Posted: August 20, 2007

Athletics (RWire): Ryan Hall to Defend USA 20K Title at the Stratton Faxon New Haven Road Race

Record field of over 5,000 expected at 30th edition and Labor Day tradition NEW HAVEN, Conn. - (August 15, 2007) - As host of the USA Men's and Women's 20K Championship, the 30th Stratton Faxon New Haven Road Race - slated for Monday, September 3 - will feature past national champions. Last year's winner and U.S. half-marathon and 20K record holder, Ryan Hall, heads a strong men's field. Recent USA 20K champions Ryan Shay (2004) and 2004 Olympian Dan Browne (2001-02) and 2006 NCAA Cross Country champion Josh Rohatinsky (who is making his professional race debut in New Haven) will challenge Team Running USA's Hall. Two of the country's top 10K runners lead the women's field. Colorado's Elva Dryer was national runner-up in last year's race and represented the USA at the 2004 Olympics in the 10,000 meters. Kate O'Neill, fellow 2004 Olympic 10,000 meter team member, is a Yale graduate and the Team Running USA athlete was the top American woman (third) at last weekend's Falmouth Road Race. "We have the deepest men's field that I can remember, and with good weather, Hall could challenge Khalid Khannouchi's longstanding course record, 57:37 from 1998," stated Elite Athlete Coordinator John Tolbert. The 30th edition and Labor Day tradition is likely to draw an event record field of over 5,000 entrants. Runners can compete in the 20K, 5K or 1/2 mile Kids Fun Run. With race entries up 50% from last year, the race has a chance to break the 5,000 mark for the first time ever. The largest number of entrants to-date has been 4,820 (2002 for the event's 25th silver edition). This will be the 15th consecutive year a National Championship has been held in New Haven. The first 5,000 20K and 5K entrants will receive Stratton Faxon New Haven Road Race 30th edition performance t-shirts. All Kids Fun Run entrants will receive a race day gift. There will be many bands along the courses and one band on the New Haven green. John Courtmanche, Road Race President, said, "We've been fortunate to continually grow and improve throughout our history and are very pleased with the large turnout so far. The race's continued success reflects the significant and meaningful support that we receive from the City of New Haven administration and their employees, as well as from the running community itself." The race has been selected "Race of the Year" by New England Runner and has been historically selected as favorite overall race in Hi-Tek Racing's online survey. For more race information, visit NewHavenRoadRace.org or call (203) 481-5933. Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director (805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016 Ryan@RunningUSA.org www.RunningUSA.org. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest