Running USA wire 18, March 3, 2010

First site to host both races at the same Olympic Trials

HOUSTON - (March 1, 2010) - The site of some of the most historic U.S. half-marathon performances and host of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for the women's marathon, Houston will host the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's and Women's Marathon, USA Track & Field and the United States Olympic Committee announced Monday.

The 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials will be held in Houston on Saturday, January 14, 2012, a day prior to the 40th anniversary of the Chevron Houston Marathon. The races will determine the three men and three women who will represent the United States in the marathon at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, and it is the first time a single city has been chosen for both races at the same Olympic Trials.

USA Track & Field's site selection committee, comprised of USATF committee chairs, elite athletes and staff, tapped Houston to host both races. Boston and New York had each bid to host one Olympic Trials race. The USATF Board of Directors approved the decision at its weekend meeting in Albuquerque, N.M. and the USOC has green-lighted the award.

"As we expected, all three bids were remarkable, and all three bids had qualities that made each unique," USATF CEO Doug Logan said. "Ultimately, we feel that hosting the Olympic Trials at Houston will afford our athletes the best opportunity to succeed in London. What was most striking about Houston's bid was their ability to integrate the Olympic Trials into their weekend of racing in a way that benefited all parties, but first and foremost, the athletes."

Utilizing a public-private partnership, with the support of the city of Houston and the Harris County Sports Commission, Houston will invest $1.7 million to host both races. Those funds will go toward event logistics, athlete support, travel and prize money.

The timing of the race offered by Houston also was appealing to the site selection committee. With the London Olympic Games being held in early August, rather than the later dates of recent Games, having the Trials far enough out to allow for proper recovery and preparation for London, yet close enough to be relevant to the Games, was a high priority.

"We are very proud to be chosen as the Olympic Trials host city for the one of the marquee track and field events of the Olympic Games," said Chevron Houston Marathon race director Brant Kotch. "Through our involvement with the USA Half Marathon Championships, we have developed a strong partnership with USATF, and we are looking forward to having the eyes of the running world focused on Houston in January 2012."

History of success
Houston, and specifically the Aramco Houston Half Marathon, has been the site of several notable American performances in recent years. In 2007, Ryan Hall became the first American to break 1 hour for the half-marathon on a record standard course, running 59:43 to break a U.S. record that had stood since 1985. In 2009, Meb Keflezighi began his phenomenal 2009 campaign with a win at the half-marathon in 1:01:25. It was the first accomplishment of a year for Keflezighi that included four U.S. titles and a historic win at the ING New York City Marathon.

On January 17 of this year, Shalane Flanagan won the Aramco Houston Half in 1:09:41 to smash the course record to take the national title in her career debut at the distance. In the Chevron Houston Marathon the same day, Stanford graduate Brett Gotcher placed seventh in 2:10:35 to post the fourth-fastest U.S. marathon debut in history, behind Olympians Hall, Alberto Salazar and Alan Culpepper.

Houston has hosted the USA Men's Half Marathon Championship since 2005 and the women's Championship since 2007, and the race has been a supporter of the USA Distance Project, dedicated to sustaining the long-term development of elite USA distance athletes, enabling them to compete successfully in domestic and international competitions and major championship events.

"I am really excited to know that Houston will be hosting the 2012 Olympic Trials," 2008 Olympic 10,000m bronze medalist Shalane Flanagan said. "The race organizers know how to make elite athletes feel at home and to set the stage for us to compete at our highest levels. I think the timing of the race is perfect, and I have no doubt that Houston will put on an outstanding event."

"Houston is a special place for me," said Meb Keflezighi, the 2004 Olympic Marathon silver medalist. "Thanks to a great performance there in 2009, I had maybe the best year of my career. I even went back in 2010 to support the race at their expo. I am looking forward to going back and competing in 2012."

Both the men's and women's races will be held on a criterium course in Houston, with final format of the start and other logistics to be determined by the site selection committee in conjunction with race organizers.

To-date, 76 men and 58 women have qualified for the 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials.

For more information, visit: www.USATF.org

Limited number of charity teams still available through American Cancer Society

KAYSVILLE, Utah - (March 3, 2010) - The Ragnar Relay Series, the nation's premier provider of overnight running relay races, is on its way to another record-setting year. On the heels of Ragnar Relay Del Sol sellout in Arizona, the series' signature race Ragnar Relay Wasatch Back has sold out five months prior to the start of the race.

Wasatch Back is Ragnar Relay's original event, created by Utah natives Dan Hill and Tanner Bell. Hill's father had a dream of creating a running relay in the Wasatch Mountains which Dan and childhood friend Tanner Bell turned into a reality in 2004.

The series had already projected a 100 percent increase, so it was no surprise that more than 12,000 runners will be at the start in Logan on June 18th. In 2010, it is projected that 40,000 runners will participate in one or more of the 12 Ragnar Relays across the country.

"These sellouts are an indication of the growing demand of overnight endurance races," said Bell. "Ragnar Relay and the runners of Utah have a sense of pride that they are a part of the Wasatch Back Relay, the race that got us started and has help fuel a movement that has brought a new type of fun to running.

Each leg of a Ragnar Race varies in difficulty so elite and novice runners can run together in teams. Each team is responsible for providing two support vehicles, with six runners in each vehicle. The first vehicle drops off the first runner and drives ahead to the first exchange point. Teams repeat this pattern for six legs until they hand off to their second vehicle. This leapfrogging pattern continues day and night all the way to the much anticipated finish line.

