Posted: May 31, 2005

Athletics: Olympians From Around the Globe to Meet at the Circle of Friends New York Mini 10K

NEW YORK - (May 24, 2005) - Olympians Colleen De Reuck of the United States, Benita Johnson of Australia and Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands will highlight a stellar international field at the 2005 Circle of Friends New York Mini 10K in Central Park on Saturday, June 11. Founded in 1972, the Mini is the world's original women-only road race and is an official event of New York Road Runners. Circle of Friends, a program from the American Legacy Foundation that helps women quit smoking and raises awareness about the impact of tobacco-related diseases, became the Mini's title sponsor in 2004 and renewed its agreement this year.

"We are thrilled to be partnering again with the American Legacy Foundation," said New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg. "Our field this year is one of tremendous talent. Colleen De Reuck continues to amaze us as a world-class competitor now in her forties. Benita Johnson, fresh off an impressive run at the Flora London Marathon, is a future superstar. And the consummate professional at any distance and on any surface is Lornah Kiplagat."

De Reuck, 41, of Boulder, Colo., was the first American finisher at the 2005 World Cross Country 8K Championships. A four-time Olympian, she won the 2004 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in St. Louis. Earlier this month, she won the USA 25K title in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Johnson, 26, returns to New York after her marathon debut at the ING New York City Marathon last November. She is the Australian national record holder for 5000 (14:47.60) and 10,000 meters (30:37.68), and recently finished sixth at the 2005 Flora London Marathon in 2:26:32.

Kiplagat, 31, has the fastest 10K personal best in the field with a time of 30:40 set in 2004 in Puerto Rico. A familiar face in New York, she has finished in the top 10 in the last three ING New York City Marathons. Kiplagat won the Mini in 2003 and placed second in 2002. She did not race the Mini in 2004, as the professional athlete field was reserved for American Olympic hopefuls.

Other Olympians in the field include Marie Davenport of Ireland and Masako Chiba of Japan.

The Circle of Friends New York Mini 10K is part of the New York Road Runners Professional Racing Series, which continues NYRR's tradition of bringing the very best runners in the world to New York City. For more information visit: www.nyrr.org.

Additions to the Mini this year include a 2.6-mile Friends Walk, open to both men and women, and specially designated Fan Zones for spectators along the course.

About the American Legacy Foundation and Circle of Friends
The American Legacy Foundation is dedicated to building a world where young people reject tobacco and anyone can quit. Located in Washington, DC, the foundation develops programs that address the health effects of tobacco use through grants, technical assistance and training, youth activism, strategic partnerships, research, counter-marketing and grassroots marketing campaigns, public relations, and outreach to populations disproportionately affected by the toll of tobacco. The American Legacy Foundation was created as a result of the November 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) reached between attorneys general from 46 states, five U.S. territories, and the tobacco industry.

Circle of Friends: Uniting to Be Smoke-Free is a national grassroots movement from the American Legacy Foundation to show support for women struggling to quit smoking, and to highlight the toll of tobacco-related disease on American women, their families, and communities. Visit www.join-the-circle.org or www.americanlegacy.org for more information.

About New York Road Runners
Founded in 1958 with a membership of 47, New York Road Runners is one of the world's foremost running organizations. NYRR is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the sport of running and walking for health, recreation, and competition, and provides full professional services related to all aspects of racing. The organization has a full-time staff of more than 60 employees, supplemented by a network of thousands of volunteers, serving more than 40,000 members from every U.S. state and more than 100 countries.

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.