Posted: October 22, 2005

Athletics: Brian's Run Seeks Athletes

From David Monti

© 2005 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

The 28th edition of Brian's Run, a 10-K road race in West Chester, Penn., scheduled for Sunday, December 4, is seeking elite athletes.

"We have limited hotel rooms available and offer assistance with ground transportation," said Hussein Makke of Elite Sports Management International, an athlete management firm which will be recruiting the field.

The race began in 1978 as a one-time fund raising event to benefit Brian Bratcher, a West Chester Henderson High School football player who, at age 15, suffered a spinal cord injury. Organizers hoped to raise $500 from the race the first year, but raised $20,000 for Bratcher. Beginning the following year, proceeds went towards disabled people from the community who needed help with physical mobility, seeing and communication.

The course records are 28:55 by Peter Githuka of Kenya, set in 1995 and 33:01 by Elaine Van Blunk of the United States set in 1991. This year's winner will receive $700 and prize money will be paid 10-deep. There will also be masters prize money.

For more information, go to www.briansrun.org. Interested elite athletes can contact Elite Sports Management International by phone at 610-436-1164 or by email at esmi@esmintl.com.