FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ryan Lamppa
Media Correspondent
USA Track & Field
(805) 696-6232
Ryan.Lamppa@usatf.org
Women's Team USA Set for Bolder Boulder Int’l Team Challenge
BOULDER, Colo. - (May 18, 2004) - The 2004 Bolder Boulder Women's Team USA
has been assembled for the 7th International Team Challenge as part of the
26th Bolder Boulder on Memorial Day, May 31. These three women are ready to
debut for Team USA at the competition:
* Katie Blackett, 27, of Boulder, CO - Blackett finished 27th at the recent
U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials with a time of 2:42:24 and is coached by
Darren De Reuck. The Villanova graduate won the 2003 St. George Marathon.
* Nicole Hunt, 34, of Deer Lodge, MT - Hunt finished 19th at the same
Trials with a time of 2:40:39 (a personal record) and is coached by her
husband. The Montana State graduate with a degree in Nursing (1995) has a
10K PR of 32:49. (2003). Hunt recently placed 10th (3rd American) at the
Lilac Bloomsday 12K with a time of 41:43. She was the 4th at the 2004 USA
15K Championships (Gate River) with a time of 51:15.
* Nikole Johns, 29, of Fort Collins, CO - Johns finished 29th at the same
Trials with a time of 2:43:57, a PR and is coached by 1992 Olympic Marathon
bronze medalist Lorraine Moller. Johns, an Adams State grad, currently
works as an Occupational Therapist at CSU.
At the International Team Challenge, the three debutantes will likely face
some stiff competition from Team Ethiopia, Team Mexico, Team Romania and
Team Kenya. Bolder Boulder officials anticipate strong performances again
as the best road runners in the world compete over a criterium course at
the International Team Challenge.
Professional Athlete Coordinator Rich Castro spoke about this year's
women's Team USA, "These three women all competed at the recent U.S.
Olympic Marathon Trials and we hope that Bolder Boulder will be a stepping
stone to higher performance levels for them, just as it has been for other
international athletes."
CBS TV commentator and 1981/83 Bolder Boulder champion Ellen Hart is also
looking forward to seeing these women race, "This is an Olympic year, so
obviously everyone is at different places in assembling their Olympic
teams. We were very lucky the past two years to have the very top U.S.
marathoners in our race. We understand that they have to concentrate on the
Olympics this year. We are delighted to have Katie, Nicole and Nikole run
for us this year. Bolder Boulder is a strength course and these girls are
all strong runners. Marathoners typically do very well at Bolder Boulder.
These three peaked for the Trials on April 3 so they will be recovered,
strong and ready to run on Memorial Day."
Bolder Boulder offers Olympic Development funds for American runners who
place as individuals and as a team. These development funds have assisted
in achieving Olympic dreams as five of the six 2004 U.S. Olympic marathon
team members - Alan Culpepper, Dan Browne, Deena Kastor, