CHICAGO, IL (April 6, 2010) î º The Bank of America Chicago Marathon today announced U.S. Olympic marathoner Ryan Hall, 27, will compete in the October 10, 2010 race in an attempt to lower the 2:05:38 American record set by Khalid Khannouchi in 2002. The Mammoth Lakes, Calif., resident and recognized philanthropist will lead a team of 100 runners representing his non-profit organization, The Hall Steps Foundation.

 

"I have been preparing for an attempt to lower the American record since I ran my first marathon in London in 2007, and there is no other U.S. course that could allow me a better opportunity than Chicago," commented Hall from Boston where he is in final preparation for the Boston Marathon on April 19. "It's remarkably flat and fast with a veteran production team that sets a stage for athletes to produce personal and national records, which is my goal. The Bank of America Chicago Marathon also has a long history of generating millions of dollars for charitable causes, so it felt like the ideal place to expand our Hall Steps Foundation running team from the 20 that will run in Boston to 100 in Chicago."

 

In conjunction with his athletic pursuit at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, Hall will lead a team of 100 runners to raise funds for the non-profit organization he founded with his wife, Sara. The Hall Steps Foundation's main mission is to take small steps toward the marathon goal of ending poverty. To that end, it supports international efforts to provide clean water, end human trafficking and fund rescue homes. In the U.S., it seeks to establish a mentor running program for at risk youth.

 

As one of 150 charities forming teams for the October race, The Hall Steps Foundation will contribute to a total $10 million raised on race day. The money raised by Hall Steps runners will directly support the launch of its youth mentor and running program, a mission that falls in line with a recent program launched by the event's title sponsor, Bank of America.

 

Last month, Bank of America announced a new Chicago Youth Fitness Initiative in which the bank is matching a two-dollar donation from each entry fee to its Chicago-based road races to support local youth fitness organizations. Through its involvement with the Bank of America Chicago Marathon (45,000 participants) and Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K (36,000 participants), the bank is generating $324,000 to be split among four local youth fitness organizations: ChicagoRun, Girls on the Run, MGR Foundation, and Special Children's Charities/Special Olympics Chicago. The initiative is the latest in the bank's support of after school programming in Chicago.

 

"Through the Chicago Youth Fitness Initiative, we have been able to combine the tradition of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon with support for local after-school programs in a very impactful way. As a result, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been generated to expand programs that provide a great service to our children," said Bank of America Chicago and Illinois Market President Tim Maloney. "We are thrilled to welcome a world-class athlete like Ryan Hall who shares the mission of giving back, and we look forward to partnering with him to do so around the race."

 

Hall's current personal record is the 2:06:17 mark he set in London in 2008 before qualifying for the 2008 U.S. Olympic marathon team with a commanding 2:09:02 first-place finish in New York. Among the world's greatest runners and amid extremely warm conditions during the Beijing Olympic Games, Hall placed 10^th with a 2:12:33 finish time. This month he will compete at the Boston Marathon in an attempt to become the first U.S. champion in the race since Greg Meyer in 1983. His next 26.2-mile race will be in Chicago.

 

"Ryan is a very smart athlete and has gone about his career the right way starting with an amazing debut in London in 2007," said Bank of America Chicago Marathon Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. "He has positioned himself for a breakout race in Chicago this fall and has all the focus and drive needed to make a run at the American record. What is unique about Ryan is his interest beyond personal success and his tireless charitable efforts. He's an athlete and a humanitarian."

 

Open registration for the 2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon closed on March 23, but a limited number of entries are still available through its charity partners, including The Hall Steps Foundation. For information on how to register through a charity, visit www.chicagomarathon.com.

 

About Bank of America Chicago Marathon

A member of the World Marathon Majors, the 2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will start and finish in Chicago's Grant Park beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 10, welcoming runners from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. According to an academic study, the race generates more than $140 million in economic impact to the city of Chicago and more than $10 million for charities. In advance of the race, a two-day Health & Fitness Expo will be held at McCormick Place on Friday, October 8 and Saturday, October 9. More information on the race, remaining registration options and how to get involved is available at chicagomarathon.com.

