Running USA wire 100, December 6, 2009

Carlsbad 5000 champion Bekana Daba runs 1:01:40 in half-marathon debut; Caroline Rotich wins "Battle of the Sexes" marathon competition; sold-out with 27,000 plus entrants

LAS VEGAS - (December 6, 2009) - A momentous, entertainment extravaganza featuring two white Bengal tigers, Vegas showgirls, skydivers and a 15 minute fireworks show on Sunday morning greeted more than 27,600 runners at the start of the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon and 1/2 Marathon powered by Zappos.com for the benefit of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. For the first time in Las Vegas marathon history, the entire Strip was closed in both directions for the event.

The professional woman set off at 5:56am, 19 minutes ahead of the professional men in a "Battle of the Sexes" competition for a $10,000 first prize bonus. 25-year-old Caroline Rotich of Kenya emerged victorious in dramatic fashion with a winning time of 2 hours, 29 minutes, 47 seconds. Rotich made up a 23 second gap over the final two miles to catch long-time race leader Alevtina Ivanova of Russia. Rotich made the winning pass at 2:26:50 into the race. Less than 3 minutes later, she crossed the finish line as race champion, earning $25,000 for the overall victory.

"This was the biggest win of my career so far," said Rotich, who passed the halfway mark 75 seconds behind Ivanova and Alice Timbilili of Kenya. Rotich then reeled off a negative second half split of 1:12:33.

"At 20 miles they were far away from me so I decided to run my own race," explained Rotich. "At 25 miles I thought, you have to go, you can win!"

The marathon caps a banner year for Rotich, who so far in 2009 has run personal bests at 10K, 10 miles and the half-marathon. For the last eight months, she has been living in Santa Fe, N.M., training with the AmeriKenyan Running Club, coached by 2000 U.S. Olympic triathlete Ryan Bolton.

The men's marathon was won by another Kenyan, Christopher Toroitich, in 2:15:15. Toroitich, 25, won the 2007 Detroit Marathon, and finished third at the 2008 Country Music Marathon in Nashville. Here in Las Vegas he ran alone over the final 8 miles after countryman Matthew Koech fell off the pace. It was a disappointing marathon debut for Koech, who dropped out of the race at the 19 mile mark.

"Once we hit ten miles I thought I could win, and when the other guys were not responding I said, 'OK, if they catch me it will have to be at the finish line'," said Toroitich, who ran side-by-side with Koech, a sub-60:00 half-marathoner, for 18 miles. "I was not afraid of him because the marathon is a different matter than the half-marathon."

2005 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon champion Terefe Yae of Ethiopia out-sprinted his countryman Assefa Tesfaye to claim second place by one second in 2:16:42. The top American finisher was Stephen Hass, a former Big Ten 5000m champion and a three-time All-American at the University of Indiana. He finished fifth in 2:18:45, good enough to qualify him for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.

Ethiopian Bekana Daba, 21, won the men's half-marathon by over a minute in 1:01:40, a Nevada state record and the sixth fastest half-marathon in the U.S. this year. He won the Carlsbad 5000 in April and owns a 5000m PR on the track of 12:59.

"It was a great race," said Daba, who will defend his road race title at the 25th Carlsbad 5000 on April 11, 2010. "I really liked the course on the Strip, it was very entertaining."

California's Fernando Cabada was the top U.S. finisher in the half-marathon with a fifth place time of 1:04:56. His sub-1:05 performance automatically qualified the former Country Music Half-Marathon champion for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Cabada used this race as a tune-up as he prepares for the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in January.

Ethiopian Werknesh Kidane, an eight-time medalist at the World Cross Country Championships, won the women's half-marathon in 1:10:55. Americans took three of the top five spots in the women's half-marathon, led by Hansons-Brooks Distance Project standout Desireé Davila. Davila, who represented Team USA at this summer's IAAF World Track & Field Championships in Berlin, finished runner-up in 1:12:14. Claudia Bacque of Chicago took third in 1:16:22, while Arizona's Sally Meyerhoff finished fifth (1:16:41). Meyerhoff, the 2009 USA 25K road champion, will run next at the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon.

Runners from all 50 states and 39 countries participated in the event. The unprecedented race course looped around the world-famous "Welcome to Las Vegas Sign" and was highlighted by the Strip's renowned attractions including the Treasure Island pirate ship, Mirage volcano and Bellagio fountains. The race featured over 300 running Elvi, 85 couples getting married in front of the Paris Casino, along with live bands at every mile of the course.

The second Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon and 1/2 Marathon is set for December 5, 2010.

Inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon & 1/2 Marathon
Las Vegas, NV, Sunday, December 6, 2009

MEN
1) Christopher Toroitich (KEN), 2:15:15, $15,000
2) Terefe Yae (ETH), 2:16:42, $8000
3) Assefa Tesfaye (ETH), 2:16:43, $4000
4) Augustus Kavutu (KEN), 2:18:06, $2000
5) Stephen Haas (USA / IN), 2:18:45, $2000*
*Includes $1000 as top U.S. finisher

WOMEN
1) Caroline Rotich (KEN), 2:29:47, $25,000#
2) Alevtina Ivanova (RUS), 2:30:05, $8000
3) Serkalem Abrha (ETH), 2:36:26, $4000
4) Adanech Zekiros (ETH), 2:39:19, $2000
5) Jane Kibii (KEN), 2:40:12, $1000
#Includes $10,000 "Battle of the Sexes" bonus

1/2 Marathon
MEN
1) Bekana Daba (ETH), 1:01:40, $3000
2) Stephen Muange (KEN), 1:03:11, $1750
3) Teodoro Vega (MEX), 1:03:13, $1000
4) Edward Tabut (KEN), 1:04:28, $750
5) Fernando Cabada (USA / CA), 1:04:56, $500

WOMEN
1) Werknesh Kidane (ETH), 1:10:55, $3000
2) Desi Davila (USA / MI), 1:12:14, $1750
3) Claudia Bacque (USA / IL), 1:16:22, $1000
4) Hyvon Ngetich (KEN), 1:16:31, $750
5) Sally Meyerhoff (USA / AZ), 1:16:41, $500

Full results at: http://las-vegas.competitor.com

Marathon after a 25 year hiatus returns to The American Riviera with nearly 1,700 finishers

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - (December 6, 2009) - For the first time in decades, a marathon run returned to Santa Barbara as on Sunday morning an event field of 2,500 contested the Select Staffing Santa Barbara International Marathon, between the cities of Goleta and Santa Barbara. The coastal towns - two hours northwest of Los Angeles - have an active running community that had long supported the return of a marathon distance event. The "last" Santa Barbara Marathon was held in 1984.

Despite a delayed start at 7:00am due to a traffic accident on Highway 101, Carlos Handler, 27, of Pomona, and local Andrea McLarty, 32, put together strong performances to win the debut event that also included approximately 200 relay teams under near ideal running conditions - 40-50F degrees, little wind and partly cloudy skies.

Handler was aiming for a 2012 Olympic Trials qualifying time of 2:19 but fell short with his 2 hour, 24 minute, 49 second performance. He broke away from third place finisher and local Westmont grad Robby Cherry at the 17 mile mark, but said after the race that he cramped up after climbing the race's largest hill, between mile 23 and 24.

"I wanted to push there, but I just had to maintain," he said. The point-to-point course finished with a nearly 2 mile downhill stretch that had ocean and harbor views.

An assistant coach of the Chino Hills Flash youth track club, Handler was cheered on by several of the athletes that he advises. He is a graduate of Concordia College, where he was an NCAA Division III All American, and also competed collegiately for UC Riverside.

McLarty trained for the 26.2 mile race with a program organized by race director Rusty Snow. The coaching enabled her to run a personal best 2:52:24, and felt great doing it, she commented post-race.

"It was my perfect race, as close to as good as it gets as it could be," said the Santa Barbara resident. McLarty ran unchallenged from other women the entire way, and said she took pleasure in being able to pass some of the men near her at the end.

With nearly 1,700 finishers, the Santa Barbara International Marathon will be one of the largest U.S. debut marathons in 2009. The second edition is scheduled for Sunday, December 5, 2010.

Inaugural Select Staffing Santa Barbara Int'l Marathon
Santa Barbara, CA, Sunday, December 6, 2009

MEN
1) Carlos Handler (CA), 2:24:49, $1000
2) Nathan Jones (IN), 2:36:39, $500
3) Robby Cherry (CA), 2:37:36, $250
4) John Lofthus (CA), 2:45:41, $100
5) Tim Smith, 45, CA, 2:49:04, $50

WOMEN
1) Andrea McLarty (CA), 2:52:24, $1000
2) Mary Jones (CA), 3:00:12, $500
3) Chrystee Bradley (CA), 3:00:30, $250
4) Michelle McToldridge (CA), 3:00:44, $100
5) Petra McDowell (NM), 3:08:05, $50

For deeper results, go to: www.sbimarathon.com

Award recognizes outstanding contribution to USATF and the sport

INDIANAPOLIS - (December 5, 2009) - Legendary track and field, cross country and long distance running coach Bob Larsen on Saturday evening was honored with USA Track & Field's Robert Giegengack Award at the Jesse Owens Awards and National Track & Field Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Indianapolis. The event was held in conjunction with the 2009 USATF Annual Meeting.

Named in honor of former Yale University coach and 1964 Olympic Team head coach Robert Giegengack, the award goes to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the development and success of USA Track & Field and the larger community of the sport. In the past, the award has gone to coaches, officials, Association leaders, administrators, and others from all segments of USATF. The USATF Board of Directors votes to select each year's winner.

Larsen, who retired in 1999 as head coach of the UCLA cross country program after 21 seasons, and who led the Bruins track and field program for 15 seasons, became a co-founder of the highly successful Team Running USA training group. Now known as the Mammoth Track Club, the Mammoth Lakes, Calif.-based elite team's goal has been to bring U.S. distance running performances back to the level of international success that was seen in the 1970s and 80s.

