Posted: March 24, 2005

Athletics: Outstanding U.S. Field Expected at USA 8K Championship this Saturday in New York City

12 Olympians, 16 National Champions including 2004 Olympic Marathon Bronze Medalist Deena Kastor

The USA 8K Championship hosted again by the New York Road Runners has drawn another top U.S. field including 12 Olympians, 16 national champions, and a great competition is anticipated on Saturday, March 26 in New York City.

New this year is the addition of the USA Women's 8K Championship (NYRR renewed the men's national championship in 2002) and a new course, which has moved from Central Park to Manhattan's Randall's Island with the start and finish in the new Icahn Track and Field Stadium.

For the U.S. men, Meb Keflezighi, the silver medalist at the Athens Olympic Marathon, will not defend his national title, but local resident and 2004 Olympian Anthony Famiglietti and Bolota Asmerom - who finished second and third last year - are the top men's seeds. 2002 USA 8K champion and 2004 Olympian Tim Broe was a late scratch due to an illness.

Deena Kastor, 2004 Olympic Marathon bronze medalist, headlines the women's field with Team Running USA teammate and fellow Olympian Jen Rhines. Kastor, 32, of Mammoth Lakes, Calif., is reportedly fit, eager to race in New York again and eyeing Lynn Jennings' longstanding U.S. 8K record of 25:02 and the accompanying $25,000 bonus if broken.

The guaranteed USA Championship prize purse totals $40,000 with each national champion taking home $5000. In addition, the race offers the aforementioned $25,000 bonus for breaking the U.S. 8K record (22:04, Alberto Salazar, 1981 and 25:02, Lynn Jennings, 1991).

As a national road championship, the race is also part of the 2005 USA Running Circuit, a USATF grand prix series, and the top 10 U.S. runners score Circuit points at each race. Matt Lane and Jen Rhines are the current USARC leaders, and the defending USARC champions are Ryan Shay and Colleen De Reuck.

For more USA 8K Championship information including athlete bios, prize money breakdown, national championship history, all-time lists and other stats, visit NYRR.org.

USA 8K Championship Top Seeds As of March 23, 2005

MEN
Bib#/Athlete/Residence
2 Anthony Famiglietti, New York, NY
3 Bolota Asmerom, Oakland, CA
5 Jonathon Riley, Palo Alto, CA
6 Adam Goucher, Boulder, CO
7 Jorge Torres, Boulder, CO
8 Abdi Abdirahman, Tucson, AZ - Team Running USA
9 James Carney, Marina, CA
10 Ryan Shay, East Jordan, MI - Team Running USA
11 Mike Donnelly, Portland, OR
12 Matt Downin, Norwood, NJ
14 Paul Kezes, Eugene, OR
15 Matt Gabrielson, St. Paul, MN
17 Pete Julian, Boulder, CO
18 Luke Watson, Stillwater, MN
21 Dan Wilson, Blowing Rock, NC

WOMEN
1 Deena Kastor, Mammoth Lakes, CA - Team Running USA
2 Jen Rhines, Ardmore, PA - Team Running USA
3 Carrie Tollefson, St. Paul, MN
4 Amy Rudolph, Providence, RI
5 Katie McGregor, St. Louis Park, MN
6 Sylvia Mosqueda, Los Angeles, CA
7 Collette Liss, Indianapolis, IN
8 Amy Begley, Albuquerque, NM
9 Briana Shook, Toledo, OH
10 Laura O'Neill, New Haven, CT
11 Amy Mortimer, West Roxbury, MA
12 Nicole Aish, Gunnison, CO
14 Melissa Cook, Flower Mound, TX
15 Jenny Crain, Milwaukee, WI
16 Milena Glusac, Fallbrook, CA
17 Lucinda Hull, Raleigh, NC
18 Ann McGranahan, Newport, VA
19 Sara Wells, Edina, MN
20 Christin Wurth-Thomas, Springdale, AR

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.