 

About The Hall Steps Foundation

The Hall Steps Foundation aims to empower the running community to use the energy and resources that fuel its running achievements for social justice efforts. Currently in its first year of operation, the Steps Foundation funds initiatives that tackle structural causes of poverty such as chronic lack of access to basic entitlements including clean water, shelter and physical security. Specifically, Steps partners with leading international and local nonprofits in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia to fund projects that invest in sustainable methods of enhancing access to basic essentials. To-date, this has included (1) constructing community wells in East Africa to secure water access; (2) funding an orphanage in Kenya to ensure access to shelter and basic education; and (3) sponsoring legal counsel for victims of human trafficking in Southeast Asia to enhance victims' physical autonomy.  Domestically, the Hall Steps Foundation is proud to launch its inaugural youth mentor and running program in Chicago in conjunction with the 2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. This program aims to position athletic activity, goal-setting and training camaraderie at the center of the national movement to improve the health and opportunities of U.S. youth.

MARTIN FAGAN has his sights firmly set on the Spar Great Ireland Run in a fortnight's time.

Injury forced the Mullingar Olympian to withdraw from the LA Marathon two weeks ago but he is intent on winning the big road-race in the Phoenix Park on April 18 which also, for the first time, doubles up as the Irish 10km Championships.

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What an amazing time I had at Boys and Girls Champs in Kingston,Jamaica this weekend. I have heard about it quite a few times but Ato Boldon was the one who recently convinced me it was an event I had to experience and no better time than the 100th anniversary. I REALLY HATE to say it but he was right and I am glad I took timeout to see for myself.

Boys and girls champs is a 4 day event of team scored track and field events highlighting Jamaica’s school track teams.

My plan was to fly under the radar as a true spectator but I needed the hookup up for just one thing, tickets. Little did I know that by asking I was to receive far more. I got red carpet treatment the entire trip. Here are just a few of the perks: Expedited service upon arriving at the airport; a driver assigned to me for the duration of my stay, even the wee hours of the morning when I was “clubbing”; VIP service at Jencare Day Spa where I got a massage and facial; Complimentary VIP treatment at Quad and Fiction Nightclubs. This was all amazing but not more incredible than the love from the fans who had no idea I would be there. I did not encounter a rude or unsportsmanlike like person at all during my trip. I was recognized by most and warmly received by all I came in contact with. It couldn't be any more evident that these fans love the sport and the event really captures its true spirit. If we could create the excitement this country has for track and field world wide it would be amazing. They have it figured out as far as making it something people can become interested in. The reason is they measure the team performance not just the individuals so people have something to identify with. In a packed stadium that seats over 15 thousand, people were feverishly counting points contributed by an individual to the team standings. I can understand them finding it hard to concentrate because the noise and energy were unreal,and the performances were just as great. There is definitely something to be said for running thru the line as many races came down to the lean at the finish.

To sum it up, if you are a track fan this is an event that you definitely want to take part in no matter what part of the world you live in.

BYDGOSZCZ, Poland-Led by 2008 Olympic 10,000-meter bronze medalist Shalane Flanagan (Portland, Ore.), the Team USA senior women's squad won the bronze medal in the eight-kilometer team competition at the 38th IAAF World Cross Country Championships Sunday at at Myslecinek Park in Bydgoszcz, Poland. It was the first team medal in the senior women's event since 2003.

After the first lap of the two-kilometer loop course, Flanagan was positioned in 16th-place and with the next two laps she moved in to 10th-place. As the athletes faced the log-jump on the last lap, Flanagan faltered slightly slipping to 11th. Sprinting into the final 100 meters, Shitaye Eshete of Bahrain caught Flanagan and just out-leaned her at the line. Both were timed in 25 minutes, 20 seconds.Emily Chebet of Kenya took the overall individual title in 24:19 to lead Kenya to the team title over Ethiopia.

Behind Flanagan, Molly Huddle from Providence, Rhode Island (25:59) and 2008 Olympic marathon team member Magdalena Lewy-Boulet of Oakland, California (26:01) worked together and finished 19^th and 20^th, respectively.

Amy Hastings (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.), a three time world cross country participant for Team USA, rounded out the American scorers with her 25^th place finish in 26:20, exactly one minute behind team leader Flanagan.

Five time world cross country championships team member Renee Metivier Baillie (Boulder, Colo.) and two time Team USA member Emily Brown (Minneapolis, Minn.) rounded out the Americans' six member squad by finishing 38^th and 41^st respectively in 26:48 and 26:53.

