Posted: October 21, 2004

Athletics: International Field Set For Mystic Places Marathon

From David Monti

(c) 2004 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

From: John Bysiewicz (203) 481-5933

East Lyme— This weekend at Rocky Neck State Park in Niantic, CT, the Mystic Places Marathon and Niantic Bay Festival will feature community appearances from four-time Olympian, Colleen DeReuck as well as a top international field with runners from Ethiopia, Kenya, Belarus, Russia, Canada and the U.S.

Colleen DeReuck Appearances

Colleen De Reuck is the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon Champion. She will be speaking about her Olympic experiences and training at few area events taking place this weekend. In September De Reuck competed in her fourth consecutive Olympics. Born in Vryheid, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, this was her first Olympics as a U.S. citizen. She finished 39th in the Athens. She is the former world record holder at 10 miles (51:16 – Cherry Blossom) and 20km (1:05:11 – New Haven). She is married to Darren De Reuck, her manager and agent. They live in Boulder, CO with their daughter Tasmin.

DeReuck’s appearances open to the public are as follows:

Date    Time                Location                                  Event               

10/22   10:00 a.m.       Niantic Center School             Assembly with elementary school

10/22   4:00 p.m.         Rocky Neck State Park           Rocky Neck Invitational (Start Race)

10/23   10:30 a.m.       Kelley’s Place                         meet and greet (Mystic)          

10/23   1-3 p.m.           Rocky Neck                             kids races

10/23   4-4:30              Niantic Bay Festival                meet and greet on Niantic Main Street

10/24   9 a.m. – 2 p.m.            Rocky Neck                 meet and greet at race

Top athletes will be competing in the marathon for a prize purse of over $15,000. The top men and women will each take home $3,000. Bonuses of $500 will be given to men breaking 2:20 and women breaking 2:45. The race also serves as the Connecticut Open and Masters Championship.

The men’s elite race field will once again feature Ethiopian Araya Haregot. Harregot is the current Mystic Places Marathon champion. He will be challenged by his countryman, Zintu Meaza who won the 2004 Hartford Marathon. Also hoping to make a run at the title is Dzmitry Sivou, of Belarus and Amos Gitagama, of Kenya. Sivou ran 2:16 at last year’s Motorola Marathon in Austin, TX. Gitagama has a personal best in the marathon of 2:19. Last year’s course record of 2:19:30 is likely to fall.

The women’s field favorites are Russian Tatyana Maslova and Belarus’ Halin Karnatsevich. Maslova set the course record in 2002, winning the race in 2:45:16. She finished 2nd last year and should finish amongst the leaders in 2004. Maslova has run a marathon in 2:33 minutes. Karnatsevich has a personal marathon best of 2:35; she finished first at the Wroclaw Marathon (Poland).

The deep women’s field also features Canadians Helen Zaikoff (2nd in 2001 Mystic Places Marathon) and Nathalie Goyer. Russian Marina Bychkova finished 2nd in this year’s Comrades Marathon and has a personal marathon best of 2:44. Branford’s Kerry Arsenault is running extremely well and should finish in the top 5. Maslova’s course record could be in jeopardy.

Over 2,000 runners are expected to compete in the marathon, marathon relay, 10-mile race and kids’ races that wind through the scenic seaside village of Niantic. Designated funds from the event will be divided among numerous local non-profit organizations. To register online, go to www.mysticplacesmarathon.com or through www.active.com or call (203) 481-5933.

About the Mystic Places Marathon & Niantic Bay Festival
Presented by Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun, The Mystic Places Marathon & Niantic Bay Festival is produced by the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT, Inc., and Mystic Coast & Country Travel Industry Association, Inc. in conjunction with local business and municipal governments.

Additional support comes from the Connecticut East CVB, Town of East Lyme, Niantic Main Street and AMTA CT Sports Massage Team. Corporate sponsors include: Coca-Cola, Lawrence & Memorial Hospital, Tee’s Plus Screen Printing Company, Tri-Town Foods and the Waterford Hotel Group and WFSB. Goldblatt, Bokoff, and Company, hitekracing.com, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Michelob Ultra, Puma, Smith Insurance and Yankee Gas are also supporting the event.

For information on volunteering or sponsorship opportunities, call (203) 481-5933 or visit the Website at www.mysticplacesmarathon.com. Mystic Places Marathon merchandise can be purchased online at teesplus.com or www.mysticplacesmarathon.com .

About Mystic Places
Mystic Places is an exciting and colorful destination blending the tranquility of classic New England seascapes and scenic rolling hills with rich cultural heritage and sophisticated, top-flight entertainment. Home to Mystic Aquarium, Mystic Seaport, Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun, Mystic Places stretches 40 miles through scenic southeastern Connecticut and coastal Rhode Island -- a convenient escape, located just two hours by car or train from both Boston and New York City, and easily accessible from Hartford and Providence airports. For a FREE Mystic Places Vacation Kit, call 1-800-MYCOAST (800-692-6278), or visit us online at www.mycoast.com.