Posted: June 6, 2005

Athletics: Circle of Friends New York Mini 10K Attracts Top International Field

Eight Olympians will lead thousands of women in Central Park race June 11

NEW YORK - (June 2, 2005) - A field of top international marathon stars and experienced Olympians will vie for top honors at the 2005 Circle of Friends New York Mini 10K in Central Park on Saturday, June 11. As many as 5,000 women are expected to compete in the Mini, the world's original women-only road race.

Founded in 1972, the Mini is now sponsored by Circle of Friends, a women's smoking-cessation and education initiative of the American Legacy Foundation. The race is part of the New York Road Runners Professional Racing Series and will offer a $31,000 prize purse.

"The 10K distance allows the finest track athletes and top marathoners to meet on a middle ground," said Mary Wittenberg, New York Road Runners president and CEO. "Our field this year is one of tremendous talent."

Competitors include Margaret Okayo of Kenya, 29, two-time winner and course record holder of the ING New York City Marathon; four-time Olympian Colleen De Reuck, 41, winner of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials; Benita Johnson, 26, who holds Australian record at 5000 and 10,000 meters; and Lornah Kiplagat, 31, who not only won the Mini in 2003, but has also finished in the top 10 in the last three ING New York City Marathons. Kiplagat, of the Netherlands, has the fastest 10K personal best in the field with a time of 30:40 set in 2004 in Puerto Rico.

Other entrants are Ethiopian Elfenesh Alemu, 30; Russian Lyubov Denisova, 33; Jelena Prokopcuka, 28, of Latvia, the 2005 Osaka International Ladies Marathon champion; Marie Davenport of Ireland; and Masako Chiba of Japan.

Biographies of all professional women competing in the Circle of Friends New York Mini 10K will be posted on www.nyrr.org/proracing on June 6.

Also running in the event will be the Winning Circles, a group of women in their early 20s to late 50s who will be celebrating not only their first running race, but also quitting smoking. This group has been meeting and training at NYRR for months. The women give each other support, and also receive advice from a smoking cessation coach and an NYRR running coach.

For the first time ever, this year's Mini includes a 2.6-mile Friends Walk, an event open to both men and women. Non-participating family and friends are encouraged to cheer on the runners and walkers in special Fan Zones, another new event feature. Runners, walkers and fans are invited to collect pledges to raise funds for Circle of Friends, the arm of the American Legacy foundation that focuses on fighting tobacco-related disease, the number-one cause of preventative death among women.

Individuals and teams who raise funds for Circle of Friends are eligible for prizes, including vacation packages, gift certificates and tickets to the Circle of Friends New York Mini post-race VIP Brunch at the Tavern on the Green.

To learn more and enter the race, visit the Circle of Friends New York Mini 10K website, Mini10K.org.

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.