Posted: May 6, 2004

Athletics: Browne to Defend USA 25K and Overall Titles at Fifth Third River Bank Run

Youngquist, Hennessy Headline U.S. Women's Field

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - (May 5, 2004) - Defending men's champion Dan Browne and top U.S. women Deeja Youngquist and Jeanne Hennessy headline the field as the Fifth Third River Bank 25K again hosts the USA Championships - Open and Masters. The race, to be held Saturday, May 8, also has attracted a top international field including recent Lilac Bloomsday winner Simon Wangai and Russians Alevtina Ivanova, Victoria Klimina and Firaya Sultanova.

"The Fifth Third River Bank 25K Run is excited and proud to host the USA Championships for the tenth consecutive year. In addition, as part of the Association Athlete Development Program (AADP) of USA Track & Field, we provide support to up and coming young Americans for experience at a major road race. This has been especially helpful to us this year with the challenges we face in recruiting athletes during an Olympic year. We look forward to a competitive race on May 8," said Greg Meyer, Elite Athlete Recruiter, Fifth Third River Bank Run.

The weather forecast for Saturday morning's race is showers with lows in the mid-40s and highs in the upper-60s.

Last year, Browne - who has earned a spot on the 2004 U.S. Olympic marathon team - won the U.S. title and the race overall (the first American male overall winner here since 1996) in 1:16:13, while Christine Clifton finished second overall in 1:29:30 to win her first U.S. title.

Here are the top Americans expected at the national championship:

Men:
* Dan Browne, 28, (Beaverton, OR), defending champion; 2004 third Olympic Marathon Trials (2:12:20) and USA 10 mile champion (46:32); 2003 Pan Am Games 10,000 meter bronze medal; 2001-02 USA Running Circuit Grand Prix champion
* Ryan Shay, 25, (East Jordan, MI), 2004 3rd USA 10 Mile Championship (47:11); 2003 USA marathon, half-marathon and USARC Grand Prix champion; 2001 NCAA 10,000m Champion at Notre Dame; Team Running USA
* Scott Larson, 34, (Superior, CO), 2004 6th Olympic Marathon Trials (2:15:03); 2001 USA marathon champion and USARC GP champion (tie)
* Teddy Mitchell, 32, (Albuquerque, NM), 2004 8th USA 10 Mile Championship (47:38); 1994 NCAA 10,000 meter champion
* Kevin Collins, 33, (Syracuse, NY), 2003 USA Marathon Championship runner-up and 5th last year at River Bank
* Scott Goff, 27, (Boulder, CO), 2003 6th at River Bank; WCAP program
* Patrick Muturi, 31, (Lafayette, CO), 2003 9th at River Bank; marathon PR (2:08:59)
* Kyle Baker, 28, (Mason, MI), 2002 USA 20K Championship runner-up and 4th American at River Bank; returning from injury
* Sean Nesbitt, 29, (Boulder, CO), 2004 15th USA 10 Mile Championship (48:50)
* Carl Rundell, 36, (Birmingham, MI), 2004 Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier; Hansons-Brooks team
* Chris Wehrman, 28, (Chicago, IL), 2004 Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier; second 2001 Detroit Free Press Marathon (2:17:50)
* Paul Aufdemberge, 39, (Redford, MI), 2000 3rd USA 25K Championships; top local runner
* Dennis Simonaitis, 41, (Draper, UT), defending USA Masters champion
* Paul Zimmerman, 43, (Cedar Creek, TX), top master

Women:
* Deeja Youngquist, 27, (Albuquerque, NM), 2004 8th Olympic Marathon Trials (2:34:21); 2003 10th LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon (2:29:01, U.S. debut record)
* Jeanne Hennessy, 26, (Manasquan, NJ), 2003 5th at River Bank; 2002 USA 25K champion here; former soccer goalie at Villanova
* Lori Stich Zimmerman, 34, (Cedar Creek, TX), 2004 15th Olympic Marathon Trials (2:38:44); 2003 6th at River Bank; 3rd 2002 USA 25K Championship
* Heather Hunt, 29, (Englewood, CO), 2004 Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier
* Mary Beth Ellis, 27, (Denver, CO), 2003 7th at River Bank; 2001 3rd Philadelphia Marathon
* Sonja Friend-Uhl, 33, (W Palm Beach, FL), 2004 Beijing Ekiden team
* Debbi Kilpatrick, 40, (Strongsville, OH), 1997 USA marathon champion; top master
* Janet Robertz, 44, (Shorewood, MN), 2003 8th at River Bank (defending USA masters champion
* Cindy James, 44, (Homewood, IL), top master

The race prize purse totals over $57,000 including a $21,200 USA Championship purse. U.S. men and women will compete for $10,600 respectively ($4000, $2000, $1500, $1000, $600, $500, $400, $300, $200 and $100). The top three finishers overall will earn $4000, $2000 and $1500 respectively. In addition, there is $6300 for the USA Masters Championship. A new world record means an extra $5000 (Fifth Third World Record Challenge).

