Wire 28, April 13, 2004

In this edition of the Running USA wire:

1) U.S. Women's Team Third at Beijing Int'l Ekiden
2) Elite Field Announced for Upcoming Country Music Marathon
3) B-52's Headline Salt Lake City Marathon Post-Race Concert
4) Scenic 10 Announces 2004 Hall of Fame Inductees

Team Running USA sponsored by Nike
Supported by grants from the New York Road Runners and Atlanta Track Club

Copyright © 2004 Running USA
All Rights Reserved
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UPCOMING EVENTS:
Flora London Marathon, GBR, April 18
http://www.london-marathon.co.uk
108th B.A.A. Boston Marathon, MA, April 19
http://www.bostonmarathon.org
Country Music Marathon, Nashville, TN, April 24
http://www.cmmarathon.com
Inaugural Salt Lake City Marathon, UT, April 24
http://www.saltlakecitymarathon.com
Big Sur Int'l Marathon, Carmel, CA, April 25
http://www.bsim.org
Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon, OH, April 25
http://www.clevelandmarathon.com
Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, OK, April 25
http://www.okcmarathon.com
Nike Run Hit Wonder 5K/10K, Los Angeles, CA, April 25
http://www.nike.com/nikerunning/runhitwonder/main.jhtml?ref=nike_running_usa

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

U.S. Women's Team Third at Beijing International Ekiden

At the 2004 Beijing International Women's Ekiden on Sunday, April 11, the
U.S. women's team finished third overall in 2:29:57 behind China (2:19:52)
and Japan (2:22:31). Their team place tied the 1992 U.S. women's team for
best U.S. finish at the event. The 26.2 mile road relay had six legs between
5-10 kilometers and was contested on the streets of Beijing, the Chinese
capital and the 2008 Summer Games host city. The U.S. team also took home
$8000.

TEAM RESULTS
1. China, 2:19:52
2. Japan, 2:22:31
3. USA, 2:29:57
4. Korea, 2:35:27
5. Mongolia, 2:57:08
6. Vietnam, 3:00:01

U.S. segment summary:
5 km - 17:01/3rd - Sonja Friend-Uhl, 33, West Palm Beach, FL
10 km - 35:03/3rd - Melissa White, 23, Rochester Hills, MI
5 km - 17:36/3rd - Suzanne Weeder Einspahr, 33, Seward, NE
10 km - 38:15/4th - Leigh Daniel, 25, Rochester Hills, MI
5 km - 17:10/3rd - Erin Dromgoole, 24, Boston, MA
7.195 km - 24:52/2nd - Brianna Torres, 23, Phoenix, AZ

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Audra Fleming, (858) 518-2923/Kim Dettwiller, (615) 330-5656

Elite Field Announced for Country Music Marathon
Columbian and Venezuelan Competitors in Olympic Qualifying Quest

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - (April 13, 2004) - An elite field of men from Columbia
and Venezuela will be on the start line at the 2004 Country Music Marathon
on Saturday, April 24, with the race designated as the Olympic Games
qualifier for those two countries. In all, men and women from Kenya,
Ethiopia, South Korea, Costa Rica, Brazil, Peru, Romania, Russia and Belarus
will make up an impressive international field for the fifth anniversary of
the event that runs through the streets of Nashville.

With an Olympic berth on the line for 11 runners, the return of 2003
champion Jomo Kororia of Kenya, and an exciting addition to the prize purse,
the table is set for a fast race as the Country Music Marathon debuts its
new flatter, faster course. The Columbian and Venezuelan men must meet
either the Olympic "A" standard of 2:15 or the "B" standard of 2:18 to earn
an opportunity to run the marathon at the Olympic Games on August 29, 2004
in Athens, Greece. On the new marathon route, three of the most strenuous
sections of the course have been eliminated, knocking out five miles of
hills.

For the first time, the entire field will be vying for the opportunity to
drive away in a brand new 2004 Nissan Xterra. Both the men's and women's
marathon champions will be presented with an Xterra, valued at $22,000 and
offered by the Tennessee-based car manufacturer.

Kororia, 23, who won his debut marathon in 2:12:56 last year, will be
challenged by countryman Luke Kibet, who makes his fourth appearance at the
Country Music Marathon. Kibet, 29, was the inaugural Country Music Marathon
champion in 2000, finished second in 2001 and third in 2003. He enters the
2004 race with a personal best 2:10:18. Also in the mix is Haron Toroitich,
another Kenyan, who won the inaugural P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona
Marathon last January. He owns a marathon best of 2:08:34.

In addition, Toroitich has the opportunity to earn an additional $25,000
bonus should he capture the Country Music Marathon title. The bonus is on
the line for the men's and women's winners of the P.F. Chang's race, in the
event they win another Elite Racing musical event in the 2004 calendar year
(Country Music Marathon 04/24/04, Suzuki Rock 'n' Roll Marathon 06/06/04 or
Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon 09/05/04).

Age and experience should be on the side of Carlos Grisales, 37, of Columbia
and Ruben Maza, 36, of Venezuela as they lead the group of men seeking to
meet the Olympic time standards. Grisales enters with a best of 2:11:17
while Maza has a 2:12:02. They are followed by Columbia's Alirio Carrasco
(2:12:09), Juan Cardona (2:14:30) and Hugo Jimenez (2:15:24). Cardona and
Jimenez are returning competitors, finishing fourth and ninth respectively,
at the Country Music Marathon last year.

Headlining the women's elite field is Anuta Catuna of Romania. The runner-up
at the 2004 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' roll Arizona Marathon, Catuna ran a
2:32:55 in that race. A seasoned veteran, she also lists a silver medal
performance in the marathon at the 1995 World Championships, a victory at
the '96 New York City Marathon and a bronze medal finish at the '98 Boston
Marathon. Challenging her will be recent addition Elena Makalova of Belarus,
who finished second in the 2002 Country Music Marathon.

The Country Music Marathon will be televised to a national audience Sat.,
May 1 at 12 noon CST on Fox Sports Net. A local broadcast will also be
televised on Comcast Sports Southeast, on Sat., May 8th at 3 p.m. CST and
again on Tues., May 11th at 7 p.m. CST.

Major sponsors of the Country Music Marathon & 1/2 Marathon include Reebok
and Foot Locker.

# # #

Country Music Marathon Elite Field as of 04/08/04

MEN
Name/Age/CTZ/PR/Quick Fact
Jomo Kororia, 23, KEN, 2:11:07, 1st '03 CMM, defending champion
Luke Kibet, 29, KEN, 2:10:18, 1st '00 CMM, 2nd '01 CMM, 3rd '03 CMM
Haron Toroitich, 26, KEN, 2:08:34, 1st '04 P.F. Chang's RNRAZ Marathon
Jae-Young Hyung, KOR, 2:10:37, 1st 1999 Dong-A Marathon
Peter Githuka, 35, KEN, 2:08:02, 15th '03 Chicago Marathon
Nephat Kinyanjui, 26, KEN, Debut, 10-mile PR 48:01, 1st 03 Subaru Buffalo 4M
Eric Quiros, 29, CRC, Debut, Half PR 1:04:02, San Jose Int'l Half Champion
Hugo Jiminez, 28, COL, 2:15:24, 9th '03 CMM'03 Miami Tropical Marathon
Abraham Assefa, 32, ETH, 2:13:16, 3rd '02 Hartford Marathon
Octavio Dos Santos, 30, BRA, 2:12:24, 2nd '03 Miami Tropical Marathon
William Gomes de Amorim, 28, BRA, 2:14:42, 1st '04 Miami Tropical Marathon
Alex Januario de Medonca, 29, BRA, 2:14:46, 3rd '04 Miami Tropical Marathon
Carlos Grisales, 37, COL, 2:11:17, 9th '01 Medellin Half-Marathon
Alirio Carrasco, 28, COL, 2:12:09, 11th '03 Chicago Marathon
Juan Cardona, 29, COL, 2:14:30, 4th '03 CMM
Hugo Jimenez, 29, COL, 2:15:24, 9th '03 CMM
Diego Colorado, 30, COL, 2:16:45, 3rd '03 Pan Am Games Marathon
Julian Berrio, 28, COL, 2:19:05(alt), 2nd '04 Columbian XC Trials
Juan Jaramillo, 32, COL, 2:22:23(alt), 4th '04 Cafi-Cafi 12K
Ruben Maza, 36, VEN, 2:12:02, 1st Margarita Half-Marathon (63:00 PR)
Alejandro Semprun, 31, VEN, 2:12:56, 2nd '02 Venezuelan Nat'l Champs 10,000
Pedro Mora, 26, VEN, Debut/63:37, 1st '04 Gatorade 10K
Constantino Leon, 30, VEN, Debut/64:18, 3rd '03 Carrera de San Pablo
David Mutua, 26, KEN, 2:12:11, 6th '03 Suzuki RNRM
Nicolus Muindi, 21, KEN, 2:15:59, 5th '03 Dubai Marathon

