Posted: March 8, 2005

Athletics: 2004 U.S. Olympians Headline USA 15K Championship Field at Gate River

Colleen De Reuck to Defend U.S. Women's Title

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - (March 9, 2005) - The Gate River Run - slated for Saturday, March 12 - hosts the USA 15K Championships for the twelve consecutive year, and another outstanding U.S. field is expected including six 2004 U.S. Olympians Alan Culpepper, Jen Rhines, Abdi Abdirahman, Colleen De Reuck, Anthony Famiglietti and Elva Dryer. Rhines, a Team Running USA athlete, and De Reuck won national titles at Gate River in 1998 and last year respectively.

Returning this year is the Equalizer Bonus which awards $5,000 to the first male or female to cross the finish line, with the top-seeded women beginning 5 minutes before the men. The 5 minute "head start" is based on the time differential of the U.S. 15K records - 42:22, Todd Williams (1995) and 47:15, Deena Drossin (2003) - both set on the Gate River Run course.

Last year, Meb Keflezighi, 2004 Olympic Marathon silver medalist, passed De Reuck at the 8 mile mark and cruised to his four consecutive U.S. 15K title in 43:19 and to claim the Equalizer Bonus.

The 28th Gate River Run offers $58,000 in prize money with the national champion pocketing $10,000. As a national road championship, Gate River is also part of the 2005 USA Running Circuit, a grand prix series.

According to race director Doug Alred, more than 10,000 runners and walkers will run, walk, roll or dash in Jacksonville's largest participatory sporting event sponsored by Jacksonville Track Club. All events begin and end at the Jacksonville Sports Complex.

A large three-day MPS Group Runners Expo will be held at the Fairgrounds March 10-12, showcasing the latest in the running, health and fitness industry. Expo hours are 11am - 6pm Thursday, 11am - 9pm Friday and 8:30am to 12noon Saturday. Running legend Bill Rodgers and five-time Gate River Run champion and course record holder Todd Williams will make Expo appearances. Running coaches Roy Benson and Jeff Galloway will speak at the Expo Thurs. at 4:00 and 5:00pm.

Race Day Schedule - Saturday, March 12
8:00am - The Florida Times-Union 5K Run/Walk for Charity
8:30am (top 25 women at 8:25am) - Gate River Run 15K, USA Championship
11:00am adidas Junior River Run (1 mile) for children
11:15am Diaper Dashes for ages 1 - 4

Local WJXT Channel 4 will air two hours of race coverage on race evening from 11:00pm - 1:00am. Complete results will be available on the Florida Times Union's website www.jacksonville.com following the race.

TOP U.S. MEN
Abdi Abdirahman, Tucson, AZ - Team Running USA
Ibrahim Aden, Albuquerque, NM
James Carney, Marina, CA
Alan Culpepper, Lafayette, CO
Peter DeLaCerda, Alamosa, CO
Matt Downin, Westwood, NJ
Joe Driscoll, Blowing Rock, NC
Anthony Famiglietti, New York, NY
Chris Graff, Arlington, VA
Teren Jameson, Salt Lake City, UT
Chad Johnson, Minneapolis, MN
Ryan Kirkpatrick, Boulder, CO
Matt Lane, Palo Alto, CA
Nick Rogers, Eugene, OR
Brian Sell, Rochester Hills, MI
Ryan Shay, East Jordan, MI - Team Running USA
Vincent Sherry, Blowing Rock, NC
Matt Thull, Milwaukee, WI
Justin Young, Boulder, CO

TOP U.S. WOMEN
Nicole Aish, Gunnison, CO
Molly Austin, Boulder, CO
Dana Coons, Burnsville, MN
Jenny Crain, Milwaukee, WI
Colleen De Reuck, Boulder, CO
Elva Dryer, Albuquerque, NM
Kim Fitchen-Young, Santa Cruz, CA
Sonja Friend-Uhl, W Palm Beach, FL
Jeanne Hennessy, Boulder, CO
Emily Jameson, Salt Lake City, UT
Turena Johnson-Lane, Muncie, IN
Debbi Kilpatrick-Morris, Strongsville, OH
Michelle LaFleur, Savannah, GA
Ann McGranahan, Newport, VA
Sylvia Mosqueda, Los Angeles, CA
Laura O'Neil, New Haven, CT
Zika Palmer, Blowing Rock, NC
Jen Rhines, Ardmore, PA - Team Running USA
Blake Russell, Marina, CA
Debra Thornhill, Blowing Rock, NC
Sara Wells, Burnsville, MN

For more information, visit www.gate-riverrun.com.

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org.