As part of the 2004 USA Running Circuit, important Circuit points also will be earned at River Bank. Per USARC race, the first ten U.S. runners earn points (15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1) with a final $12,500 grand prix purse ($6000, $4000 and $2500) for the top three men and women point scorers overall. Current Circuit leaders are Meb Keflezighi and Colleen De Reuck.

The 2004 USARC, a USA Track & Field road series featuring USA Championships from 5K to the marathon, offers over $810,000 in championship prize money plus a $25,000 grand prix purse. More USARC information at: www.usatf.org

25K Records

Course
1:13:55 Joseph Kariuki (KEN)       Old Kent River Bank Run, MI      05/09/98
1:24:39 Svetlana Zakharova (RUS) River Bank Run, MI            05/12/01

U.S.
1:14:38 Ed Eyestone          INB Stepahead Stampede, IN      10/13/91
1:24:43 Joan Benoit Samuelson      Old Kent River Bank Run, MI      05/10/86

U.S. All-Comers
1:13:55 Joseph Kariuki (KEN) Old Kent River Bank Run, MI      05/09/98
1:24:27 Jill Hunter (GBR)      INB Stepahead Stampede, IN      10/13/91

World
1:13:44 Rodgers Rop (KEN)      Berlin, GER                   05/06/01
1:22:31 Naoko Takahashi (JPN) Berlin Marathon split, GER      09/30/01

The challenging loop course starts and finishes in downtown Grand Rapids. In conjunction with the national championship race, the 27th annual event also has a 5K run/walk and kids' run. Overall, race officials expect over 10,000 participants, and past winners of the country's largest 25K (3,963 finishers in 2003) include running greats Bill Rodgers, Greg Meyer, Herb Lindsay and 1984 Olympic marathon gold medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson.

For more information, go to the race website at: www.53riverbankrun.com.

USA 25K Champions:

1987  Greg Meyer       1:16:12     Old Kent River Bank Run, MI      05/09
1995  Keith Brantly      1:15:20+    Old Kent River Bank Run, MI      05/13
1996      Alfredo Vigueras      1:15:21     Old Kent River Bank Run, MI 05/11
1997  John Sence       1:15:58     Old Kent River Bank Run, MI      05/10
1998  John Sence       1:16:15     Old Kent River Bank Run, MI      05/09
1999  Todd Williams      1:17:15     Old Kent River Bank Run, MI      05/08
2000  Shawn Found       1:17:45     Old Kent River Bank Run, MI      05/13
2001  Chad Johnson      1:16:11     River Bank Run, MI            05/12
2002  David Morris      1:17:15     Fifth Third River Bank Run, MI05/11
2003  Dan Browne            1:16:13     Fifth Third River Bank Run, MI05/10

1986  Cathy Twomey      1:31:29      Deerbrook's, Joilet, IL        09/21
1987  Diane Brewer      1:28:17     Old Kent River Bank Run, MI      05/09
1995  Elaine Van Blunk      1:27:14     Old Kent River Bank Run, MI 05/13
1996  Jane Welzel            1:29:47     Old Kent River Bank Run, MI 05/11
1997  Kim Jones       1:26:54     Old Kent River Bank Run, MI      05/10
1998  Shelly Steely      1:29:06     Old Kent River Bank Run, MI      05/09
1999  Chris McNamara      1:28:05     Old Kent River Bank Run, MI      05/08
2000      Kristin Beaney      1:28:53     Old Kent River Bank Run, MI 05/13
2001  Milena Glusac      1:26:05+    River Bank Run, MI            05/12
2002  Jeanne Hennessy      1:27:18     Fifth Third River Bank Run, MI05/11
2003      Christine Clifton      1:29:30     Fifth Third River Bank Run, MI05/10
+USA Championship Record

2004 USA Running Circuit Standings

MEN after four races
1) Meb Keflezighi, 28, Mth Lakes, CA      54
2) Dan Browne, 28, Portland, OR            35
3) Alan Culpepper, 31, Lafayette, CO    30
4) Chris Graff, 28, Palo Alto, CA          22
5) Trent Briney, 25, Rochester Hills, MI      14

WOMEN after two races
1) Colleen De Reuck, 39, Boulder, CO    45
2) Deena Kastor, 31, Mth Lakes, CA          24
3) Jen Rhines, 29, Ardmore, PA       20
4) Sara Wells, 24, Edina, MN               18
5) Blake Russell, 28, Acton, MA         14

2004 USARC Champions
MEN
Alan Culpepper   2:11:42  U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, Birmingham, AL, Feb 7
Meb Keflezighi     43:18  Gate River Run 15K, Jacksonville, FL, March 13
Meb Keflezighi     22:16+ NYRR 8000/USA Men's Championship, NY, NY, March 27
Dan Browne         46:32+ Papa John's 10 Miler, Louisville, KY, April 10
+USA Championship Record

WOMEN
Colleen De Reuck   49:02  Gate River Run 15K, Jacksonville, FL, March 13
Colleen De Reuck 2:28:25* U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, St. Louis, MO, April 3
*Olympic Trials record