nd Half Marathon, which runs over the second half of San Francisco's marathon route. Tera Moody, 28, of Colorado Springs, Colo. topped the women in 1:13:37 followed by second-placer Fiona Docherty, 33, of New Zealand, who spends half the year training in Boulder, Colo. Docherty finished in 1:17:25. Both Moody and Docherty will face each other again as members of their respective USA and New Zealand national teams in Berlin. Jessica Minty, 24, of Blowing Rock, N.C. made a successful debut at the 13.1 mile distance by placing third in 1:17:48. Masters standout Sylvia Mosqueda, 43, of Los Angeles was fourth in 1:18:20.

Abiyot Endale, 23, an Ethiopian athlete who resides in New York, topped the 2nd Half Marathon men in 1:07:36 followed by Miguel Nuci, 29, of Turlock, Calif. in 1:07:58.

San Francisco Marathon
San Francisco, CA, Sunday, July 26, 2009

MEN
1) Andrew Cook (TX), 2:26:32
2) Guillermo Gonzalez, 45, MEX / CA, 2:33:55
3) Fritz Van de Kamp (UT), 2:34:01

WOMEN
1) Yoko Shibui (JPN), 2:46:34
2) Julia Mallon (FL), 2:59:32
3) Ligicz Ortega (MEX), 3:02:29

Full race results at: www.runsfm.com

Stellar field expected for 37th New England summer classic; prize purse exceeds $90,000

FALMOUTH, Mass. - (July 23, 2009) - Defending champions Tadese Tola of Ethiopia and Edith Masai of Kenya will join a strong field of world class athletes in the 37th CIGNA Falmouth Road Race on Sunday, August 9. Tola will be challenged by two-time Falmouth runner-up and 2004 Olympic Marathon silver medalist Meb Keflezighi as well as several other professional runners from around the world as they race along Martha's Vineyard Sound from Woods Hole to Falmouth Heights.

"Tola defeated a very strong men's field last year to become Falmouth's first Ethiopian winner, while 41-year-old Masai put on a memorable show to defeat a strong group of much younger women," said John Carroll, the race's co-director and elite athlete coordinator. "This year we have another excellent field featuring some very talented athletes who would like to win Falmouth."

Tola has had several impressive victories over the past year, including the 2008 New York City Half-Marathon and the Healthy Kidney 10K in Central Park, N.Y., with a course record 27:48.

Last year at Falmouth, Keflezighi, of Mammoth Lakes, Calif., shadowed Tola for six miles before finishing in second place. It was the second straight year that Keflezighi was runner-up in Falmouth, and the best finish, along with his 2007 effort, by an American man since Ed Eyestone was second in 1990.

In winning the silver medal for the United States in the marathon at the 2004 Athens Olympics, he became the first American man to medal in the event since Frank Shorter took the silver in 1976. Keflezighi, 34, is also the U.S. record holder for 10,000 meters at 27:13.98 and has won 18 USA titles.

"I had a great time in Falmouth last summer. Everyone treated me so well and I'm excited to come back," said Keflezighi. "I'm running pretty well and looking forward to racing."

Also in the men's professional field will be Edward Muge of Kenya, who led for more than six miles in the 2008 race until he was forced to stop due to heat exhaustion. His countryman, Boaz Cheboiywo, third last year, is also entered and has said he is coming here to win.

Other men's contenders include U.S. Olympian Jorge Torres of Boulder, Colo., and last year's second American and sixth overall, James Carney of Longmont, Colo. Moroccan Ridouane Harroufi, two-time Bolder Boulder 10K champion and winner of the recent Boilermaker 15K in Utica, N.Y., is also expected to run well, along with former Falmouth champions Gilbert Okari and James Koskei; Samuel Ndereba of Kenya, who was fourth last year; and world class marathoners Felix and Richard Limo, running their first Falmouth. Both men have run under 2:07 for the 26.2-mile distance.

On the woman's side, the ageless Masai will face her stiffest challenge from women half her age. Mamita Daska of Ethiopia, fourth last year, will give a strong run against the defending champion. Kenyan Edna Kiplagat, who was second in the recent Crazy 8s in Kingsport, Tenn., is also expecting to run well.

