11-5-2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Ryan Lamppa
Media Correspondent
USA Track & Field
(805) 696-6232
[email protected]
Top U.S. Field includes Bob Kennedy; USARC Finale; $25,000 Championship Purse
MOBILE, Ala. - (November 5, 2003) - America's best are set to run through the streets of Mobile as the Food World Senior Bowl Charity Run again hosts the USA Men's 10K Championship and another stellar U.S. field including defending champion Ryan Kirkpatrick and U.S 5000 meter record holder and Olympian Bob Kennedy is expected at the Saturday, November 8 title tilt.
The national championship will also feature two other Olympians, Nick Rogers and Brad Hauser and two other recent USA 10K road champs, Rogers who set the course record (28:18) in 2001 and Scott Strand (2000). Other elite men include Ryan Shay, the 2003 USA Marathon and Half-Marathon champion; Henry Dennis, the 2003 USA 5K champion and Dave Davis, who finished third in last year's Charity Run.
The men's field will also vie over a $25,000 Championship prize purse with $7500 for the national champion.
Last year, in the closest finish in race history, Kirkpatrick edged Chad Johnson, 28:28 to 28:29, to win his first national title. The race produced the largest number of sub-29 minute performances - eleven - in a single USA 10K Championship and was arguably the deepest finishing field of American 10K road runners ever.
"Once again, the Charity Run's elite field represents the best of American distance running and we're very proud to host the USA Men's 10K Championship for the fourth straight year," said Charity Run race director Vic Knight. "While last year's race featured the fastest national 10K road championship in history, we have an excellent weather forecast once again for Saturday morning which, when combined with the depth and quality of this year's field, should create another very exciting championship race."
Saturday's race time forecast includes ideal running conditions with temperatures in the 50s and sunny skies.
The national championship race is also the ninth and final stop on the 2003 Men's USA Running Circuit - a USA Track & Field road series featuring USA Championships from 5K to the marathon and the final USARC Grand Prix positions will be determined after the race. Ryan Shay has already secured the overall USARC Grand Prix title worth $6000, while Team USA California teammate Meb Keflezighi is currently second in the standings with 45 points - is guaranteed at least third in the USARC GP. With a finish of third or higher in Mobile, Scott Strand would vault to third in the GP final standings (worth $2500).
The 2003 USARC offers over $340,000 in national championship prize money plus a $25,000 grand prix purse for the top three GP scorers ($6000, $4000 and $2500). At each event, the first ten U.S. runners earn Circuit points (15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1). USARC points were doubled at the USA Marathon Championships. For more information on the USARC including complete standings, schedule, past champions and more, go to: http://www.usatf.org/events/2003/USARunningCircuit/
In the women's race, 2000 Olympian and three-time Charity Run champion Elva Dryer from Albuquerque will again defend her title. The Team USA California athlete will be gunning for her fourth straight women's crown against a top field which includes Team USA Minnesota's Katie McGregor and Carrie Tollefson and rising star Deeja Youngquist.
The Charity Run offers $25,000 in USA Championship prize money ($7500, $5000, $3500, $2500, $1500, $1000, $800, $700, $600, $500, $450, $350, $300, $200 and $100) and $10,000 in Open Women's money ($3500, $2500, $1500, $1000, $750, $500 and $250). In addition, there is a $5000 bonus for an event record.
10K Road Records
EVENT
28:18 Nick Rogers Food World Charity Run, AL 11/03/01
32:01 Francie Larrieu Smith Delchamps Charity Run, AL 11/03/90
U.S.
27:48 Mark Nenow Continental Homes, Phoenix, AZ 03/02/85
31:06 Lynn Jennings Red Lobster, Orlando, FL 03/03/90
WORLD
27:11 Sammy Kipketer (KEN) Crescent City Classic, LA 03/30/02
30:21 Paula Radcliffe (GBR) World's Best, PUR 02/23/03
The Food World Senior Bowl Charity Run has annually featured an outstanding field of America's best distance runners. This history of excellence was recognized by USA Track & Field when it named the race as host site for the USA 10K Championship beginning in 2000.
Previous Charity Run participants have included U.S. Olympians such as Francie Larrieu Smith, Todd Williams, Ed Eyestone, Shelly Steely, Mark and Gwyn Coogan and Joan Nesbit, as well as members of the 2000 U.S. Olympic team such as Abdi Abdirahman, Rod DeHaven, Deena Drossin, Jen Rhines, two-time winner Nick Rogers and three-time champion Elva Dryer.
Since its inception in 1989, the Charity Run has also made significant contributions to charities along the Gulf Coast totaling $2.5 million, with last year's event raising a one-year record $200,000 which was donated to 12 different Gulf Coast charities.
The new 10K race route features an extremely fast, flat USATF certified course as it winds its way through historic downtown Mobile and, as in past years, PRs are likely to be set. Over 4,000 participants in the 10K and One-Mile Fun Run races are expected. For more information, contact the Senior Bowl at (251) 438-2276 or visit the race website at: www.seniorbowl.com
