| Running USA Wire 56, June 27, 2003 |
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CONTACT: Tandy Fleming, Event Director (423) 245-8311; flemingacb@charter.net; www.crazy8s.org Indian Path Medical Center & SunTrust
Bank Crazy 8's 8K Run KINGSPORT, Tenn. - (June 26, 2003) - The citizens of Kingsport have grown accustomed to watching citizens of foreign countries scorch their neighborhood streets in the Indian Path Medical Center & SunTrust Bank Crazy 8's 8K Run. Two runners carrying international passports, Peter Githuka from Kenya and Asmae Legzhaoui from Morocco, set world records on the now famous figure-8 course. Many others have arrived at Tri-Cities Airport from far away lands and run super fast times in quest of records and the bonus offered by Regional Eye Center. This year, however, don't be surprised to see more runners wearing the red, white and blue on the starting line, and even among the leaders when the gun goes off at 9:58pm on Saturday, July 19. Several top Americans have announced their plans to join early commitments Patrick Nthiwa (Kenya), Naomi Wangui (Kenya) and Kevin Odiorne (Atlanta by way of Kingsport). "That's fine with me," says race director Tandy Fleming. "I love to see it. We want the best in the world and that includes Americans too. We're doing all we can to help them get here." True to his word, Fleming announced that Crazy 8's is offering a $100 bonus to the first local male and female, and another $75 to the first Americans to cross the finish line. "It's just a little extra from us to show our support of U.S. distance running. We get such a good elite field that it's hard to finish in the money. Now maybe they won't go home empty handed." The headliner in the group might just be the smallest, 44-year-old Carmen Ayala-Troncoso from Austin, TX. The petite masters runner should dominate the 40+ competition and could double dip into the open race as well. She is in peak condition and has already won the USA Masters 5K Championship at the Freihofer's Run for Women in Albany, NY. With good conditions, she could make a serious challenge for the national 44-year age record for 8K (27:43). "I'm really excited about running Crazy 8's," said Troncoso, sponsored locally by Fleming's Tune Up. "I kept hearing good things about Crazy 8's from other runners who had raced there, so I thought I might give it a try. Then I heard it was a night race and I said... 'the news just keeps getting better!' I love night races." Hometown hero Odiorne, who now makes his home in Atlanta, GA, used his influence to persuade the elite racing team from the Atlanta Track Club to travel to Kingsport for Crazy 8's. Odiorne (Mountain Region Family Medicine) and teammate Malcolm Campbell (Martin Dentistry) can both go under 24:00 for 8K. Several others are in the 24-minute range. "We had a team meeting the other night and made it official... we're coming to Crazy 8's," said Odiorne. "The race has a great reputation down here." Peter Rea ran the candle-lit streets of Kingsport way back in 1993, and fondly remembers the frenetic kick finish up Eastman Road between Eric Lorenz, Thomas O'Gara and himself. By the time they crossed through the balloon-decorated finish line, only a few seconds separated Lorenz 1st, Rea 2nd and O'Gara 3rd. Rea is now the elite athlete coordinator for ZAPFitness, a new training facility in Blowing Rock, NC. He has attracted some top young American distance runners, and will be sending some of his best to Kingsport. Karl Savage finished 4th at the 2003 USA Cross Country Championships and earned a berth on the World Cross Country team. His wheels recently turned a mile in a swift 4:01. Ann McGranahan is the top female from Rea's camp, fresh off a 15:46.7 in the 5000 meters at the USA Outdoor Track Championships. Local sponsors for Savage and McGranahan are Holston Medical Group and Jon Mather DDS respectively. Jim Jurcevich from Columbus, OH finished 6th at the 2000 Olympic Trials 10,000 meters and wore the USA uniform at the 2002 World Half-Marathon Championship. Pro Balance will sponsor him locally. Grant's Tire will help bring Beth Old to Kingsport. She finished national runner-up at the 2002 USA 25K Championship and 5th at the 2003 USA Marathon Championship. She can turn it over too, blazing a mile in 4:45. "The Kenyans are awesome, and it's exciting to see them race for world records, but it's nice to see some quality Americans showing interest in our race," says Fleming. "Maybe this year will start a trend. The training camps around the country are producing more and more good, young talent. That's what we like to see." For more information, visit www.crazy8s.org or register at the Fun Fest Store in the Ft. Henry Mall. Sponsors are Indian Path Medical Center, SunTrust Bank, Holston Medical Group, Cardiovascular Associates, YMCA, Regional Eye Center, Citadel Broadcasting, Culligan, Kroger, BAE Systems, Kingsport Rental, TeleOptics, and Food City. Fluid station/Invited Athlete Sponsors are Mather Dentist Office, Day & Zimmermann Intl., Martin Dentistry, Mountain Region Family Medicine, Fleming's Tune-Up, Grant's Tire, and Kingsport Medical Group Mgrs. Crazy 8's, a Running USA Founding Member, is managed by the State of Franklin Track Club.
