Posted: August 18, 2005

Athletics: McGregor, Tollefson, De Reuck Headline Guidant Heart of Summer 10K Field

Event Raises Awareness of Women's Cardiovascular Health

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - (August 15, 2005) - The Guidant Heart of Summer 5K & 10K will take place at Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis on Saturday, August 20. The women's 10K field includes several top American female athletes including four-time Olympian Colleen De Reuck, Minnesota native and Olympian Carrie Tollefson and 2005 USA 10,000 Meter Champion Katie McGregor.

The events are open to men and women of all ages and abilities, and a sizeable prize purse exceeding $30,000 will be awarded in seven categories with the vast majority of the prize money being allocated to the women's 10K race.

De Reuck is one of the top masters in the world, and earlier this year, won the USA 25K road title at the Fifth Third River Bank Run in Grand Rapids, Mich. Her 1:25:15 time set a masters world record for the distance. Also this year, the 2004 Olympic Marathon Trials champion won the U.S. cross country title, was fourth at the Gate River Run 15K in Jacksonville with a U.S. masters record 49:51 and fourth at the Bolder Boulder (Colo.) 10K.

In 2004, Tollefson, a member of Team USA Minnesota, was the national champion at 1500 meters. At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, she advanced to the semi-finals in the 1500m. This June, Tollefson was fifth in the 5000m at the USA Outdoor Championships.

McGregor, also a member of Team USA Minnesota, won the 10,000 meters at the USA Outdoor Championships in June and at the recent IAAF World Outdoor Championships in Helsinki, Finland, she finished 14th in the 10,000 with a personal record 31:20.20.

The Elite Women's 10K Field
Athlete / Personal Best
Colleen De Reuck 31:16 (road downhill)
Katie McGregor 31:21.20
Emily Jameson 31:50 (road downhill)
Sylvia Mosqueda 31:54.03
Nicole Aish 32:09.13
Kayoko Obata 32:32.36
Carrie Tollefson 32:58 (road)
Dana Coons 33:07.58
Jenelle Deatherage 33:42 (road)
Laura Turner 33:43.27
Sara Wells 33:46.41
Stephanie Bylander 34:00.70

"We have a very strong field of elite women and with our flat course, we are expecting some very fast results," said Co-Race Director Kris Wirth. "We currently have 6 women with personal bests faster than Janis Klecker's Minnesota State 10K record of 32:52 which was set back in 1992. The U.S. 10K road record is 31:06 by Lynn Jennings. With the right conditions, these women are capable of setting some records. It's definitely going to be an exciting race!"

A separate men's 10K will follow the women's event and also has a solid elite field.

The 10K race also serves as the men's and women's Road Runner's Club of America (RRCA) Minnesota State 10K Championship.

The Guidant Heart Health Expo will take place on Friday, August 19, 2005 at the Embassy Suites Hotel Minneapolis-Airport from 3:00pm to 8:00pm. The Guidant Heart Health Expo is free to the general public and includes race registration, packet and timing chip pick-up and guest speakers including Kathrine Switzer, pioneer in women's running.

For more information, visit the race website at HeartofSummer.org or contact Race Directors Joe & Kris Wirth at (952) 431-5455.

Runner's Soul Running Club is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization and RRCA member. Its mission is to promote and encourage fitness and to bring the joy and health advantages of running and walking to everyone regardless of age or ability.

Guidant Corporation pioneers lifesaving technology, giving an opportunity for better life today to millions of cardiac and vascular patients worldwide. Driven by a strong entrepreneurial culture of 12,000 employees, Guidant develops, manufactures and markets a broad array of products and services that enable less invasive care for some of life's most threatening medical conditions. For more information, visit Guidant.com.