Posted: August 30, 2005

Athletics: USATF Long Distance Running Notes - August 27-28, 2005

Shay set to defend USA 20 km title, McGregor leads women's entries

Defending USA 20 km Champion, Ryan Shay leads the list of American men as the USA Running Circuit (USARC) resumes with the New Alliance New Haven Road Race, host of the USA 20 km Championships in New Haven Conn. next Monday, September 5.

Shay, two-time defending USARC Grand Prix Champion, will look to win his second USA title of 2005. His stiffest challenge most likely will come from 2004 20 km runner-up and 2003 USA 10 mile champion Chris Graff. Shay also could see pressure from last year's third-place finisher, Matt Downin.

The women's race will see 2005 USA Outdoor Track & Field 10,000 meter champion Katie McGregor return to New Haven, with her eye on the title. McGregor, who was the 2003 third-place finisher, will see her most serious challenge come from 2002 champion Colleen DeReuck. DeReuck is the 2002-2004 USARC Grand Prix champion and will look to win her second USA title of 2005 after winning the USA 25 km Championship in May.

In addition to $ 30,000 in U.S. prize money, athletes will be competing for selection to the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Edmonton, Canada on October 1.

The USARC is a USA Track & Field road series, featuring USA Championships from 5 km to the marathon and attracts the best U.S. distance runners. The eleventh edition for the men and tenth for the women, the 2005 circuit has nine events for men and seven events for women.

The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USARC race (15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1), with a final $12,500 grand prix purse ($6000, $4000, and $2500) for the top three men and women point scorers overall. The USARC points at the USA Marathon Championships will be doubled. Abdi Abdirahman now leads the men's circuit with 33 points and Jen Rhines leads the women's with 27.

The mission of the USA Running Circuit is to showcase, support, and promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USARC and its races have provided over $4 million dollars to U.S. distance runners.

For more information on the USA 20 km Championships and the 2005 USARC visit USATF.org.

USA 50 km Trail Championships

Dave Mackey of Boulder Colo. won the USA 50 km Trail Championships held in conjunction with the Headlands 50 km this past weekend. The race was held in Golden Gate National Recreation area and the Mt. Tamalpais California State Park located in San Francisco, Calif.

Mackey's time of 3:49:31 broke Scott Creel's course record of 3:49:54, which was set in 2003.

Julie Udchachon of Eagle River, Alaska, won the women's championship in 4:32:38.

For more information visit USATF.org.

Top club teams expected to compete at USATF National Club Co-Ed 10 km Team Challenge

Several USATF Elite Development Club teams are expected to compete at The USATF National Club Co-Ed 10 km Team Challenge, hosted by the Race for the Taste 10K, October 9, 2005 which is being held in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival in Orlando, Fla.

The Hansons-Brooks Distance Project is currently the leading committed team. Others expected to compete are the Indiana Invaders and Club Northwest.

Athletes have the opportunity to compete for a minimum of $14,000 in prize money as a part of the USATF Club Co-Ed 10 km Team Challenge.

In order to enter, co-ed team runners must be a currently registered Club Team with USATF. The USATF Club Co-ed 10 km Team Challenge will consist of USATF registered club teams, for more information on registering your club through your local association, visit www.usatf.org.

Prize money:
A minimum of $14,000 in prize money will be awarded, as follows:
Open
1- $4000
2- $3000
3- $1500
4- $1000
5- $500
40+, 50+, 60+, 70+ 
1- $750 
2- $250 

Each team will consist of a maximum of five (5) athletes, and must be made up of a maximum of three men and a minimum of two women. For scoring purposes, three athletes will score, one of which must be a female. Team finish order will be based on the lowest combined team time.

For entry information visit USATF.org.

Long Distance Running Calendar

Upcoming Association Grand Prix Events

2005 USATF Georgia Association LDR Grand Prix Series
usatfgeorgia.org

2005 USATF Pacific Association Road Race Grand Prix Schedule
/www.pausatf.org

2005 USATF New Jersey Grand Prix Schedule
www.usatfnj.org

2005 USATF Oregon Grand Prix Schedule
www.usatf-oregon.org

Upcoming USARC Events 
September 5, 2005 - USA 20 km Championships, New Haven, CT
September 11, 2005 - USA 5 km Championships, Providence, R.I. 
October 2, 2005 - USA Marathon Championships Minneapolis, MN
October 10, 2005 - USA Women's 10 km Championship Boston, MA 
November 5, 2005 - USA Men's 10 km Championship Mobile, AL 

Upcoming USA Masters Championships 
September 25, 2005 - USA Masters 10 km Championships, Paso Robles, CA 
October 2, 2005 - USA Masters Marathon Championships Minneapolis, MN 

Upcoming Mountain/Ultra/Trail Events 
August 27, 2005 - USA 50 km Trail Championships, San Francisco, CA 
October 15, 2005 - USA 50 Mile Championships, Boalsburg, PA 

Upcoming USATF Association Championships
September 18, 2005 - USATF Inland Northwest Assoc. 5 km Championships, Medical Lake, WA
September 24, 2005 - USATF Southern California Association 10 km Championships, Los Angeles, CA
October 2, 2005 - USATF New England Association 5 Mile Championship Boston, MA
October 8, 2005 - USATF Alaska Association Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships, Anchorage, AK
October 23, 2005 - USATF New Jersey Association 5 km Cross Country Championships Holmdel, NJ
October 30, 2005 - 2005 USATF New England Association Marathon Championship, Falmouth, MA
October 30, 2005 - USATF New Jersey Association 8 km Cross Country Championships, Readington, NJ
November 6, 2005 - USATF North Carolina Association Junior Olympic XC Championships, Pleasant Garden, NC
November 12, 2005 - USATF Inland Northwest Assoc. Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships, Spokane, WA
November 19, 2005 - USATF New England Association Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships, Smithfield, RI
November 20, 2005 - USATF Region 2 Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships, Holmdel, NJ
December 10, 2005 USATF Georgia Association 10 Mile Championship, Dalton, GA

For more information on USATF Long Distance Running events and news visitUSATF.org.