In the senior men's 12-kilometer race, Patrick Smyth (Minneapolis, Minn.) led Team USA across the tape with his 36^th place finish in 34:51. Ryan Vail (Stillwater, Okla.) was 45^th in 35:04, while Bobby Curtis (Ardmore, Pa.) finished 48^th in 35:08, and Scott Bauhs (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.) was 53^rd in 35:14.

Bobby Mack (Raleigh, N.C.) finished 67^th in 35:36, and Ben Bruce (Eugene, Ore.) placed 80^th in 35:56.

Kenya's Joseph Ebuya won the world title in 33:00, with Teklemariam Medhin of Eritrea second at 33:06, and Moses Kipsiro of Uganda third at 33:10.

The Kenyans continued their dominance of this event, winning with a team score of 20. Eritrea was second with 46, and Ethiopia was third with 69 points. Team USA finished ninth with 182 points.

High school senior Emily Sisson (Chesterfield, Mo.) led the American charge in the junior women's 6-kilometer race, finishing 18^th in 20:08. National junior champion Shelby Greany (Suffern, N.Y.) was 29^th in 20:35, while Duke University freshman Juliet Botorff (Newark, Del.) placed 35^th in 21:00, and Georgetown University freshman Emily Jones (Harvard, Mass.) rounded out Team USA's scorers in 41^st at 21:12.

Sophia Ziemian (Lewisburg, Pa.) was 45^th in 21:21, and Laura Tremblay (Loveland, Colo.) was 51^st in 21:31.

Kenya's Mercy Cherono led her country to a 1-2-3-4 sweep of the women's junior race, winning in 18:47. Purity Cherotich Rionoripo was second in 18:54, and Esther Chemtai was third in 18:55.

Kenya won the team title with a perfect 10 points, with Ethiopia second at 30 points and Uganda third with 81 points. Team USA finished sixth with 123 points.

University of Portland freshman Trevor Dunbar (Kodiak, Alaska) was the first one across the line for Team USA in the junior men's 8-kilometer race, with his 29^th place finish in 23:36. Andrew Colley (Williamsburg, Va.), a freshman at North Carolina State University, was 42^nd at 24:10, while high school senior Walter Schafer (Centennial, Colo.) finished 44^th in 24:17. Washington State University freshman Andrew Kimpel (Spokane, Wash.) rounded out Team USA's four scorers in 54^th at 24:37.

High school junior Ammar Moussa (Arcadia, Calif.) was 66^th in 25:00, and Oklahoma State University frosh Michael Lynch (Stillwater, Okla.) was 84^th at 25:23.

As in the women's junior race, it was a Kenyan sweep of the individual podium, led by winner Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku at 22:07, followed by teammates Clement Kiprono Langat two seconds behind, and Japhet Kipyegon Korir third at 22:12.

Kenya (10), Ethiopia (32), and Uganda (56) took the podium places, as Team USA was eighth at 169 points.

Athlete quotes:

Shalane Flanagan-I knew going into this that this would be the toughest race of the year. I was mentally prepared. I'm bummed individually, because I let two people pass me after the last log jump. It's a team sport, and I'm proud of how we ran. I think that all of us wanted this for Magda, and we all knew what a place on the podium would mean to her.

Emily Brown-Today went a lot better than the NACAC meet a few weeks ago. You always want to be a scoring member of the US team, but you look at the starting line at your teammates, and you realize that not only are you on the line with the best in the country, but some of the best in the world.

We knew who we were going against in the team race, and we knew that the people who weren't going to score needed to stay as high up as possible.

Amy Hastings-It was one of the toughest courses I've ever run on. We've talked about this all week, and even at USAs, we talked about how we would be contending for a medal. I knew Shalane and Molly and Magda were up there, and I tried to catch every single person. I had to do it for the team!

Magdalena Lewy Boulet-It's an incredible feeling to get on the podium! I knew that if I were to get a medal, that it would happen here with an incredible team. I'm so honored to be on the same team as some of the other girls. I knew we had it in us, so we went out hard.

I felt really good. We went out really hard the first 400, and things got a little physical the first part of the race. It was really good to work with Molly. We kept encouraging each other, and running people down.

The goal of making the podium-Check! Achieved!