WOMEN
Anuta Catuna, 35, ROM, 2:27:34, 2nd 04 P.F. Chang's RNRAZ Marathon
Gladys Asiba, 26, KEN, 2:37:47
Iglandini Gonzalez, 38, COL, 2:35:19, 4th 03 Pan Am Games Marathon
Irina Permitina, 36, RUS, 2:33:19, 5th 03 Grandma's Marathon
Elena Makalova, 35, BLR, 2:29:12, 1st 02 Bermuda Marathon (CR), 2nd 02 CMM

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Karen Boe, (801) 230-5404 or kboe@...

B-52's PLAYING SALT LAKE CITY MARATHON AWARDS PARTY
The Greatest Party Band on the Planet to Entertain Race Participants

SALT LAKE CITY - (April 12, 2004) - Organizers of the Salt Lake City
Marathon & 5K, presented by the Ken Garff Automotive Group, announced today
that the B-52's will headline the post-race award concert and party at The
Gallivan Center at 7:00 p.m. on April 24, 2004. A free ticket is included
for every marathon participant.

5K participants and volunteers receive $10 off the $26 ticket price. A
limited number of tickets will be available to the public and are expected
to sell out quickly. Tickets will be available to race participants and the
public at Smith Tix Outlets (801) 467-TIXX or (800) 888-TIXX or
www.smithtix.com. Tickets will also be available at the Health & Fitness
Expo at the Marriott City Center and at the pasta party on April 23rd, and
at the finish line on race day. More details can be found on the race
website: www.saltlakecitymarathon.com

From the timeless gems of "Rock Lobster," "Planet Claire" and "Private
Idaho" to the more recent classics of "Channel Z," "Love Shack" and "Roam",
the B-52's unforgettable dance-rock tunes start a party every time the music
begins. An unexpected commercial and critical success, the B-52's
inadvertently formed the core of the burgeoning early '80s New Wave
'movement'. Along with contemporaries like Blondie and Talking Heads, the
B-52's charted their greatest pop smashes in the '90s, and advanced their
reputation as the greatest party band on the planet

Slated for the inaugural running on Saturday, April 24, 2004 and sporting a
prize purse of $100,000, the Salt Lake City Marathon & 5K, themed "Run, Bump
& Boogie," is destined to become one of the top five running events in the
country. Registration is easy and efficient at www.saltlakecitymarathon.com
where participants can download entry forms, course descriptions and entry
details.

In addition to pasta party proceeds, $10 per marathon participant and $5
from every 5K participant will go to The Huntsman Cancer Institute, the
premiere cancer research and care facility in the Intermountain West. The
Devine Racing offices are located at 136 E South Temple in Salt Lake City,
Utah. For race information, contact Scott Kerr, Race Director at (801)
412-6060.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Scenic 10 Announces 2004 Hall of Fame Inductees

PARK FOREST, Ill. - (April 13, 2004) - The 27th Park Forest Scenic 10 - to
be held September 6 - will add four new members to its Hall of Fame when
everyone gathers Labor Day morning. New inductees include:

* Phil Hey - long-time track and cross country coach who was instrumental in
the development of road running in the south suburban Chicago area in the
late 70s and 80s.
* John Tallyn - a member of the Scenic 10 staff for over 15 years. John is
instrumental in handling logistics and hospitality for our international
athletes.
* Carol Pratt - a member of our staff for over 15 years. Carol has worked as
a host of our invited athletes as well as being able to race competitively
in our field of athletes. Carol is also a leader in developing high school
distance running in the Illinois High School Association.
* Penny Chamberlain - Penny has been an unsung hero for the race for years
as an integral volunteer helping with the registration process at the Parks
and recreation Department. She has been part of the race for as long as we
can remember.

Once again the Scenic 10, a Running USA Founding Member, will host a great
field of athletes on Labor Day, Monday, September 6 at 8am. Runners can
register now at: www.signmeupsports.com

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Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services
385 Oak View Ln
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
(805) 696-6232; fax (805) 967-5958
http://www.runningusa.org