Other top challengers will include U.S. Olympians Kate O'Neill, Palo Alto, Calif., 11th in 2008; two-time Falmouth winner and four-time Olympian Colleen De Reuck from Boulder, Colo. and two-time Olympian Elva Dryer of Gunnison. Colo. Two other strong U.S. women are Renee Metivier Baillie, Flagstaff, Ariz., fifth last year, who recently ran a personal record 5000 meters in Liege, Belgium; and Rebecca Donaghue, State College, Penn., 10th in 2008, who also set a personal best at the same 5000 in Liege.

The famed seven mile course begins in the quaint village of Woods Hole, rolls past the spectacular Nobska Lighthouse and continues along Martha's Vineyard Sound to finish at the ball field in Falmouth Heights.

The overall race champions will receive $10,000 each. The first U.S. man and woman will earn $5000 each. In all, more than $90,000 in prize money will be awarded. The top 10 U.S. citizens will win $29,600 for their efforts. A $1000 bonus also is available for any runner who breaks an Open course record (31:08 and 35:02).

The race was founded in 1973 by Tommy Leonard after watching Frank Shorter win the 1972 Olympic Marathon. Leonard was honored as Citizen of the Year by the towns of Holyoke and Falmouth this spring. He also received the Boston Athletic Association's Patriot Award at ceremonies during the week before the 2009 Boston Marathon.

Olympic gold and silver medalist Frank Shorter will be in Falmouth to run, along with gold medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson and Olympian Bill Rodgers.

This will be CIGNA's fourth year as the title sponsor. The Philadelphia-based employee benefits company has extended its commitment to the race through 2010.

For more information, visit: www.FalmouthRoadRace.com

Registration for the 2009 Dean Karnazes Silicon Valley Virtual Race opens on July 22, 2009

SAN JOSE, Calif. - (July 22, 2009) - Organizers of the 2009 Dean Karnazes Silicon Valley Marathon® (DKSVM) have announced that the upcoming October event is set to include the first-ever Virtual Race Expo™. The Virtual Race Expo™ is powered by Expos2™ and will provide a centralized online setting for expo vendors and consumers from all corners of the globe to connect with one another.

Race director J.T. Service summed up the excitement, saying "we are very proud to produce the world's first Virtual Race Expo™, allowing us to open the doors of our expo to people from all over the world."

The Virtual Race Expo™ is scheduled to be online for the entire week leading up to DKSVM, empowering visitors from anywhere to attend at their convenience. Once inside, attendees will be able to interact with virtual vendors and view live demonstrations, gain access to expo-only merchandise specials and view traditional expo presentations from speakers such as DKSVM's leading man, Dean Karnazes. This also allows sponsors to extend and maximize their race presence, while providing a direct portal to websites and online stores.

Commenting on the innovative idea between the DKSVM and Expos2™ that led to the partnership, Service said, "Expos2 has a wealth of experience in producing virtual consumer expos, shopping malls, seminars and job fairs. Through this partnership, we are able to bring the technology that they have spent years perfecting to the world of sports."

Expos2™ Founder and CEO Steve Strickland was similarly delighted, adding, "The 2009 DKSVM will be the first endurance event to take full advantage of the virtual technology that is currently available. We see this event as the first of a new breed of sporting events that will use virtual expos to reach more people than ever before."

Expect exciting new details about the DKSVM Virtual Race Expo™ in the coming weeks and months. Vendors interested in participating in the first ever Virtual Race Expo™ can contact info@svmarathon.com.

Registration for Virtual Race Now Open
In addition to the Virtual Race Expo™, DKSVM is also hosting a Virtual Run as part of the 2009 event. Registration for the Dean Karnazes Silicon Valley Virtual Race powered by Map My Run™ opened on Wednesday, July 22, and allows people from anywhere in the world to sign up to run the marathon, the half-marathon presented by Map My Run™ or 5K.

Endurance icon Dean Karnazes urged people everywhere to participate, saying "this is the perfect opportunity for anyone who has ever thought about running a marathon, half marathon, or 5K to do so. Since you don't have to travel anywhere to take part in both the race and the Virtual Race Expo™, it's now easier than ever be a part of this innovative event." Those interested in registering for the DKSVM "Live" or Virtual Race powered by Map My Run™ go to: www.svmarathon.com