Since beginning operations in March 2001, the Mammoth Track Club has produced two Olympic medalists, world cross country medalists, multiple national champions, set numerous U.S. and world records and has placed a number of its athletes on U.S. Olympic and world championship teams.

Larsen's star pupil is 2004 Olympic men's marathon silver medalist and U.S. 10,000m record holder Meb Keflezighi, who Larsen began mentoring when both were at UCLA. As a Bruin, Keflezighi won four NCAA titles as a junior in 1997 - cross country, indoor 5000m, and outdoor 5000/10,000m (becoming the eighth athlete in NCAA history to win this double) - and he became the third athlete in NCAA history to win the outdoor double and the cross country title in the same season (1997).

Keflezighi received worldwide attention when earlier this year he became the first American since 1982 to win the ING New York City Marathon. Keflezighi ran a brilliant strategic race, pulling away from four-time Boston Marathon champion Robert Cheruiyot of Kenya in the final two miles to win in a personal-best time of 2 hours, 9 minutes, 15 seconds. The win gave Keflezighi the USA Marathon Championship, his fourth national title of the year and 20th USA title overall. His performance also placed him atop the USA Running Circuit Grand Prix for 2009. For his stellar year, on Saturday morning at the Awards Breakfast, the two-time Olympian was presented the Robert E. DeCelle, Jr. Memorial Award for Outstanding U.S. Male Long Distance Runner.

At UCLA, Larsen was the head cross country coach for 21 seasons and head track coach for 15 seasons. His track and field teams won two NCAA Outdoor titles, and he was named national coach of the year in 1987, 1988 and 1995. The nine-time Pac-10 Coach of the Year, Larsen was named the NCAA National Cross Country Coach of the Year in 1980, and in 2004, he was selected as the men's Olympic distance coach in Athens.

Under Larsen, the Bruins had a remarkable dual meet record of 118-3-1; 12 unbeaten seasons, including five of his last six years (the Bruins were 10-0 in 1998, '97 and '96, 8-0 in 1995 and 9-0 in 1994), with home dual winning streaks of 31 (1971-76), 32 (1979-83), 39 (1984-89) and 51 (1991-99). During his 15 years as head coach, Larsen never lost to archrival USC in dual competition.

"Bob Larsen is one of the most respected and deserving coaches in our sport," said USATF Chairman and President Stephanie Hightower. "I am proud to have this opportunity to recognize him for his many accomplishments."

For more information on the USA Track & Field Annual Meeting including the award winners and honorees, visit: www.usatf.org

Organization announces holiday additions to running line-up for 2010

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - (December 3, 2009) - Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day and Independence Day running events will become annual traditions in the Twin Cities under the umbrella of offerings from the same organization that hosts the annual Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon.

Continuing the growth of two already established races, Twin Cities in Motion purchased the Valentine's Day TC 5K and the Irish for a Day TC 5K & TC 10 Mile from Marathon Sports as it moves ahead with its mission to bring greater opportunities to runners throughout the calendar year. Registration has opened for all three events at: www.mtcmarathon.org

The Valentine's Day TC 5K takes place Saturday, February 13 at Lake Harriet in Minneapolis and is the oldest winter running event in the Twin Cities, celebrating its 25th year in 2010. The Irish for A Day TC 5K & TC 10 Mile takes place Saturday, March 13 and is thought to be the largest St. Patrick's Day event in Minneapolis. The announcement comes at the same time that the organization launched registration for its inaugural Red, White & Boom! TC Half Marathon, set for July 4, 2010, according to Twin Cities In Motion executive director Virginia Brophy Achman.

"The addition of these events supports our organization's mission to provide fitness opportunities for people looking for both fun and competitive running events in the Twin Cities," said Achman. "Combining them with a holiday allows runners and walkers a chance to add a fitness component to their festivities. The Valentine's Day TC 5K and Irish for a Day TC 5K & TC 10 Mile are well established here in Minneapolis and we are proud to carry on these events, in a relationship with Marathon Sports as presenting sponsor."

Achman says the organization will continue the traditions those races have included with special "couples" registration opportunities in the Valentine's race, prizes for costumes, food donations at both events, and a special post-race party for the St. Patrick's Day events.

Twin Cities in Motion has had a long time partnership with Marathon Sports, a local running store in Minneapolis. "The partnership is a natural fit," said Marathon Sports president John Long. "We felt it is time to watch these events grow and know this is the vehicle to do so. We look forward to the future of both events as we continue to work together."

Twin Cities in Motion announced its inaugural Red, White & Boom! TC Half Marathon in October. Registration for the event will be capped at 3,000 and is open at www.mtcmarathon.org. The half-marathon features an option for two-person, five-person and 10 or more people to register as a team and compete for prizes and receive entrance into a team tent that includes special food, participant gifts and other team incentives.