Renee Metivier Baillie-It was rough for me, but I knew the team was out there, so that it kept me going, and luckily I got to outkick the last Moroccan, even though we got on the podium by a lot in the end. It was helpful to have the other girls on the team in front of me.

We've gotten fourth several times since I've come here, so it really means a lot to come home with some hardware.

Molly Huddle-Walking away with a medal was the goal coming over here. We got the medal and we talked about it.

The race was hard. There were times where I felt I wasn't moving, and felt like I was standing still. My coach thought that I could get top 20, so I think that it was a successful day.

Emily Sisson-It was a tough race, but I'm really happy with it. We all ran well.

I learned how to run with the group. I've never run with a group of talented runners in a big international race.

Shelby Greany-The race wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Getting out was hard, and I didn't run as well as I thought I would.

I learned how to handle myself in a big international race, and saw how the seniors handled their business, and how other countries handle themselves. It makes you want to train harder and get better.

Trevor Dunbar-I felt really good at the beginning. There were a lot of good people in front of me and that was motivation for me to catch them.

There are a lot of good people here and if you want to be with them, you've got to train hard, and get used to the hard pace.

Andrew Colley-I went out a bit unconservative in order to help get my teammates out and get us some elbow room. Hopefully we were able to do good as a team.

Walter Schafer-It went pretty much as planned. I think I was passing people every lap, and I'm pretty happy with my race.

This race will help me when I get into college next year. This is more of a race that I'm gonna have to get used to. This will make me less nervous when I race against others in the USA.

Ammar Moussa-I came out here with the intent of getting a good race in today. I made sure that I had plenty going into the 5k mark, and at that point I started rolling. I think I must have caught about 20-25 people.

I think what I get out of this race going forward, is that I'll be able to keep my cool and my composure knowing that I've run against the best guys in the world.

Michael Lynch-It was a faster course than what we all thought it would be. I wished I had placed a little higher. I went out easy, and thought I'd have more in the tank that what I actually had. I did what I could but I wished I could have done more.

Andrew Kimpel-It went ok. I think I went out a little conservative at the beginning. I got quite a few people at the end. I was the fourth man, and that gave me a little bit of confidence.

There are a lot of good people out here.

Patrick Smyth-I'm happy with my race, but not ecstatic. For my first world cross country championships, I more than held my own. I hope to be back here next year.

I knew the start was going to be crazy, but not be real conservative, so I wanted to get a good spot. I didn't really move up a lot.

This race will give me confidence going into the season.

Bobby Curtis-I got a little cramp in the middle of the race, lost a few spots, and struggled. It was tough out there.

I think everyone on the team thought they were capable of a top 40 finish, and Patrick was the only one who did that.

Ben Bruce-I was doing what I wanted to do for 2 1/2 laps, and then got hit with a stomach cramp that affected me for the next lap and a half. I just tried to relax and hold my position, and pick a guy or two off. It was a disappointing day, and it's disappointing to run bad in a race this big.

NEW BEDFORD — Winning the women's race at Sunday's New Bedford Half Marathon was a nice accomplishment for Kim Smith and that says a lot, because the New Zealander has taken part in big events all over the world.

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Well I am finally heading to Poland to run the race that has been the focus of my last few months of training! I’m hoping I get to Bydgoszcz on schedule-but I’m prepared not to be.  I’m also hoping it’s not going to be as muddy a test of wills as others have been cautioning, but I’m expecting that too.  I’m hoping I’ll be able to get some sleep in the next few days but I’m accepting that I’ll likely miss a few hours.

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Johnson only got into the final as one of the "fastest losers" and when she bolted to the lead and took the field through 28.01 and 58.18, the announcers actually wondered if it was a case of nerves and a deer being caught in the headlights. Clearly not, as when the race was over, Johnson was back under 2:00 minutes once again and had her first World Championships medal.

New Yorker Anthony Famiglietti is a two-time Olympian, but to define him so narrowly hardly does justice to the breadth of his accomplishments. And if there was a competition to find the world’s most iconoclastic athlete, Famiglietti, who makes his half-marathon debut at the NYC Half on Sunday, March 21, would surely make the final.
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TOBAGO - DelilahDiCrescenzo (New York, N.Y.) and Max King (Bend, Ore.) each won the individual open women's and men's titles to lead Team USA to the respective open team titles Saturday at the sixth annual North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Cross Country Championships at the Mt. Irvine Resort in Tobago.
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