Posted: May 23, 2005

Athletics: Elva Dryer Joins Women's Team USA for BolderBOULDER International Team Challenge

Deena Kastor Has Foot Injury

BOULDER, Colo. - (May 18, 2005) - BolderBOULDER Professional Athlete Coordinator Rich Castro officially has announced that Deena Kastor is out of the 2005 competition due to a stress reaction in her left foot. Fellow Olympian and 2003 BolderBOULDER teammate Elva Dryer will replace Kastor on the team. On Memorial Day, May 30, the U.S. women's team - which also includes the previously announced Colleen De Reuck and Jen Rhines - is set to race against top teams from Mexico (defending team champion), Romania, Japan and Russia.

Elva Dryer, 33, of Albuquerque, NM, raced BolderBOULDER in 2003 and finished 4th in 34:02 to help Team USA win the team title with Kastor (first) and De Reuck (7th). At the 2004 Olympic 10,000 meters, Dryer was the top U.S. female finisher (19th). In 2003, she first staked her claim as one of America's best 10,000m runners with her runner-up performance at the USA Outdoor Championships and earlier, with the second fastest time by an American (31:26.88) that season. Her national runner-up finish at the 2004 Olympic Trials 10,000 meters earned her second Olympic berth. Since winning her first USA title indoors in the 3000m in 1998, Dryer has improved steadily and is now one of America's most consistent top runners. The Nike sponsored athlete is coached by her husband, Russ, and at the recent Cardinal Invitational 10,000m on May 1, Dryer finished third in a PR (31:21.92).

BolderBOULDER Race Director Cliff Bosley is optimistic that Elva Dryer is ready and fit to compete, "Elva ran here in 2003 and did phenomenally. It didn't work in her schedule to come back again in '04, but now that the opportunity is back, she is ready to run with the team."

Pro Athlete Rich Castro stated, "This is by no means a step down. Elva is probably the fastest 10,000 meter runner in this group. In her last race out, Elva beat Jen Rhines on May 1 at Stanford. It's a strong team."

About BolderBOULDER
The Celestial Seasonings BolderBOULDER 10K, a Running USA Founding Member, is one of the largest road races in the world and the largest timed 10K in the world. The race attracts up to 50,000 runners, walkers and wheelchair racers and draws professional int'l racing teams to compete for the largest non-marathon prize purse in road racing. The race starts at the north end of 30th Street in Boulder near the First National Bank of Colorado, winds through neighborhoods with live music and entertainment at every corner and finishes in the University of Colorado's Folsom Field. More than 100,000 spectators watch the festivities from inside the stadium and along the course.

The BolderBOULDER is proud to be partnered with the following primary sponsors: Celestial Seasonings, Frontier Airlines and Millennium Hotel.

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.