Posted: July 8, 2004

Athletics: Women's Defending Champ Skvortsova Will Return to Crazy 8's

Strong Russian Contingent in Women's Race

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - (July 7, 2004) - If you can speak Russian, you might be able to understand the chatter among the top-seeded women runners as they stand on the starting line of the 2004 Indian Path Medical Center & SunTrust Bank Crazy 8's 8K Run. Race organizers announced today that Silvia Skvortsova from Russia will return to defend her title, along with compatriots Lyudmila Biktasheva, Tatyana Chulakh and Firaya Sultanova-Zhdanova. They will all chase Asmae Leghzaoui's world record of 24:28 set here in 2002 and the chance to win the Regional Eye Center $10,008 World Record Bonus.

"These ladies will put on quite a race," said event director Tandy Fleming. "We know Silvia is tough, but she's going to have a difficult time winning again. The Russians are renowned for developing great distance runners and we're happy to have some of their best here in Kingsport."

The Russian quartet is certainly some of the best that country has to offer. Skvortsova won Crazy 8's last year in a sterling time of 26:04, which ranks 12th all-time on the candle-lit streets of Kingsport. She has a 5K best of 15:17 and 10K best of 32:15. When she is in the race, she is always a threat to win.

Biktasheva and Chulakh recently finished 7th and 9th respectively at the prestigious Peachtree 10K Road Race in Atlanta on July 4th. Biktasheva's credentials are extremely impressive. She won the 2003 Lilac Bloomsday 12K in 40:01, was 4th at the 2003 Russian Championships 10,000 meters in 31:31 and was a silver medalist at the 2002 European Championships in the 10,000m. Chulakh's resume also sparkles with a 2nd place finish at the 2004 Cooper River Bridge 10K in 32:36 (PR), and a win at the 2004 Shamrock Shuffle 8K in 25:56. She won the Russian Junior Championships 5000m in 2002. She is certainly one of Russia's rising stars.

At 43 years of age, Sultanova-Zhdanova is not a rising star, but she is certainly a star. She has been a force on the road running circuit this year, finishing 3rd at the Country Music Marathon in 2:35:56, 3rd at the Bay to Breakers 12K and 2nd at the Fifth Third River Bank Run 25K. She had an unbelievable marathon season in 2003, finishing 7th at the Boston Marathon in 2:31:30, 1st at Grandma's Marathon in 2:27:05 (PR) and finished the season with an 11th place 2:33:57 at the ING New York City Marathon. She ran in the World Championships Marathon in 1999 and 2001.

"I'd hate to pick a favorite out of those four," said Fleming. "We could see all four coming up Eastman Road toward the finish line at the same time. I just hope I don't have to try and pronounce all four of their names at the same time!"

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, BAE Systems, Food City, and Kingsport Rental. Fluid station/Invited Athlete Sponsors are Mather Dentist Office, Mountain Region Family Medicine, Fleming's Tune-Up, Martin Dentistry, Pro Balance and AVI. Crazy 8's, a Running USA Founding Member, is managed by the State of Franklin Track Club.

From: Running USA Wire.