Posted: October 6, 2005

Athletics: Running USA and the Town of Mammoth Lakes Welcome the New Members of Team Running USA

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - (October 5, 2005) - Team Running USA, the training group based in Mammoth Lakes and San Diego, Calif., has brought together a talented group of young distance runners to compliment its established stars: 2004 Olympic Marathon medalists Meb Keflezighi (silver) and Deena Kastor (bronze), two-time Olympian Jen Rhines and five-time national champion Ryan Shay.

"I have just returned from a few days in Mammoth with the Team Running USA group and watching them train - especially climbing 1,600 feet on the 8 mile trail run from the town to the Minaret lookout point at 9,200 feet above sea level, I am left with an impression of matchless dedication, toughness and superb talent. They all have their best years ahead, and their potential is clearly limitless," said Basil Honikman, executive director of Running USA.

The following athletes are now up in Mammoth Lakes training hard and dreaming big together.

WOMEN
* Sara Bei, 22, Santa Rosa, CA - three-time NCAA runner-up (track) and 7-time All-American at Stanford; sponsored by ASICS; married to Ryan Hall in late September
* Missy Buttry, 22, Shenandoah, IA - 12-time NCAA Division III national champion including three cross country titles at Wartburg College; sponsored by Reebok
* Alicia Craig, 23, Gillette, WY - two-time NCAA 10,000m champion (2003-04) and NCAA 10,000 meter record holder (32:19.97) at Stanford
* Lauren Fleshman, 24, Santa Clarita, CA - 2005 USA 5000m runner-up and 11th World Cross Country 4K Championships, leading Team USA to team bronze medal; 2003/05 World Championships 5000m team; three-time NCAA 5000m champion (2001-03) and 14-time All-American at Stanford; sponsored by Nike
* Kate O'Neill, 25, Milton, MA - 2004 Olympian at 10,000 meters; 2003 NCAA 10,000m runner-up at Yale; sponsored by Nike; twin, Laura
* Laura O'Neill, 25, Milton, MA - 6th 2005 USA 10,000m Championship; 6-time All-American at Yale; sponsored by Nike; twin, Kate

MEN
* Ian Dobson, 23, Klamath Falls, OR - 2005 USA and NCAA 5000m runner-up, World Championships 5000m team and NCAA 5000m indoor champion; 10-time All-American at Stanford; 2001 USA Junior 5000m champion; sponsored by adidas
* Ryan Hall, 22, Big Bear Lake, CA - 2005 NCAA 5000m champion and World Championships 5000m team; 2003 NCAA Cross Country runner-up and 6-time All-American at Stanford; sponsored by ASICS; married to Sara Bei in late September MBR>* Gabe Jennings, 26, Mendocino, CA - 2000 Olympian at 1500 meters, USA and NCAA 1500m champion and NCAA indoor mile champion; three-time All-American at Stanford

About Team Running USA
Team Running USA, formerly Team USA California, is a national athlete development program created by Running USA, a national industry trade organization. The mission of Team Running USA is to support, promote and assist the development of U.S. distance runners.

Since 2001, Team Running USA athletes have won two Olympic medals and 12 World Cross Country Championship medals, set one world road record, 11 national records and numerous personal records, earned 44 national titles and three USARC Grand Prix titles and added to world and U.S. all-time lists. In short, they are the most accomplished training group in the United States.

Supported by the Town of Mammoth Lakes, the New York Road Runners, Chevron Houston Marathon and Atlanta Track Club, the program's athletes utilize the resources at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista/San Diego for sea level training and Mammoth Lakes for high/low altitude training throughout the year. Renowned and Olympic coaches Joe Vigil and Bob Larsen and new coach Terrence Mahon coordinate this elite group.

For more information on Team Running USA, contact: Ryan Lamppa, (805) 696-6232 or ryan@runningusa.org or visit: RunningUSA.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.