Posted: July 11, 2005

Athletics: Talpos, Klimina Headline Latest Women's Commitments for Crazy 8's 8K

Demissie, Wangui, Newberry also on Their Way to Kingsport

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - (July 7, 2005) - Romania's Luminita Talpos and Russia's Victoria Klimina finished just one second apart Monday, July 4th at the prestigious Peachtree 10K Road Race in Atlanta. Talpos got the best of Klimina, finishing 4th in 32:32, with Klimina a shoelace behind (5th, 32:33). These two will go at it again at the Indian Path Medical Center & SunTrust Bank Crazy 8's 8K Run on the candle-lit streets of Kingsport, July 16. Each will have their sights on the 8K world record of 24:28 (Asmae Leghzaoui, 2002) and the Regional Eye Center $10,008 World Record Bonus.

"Peachtree is a fantastic race, so we always look to see who runs well there," said co-event director Tyler Hobbs. "Both Talpos and Klimina put on quite a race so I'm sure they'll be close again when they race here."

Talpos can flash a pretty gaudy resume when she travels to races. In addition to her 31:54 10K, she also has a marathon best of 2:27:32. She won the Bay to Breakers 12K in 2002 and boasts runner-up finishes at the 2002-03 Utica Boilermaker 15K, 2003 Bix 7 and 2003 Beach to Beacon 10K.

Klimina will try to avenge her narrow defeat to Talpos and claim the coveted Crazy 8's title. She certainly has the wheels to do it, running 15:41 for 5K, 31:05 for 10K and 2:28:30 for the marathon. She has won many Russian national championships over her career, recently competing for her homeland at the 2005 World Cross Country Championships, finishing 17th in the 8K.

Also announcing their commitments to run the world famous figure-8 8K course are Astere Demissie from Ethiopia, Naomi Wangui from Kenya and American Kathy Newberry. Demissie finished 10th at Peachtree in 33:26. Her 10K best is a very envious 31:57, and she recently ran 32:48 at the Vancouver Sun Run 10K.

Wangui is a familiar name to Crazy 8's, capturing the 8K crown in 2000 (26:22). She returned to Kingsport in 2001 (6th), 2002 (4th) and 2003 (8th). She hopes to return to the form that helped her break the Crazy 8's tape in 2000 and is always near the top of any race she enters. The 26-year-old Newberry is one of America's most promising young runners. She recently competed for the USA at the 2005 World Cross Country Championships, finishing 33rd in the long course. She also wore the red, white and blue at 2004 World Cross, finishing 32nd. Her 5000m PR is 15:45.32 and 10,000m PR 32:45.78.

"The women's field is shaping up to be anyone's race," said co-event director and elite athlete recruiter Hank Brown. "I think I would give a slight edge to Talpos and Klimina, but there are several others we can't ignore. That's what we like to see, a close race. I think Demissie is a real threat, and Wangui knows this course better than anyone. I really like Newberry - she could be our first American winner in many years."

For more information or to register, visit Crazy8s.org. Registration is also available at the Fun Fest Store in the Ft. Henry Mall. Sponsors are Indian Path Medical Center, SunTrust Bank, Holston Medical Group, Cardiovascular Associates, Regional Eye Center, Citadel Broadcasting, YMCA, Culligan, Food City, Kingsport Rental, Domino's Pizza and Charter Media. Fluid station/Invited Athlete Sponsors are Mather Dentist Office, Mountain Region Family Medicine, Fleming's Tune-Up, Holston Medical Group, Martin Dentistry, Celebration Church, Dr. Rachel Monderer and UBS Financial Services. Crazy 8's, a Running USA Founding Member, is managed by We Run Events.

Source: Contact: Hank Brown, Co-Event Director.