The relay will cover 188 miles of Utah's most beautiful terrain. The race begins in Logan where runners will traverse through the gentle rolling hills of Cache Valley. Once through the valley, there will be a steady climb through the Avon Pass followed by a steep downhill into the Ogden Valley. Overall, runners will journey up and down in elevation through canyons and the Wasatch Mountains. Once runners reach the maximum altitude of nearly 9,000 feet at Guardsman Pass, they will steeply descend into picturesque Park City and to the finish line at The Canyons Resort.

This year, Ragnar Relay Wasatch Back has named the American Cancer Society (ACS) the official race charity. Even though the race sold out, ACS has 10 additional "DetermiNation" teams they will be filling up prior to race day. To be eligible to receive an ACS "DetermiNation" entry teams must commits to raise a minimum of $4200 for the American Cancer Society.

Individual runners can also donate $350 and receive a VIP experience package for before, during and after the Wasatch Back race. Benefits include discounts to local running stores, exclusive sleeping areas along the course, massages, and a private American Cancer Society hosted party at The Canyons 5 Star Resort in Park City following the race.

"We selected the American Cancer Society to be our official charity so we can do more than just have fun and exercise," said Hill. "The partnership will create awareness of the disease and encourage participants to get healthy and stay healthy."

Teams can also donate $120 and the American Cancer Society will provide a volunteer to help each team fulfill their volunteer responsibility for the race.

"The American Cancer Society is very excited to be a part of one of Utah's most anticipated events, an overnight relay like Wasatch Back is a wonderful way to show people that cancer doesn't sleep," said Joel Kincart, American Cancer Society Vice President, Central Region. "Ragnar Relays not only encourage people to exercise, but to get their friends out there with them. This relay will not only get people active, but will raise money and bring new volunteers into the American Cancer Society family."

For more information about ACS DetermiNation Teams, visit: http://determination.acsevents.org/wasatchback

Visit www.ragnarrelay.com for race dates and exact locations.

The best U.S. high school track & field athletes compete at annual June event

BOSTON - (March 1, 2010) - Global athletic leader New Balance is proud to announce an official multi-year partnership with the National Scholastic Sports Foundation (NSSF) in the Outdoor Nationals event, renamed the New Balance Outdoor Nationals. The event brings together the best outdoor track and field high school athletes from across the country for a weekend of intense competition.

"New Balance is thrilled to partner with the NSSF for the New Balance Outdoor Nationals," said Josh Rowe, marketing manager, running at New Balance . "Being an official sponsor of this premier running event is an exciting way for us to reach out to and support the high school track and field running community and continue to highlight our innovative performance products and unique brand attributes."

The National Scholastic Sports Foundation has operated the Outdoor Nationals since 1991. The event was held in Los Angeles, CA for the first three years (UCLA), in Raleigh, NC for the next decade, through 2004 (at North Carolina State University) and has been held in Greensboro, NC (at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University) for the past five years. The meet is regarded as the unofficial High School National Championship in track and field.

"We are ecstatic to have New Balance as a partner," said meet director Jim Spier. "We recognize and appreciate New Balance's commitment to high school sports and look forward to working together to bring this event to a new level in the high school track and field world."

This year the New Balance Outdoor Nationals will be held on June 17-19th in Greensboro, NC.

400 intrepid runners slosh through the muddy trails

CATALINA ISLAND, Calif. - (February 27, 2010) - Rainy weather seems to be a new tradition at the Buffalo Run Half Marathon as 400 runners sloshed through muddy terrain Saturday morning when intermittent rain showers took over the Island of Catalina for the second straight year.

The Buffalo Run, in its 11th installment, takes runners on the dirt fire trails of Catalina Island, which sits 22 miles off the coast of Los Angeles. The interior of the Island, where runners spent nine of their 13.1 miles, is known for its natural beauty and breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and the mainland.

The half-marathon winners were Kevin Purcell of Los Angeles with a time of 1 hour, 26 minutes and Hannah Briggs of Monrovia, Calif. who clocked 1:43:41.

While the half-marathon runners were taking to the trails, 5K runners took a scenic run around the streets of Avalon, the main tourist destination on Catalina. This year's 5K winners were Angus Kennedy of Los Angeles (22:08) and Joni Moore, 50, Mission Viejo (25:37).

The Buffalo Run was the first leg of the American Trail Championship (ATC) that concludes with the Catalina Marathon, named the #1 Off Road Marathon in the world. On Saturday, March 13, marathoners will take an even deeper tour of the Island on a route that is normally unavailable to tourists.

Following the 33rd Catalina Marathon, American Trail Championship awards will be presented to those with the fastest combined times from both races.

11th Buffalo Run Half Marathon
Avalon, CA, Saturday, February 27, 2010

MEN
1) Kevin Purcell (CA), 1:26:00
2) Jonathan Toker (CA), 1:29:34
3) Wad Wadley (CA), 1:32:55

WOMEN
1) Hannah Briggs (CA), 1:43:41
2) Karena O'Rourke (CA), 1:54:50
3) Donna Flanagan (CA), 1:56:00

Full results at: www.pacificsportsllc.com

To watch a video of the race, go to: www.ecatalina.com/buffalo-run-2010-video.html