Contact: Jeff Darman, (610) 925-1976 AARC And RRCA To Jointly Sponsor The American Association of Running Clubs (AARC) and the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) announced their joint sponsorship of the 2003-2004 AARC/RRCA Roads Scholar Grants for developing elite distance running athletes. A minimum of four grants of $4,000 each will be provided to two female and two male athletes to help with travel and training expenses. Carl Sniffen and Henley Gabeau will co-chair the selection committee. Additional information can be obtained from either Carl Sniffen (csniffen@charter.net) or Henley Gabeau (henleygabeau@aol.com). Also, applications may be downloaded from: www.huntsvilletrackclub.org/AARC/AARC.htm The program will be funded and administered by the AARC. The deadline for applications has been extended to August 1st and recipients will be chosen by September 1st. Freddi Carlip, RRCA President said, "this is an excellent way for these two premier organizations to work together to further the development of our future distance running athletes." Jeff Darman, the newly elected President of the AARC, added, "this cooperative effort serves several purposes. It assures that U.S. athletes in this important pre-Olympic period can get the help they need and allows the AARC and RRCA to work together for a program of mutual benefit." The RRCA had been unable to fund the grants this year and the joint effort grew out of efforts of Board members of both organizations looking for areas of cooperation. "While both the AARC and RRCA will be independent promoters of the sport now and in 2004, there is no reason to be working at cross purposes. RRCA and athletes had a need and we found the money - that's a happy ending," said Darman.
Contact: Ellie Sanchez, (760) 942-5545, ellie@sandiego1dayrace.com San Diego 1 Day Adds Relay Team Race in Conjunction with USA 24 Hour
Champs SAN DIEGO, Calif. - (June 27, 2003) - San Diego 1 Day, the premier 24-hour track race for world class distance runners, has added a relay team race in conjunction with the USA Track & Field 24 Hour Ultra Championship. The relay will allow runners in the community to form independent, community or business sponsored teams and run with the world's best ultra distance runners. The San Diego 1 Day race is an ultra distance track race where entrants compete to run the most mileage within a 24-hour period. Many of the runners are expected to run well in excess of 100 miles and each runner will wear an electronic sensor on their shoe to accurately count their laps. The race will be held November 8-9, at the University of California, San Diego all-weather track near the beautiful shores of La Jolla. San Diego 1 Day is now offering relay teams an opportunity to run with the world's best ultra distance runners who have registered for the first USA 24 Hour Ultra Championship in San Diego. Each relay team will consist of 12 runners maximum and each runner must run a minimum 2 hours cumulative during the 24-hour period. Relay teams will race in separate lanes on the same track as the solo ultra-runners and will also be using the electronic sensor system to monitor their distance. "By opening the race track to relay teams at this year's USA 24 Hour Championship, we are encouraging runners in the community to run with some of the world's best ultra-runners who are competing for this year's national championship and it offers relay teams the chance to experience, for the first time, an ultra distance race," said John Metz, race director of the San Diego 1 Day. "We're also offering relay teams and businesses an opportunity to reach their target audience with numerous sponsorship and branding packages." About San Diego 1 Day Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services http://www.runningusa.org
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