Posted: March 8, 2006

Athletics: ING Takes Title Sponsorship To Bay To Breakers

From David Monti

© 2006 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

One of the largest road races in the United States, the Bay to Breakers 12-K, announced today that they have joined the family of ING-sponsored races. The Dutch financial giant, which already sponsors events like the ING New York City Marathon and ING Amsterdam Marathon, has purchased the naming rights to the San Francisco race which will now be known as the ING Bay to Breakers.

"ING is committed to making it easier for people to achieve excellent financial and physical health," said ING U.S. Financial Services chief marketing officer, Toby Hoden, in a press release. "Our commitment to the sport of running and for San Francisco's great race, the ING Bay to Breakers, reflects our company's core values: challenging limits, long-term commitment and, of course, doing things differently."

The Bay to Breakers, which boasts some 70,000 entrants, is as much a San Francisco cultural institution as it is a foot race. The course weaves its way from the shadow of the city's Bay Bridge past 7.46 miles of streets, hills, parks and live music until it reaches the waves of the Pacific Ocean. Runners are known to wear colorful costumes, join "centipedes" (groups of 13 runners tethered together), or simply run naked. The race has been held 94 times and was founded in 1912.

The race owner and operator is AEG, and Angela Fang is the general manager and race director. She said that the agreement with ING is multi-year and includes a variety of marketing, promotional, hospitality and other elements in addition to the naming rights for the race.

"We at AEG are very excited about the great opportunity ING brings to this race and the San Francisco Bay Area," said Fang. "ING’s commitment to the ING Bay to Breakers will not only enhance the race, but the community as well."

At the front, the race has been traditionally very competitive. The course records are 33:42 by Ismail Kirui of Kenya (1993) and 38:22 by Asmae Leghzaoui of Morocco (2005). The race served four times as the U.S. championships for 12 km (1993 - 1996). The defending champions are Leghzaoui and Gilbert Okari of Kenya.

The 2006 edition of the race will take place on Sunday, May 21. Registration is already open at the new event website, INGBaytoBreakers.com.

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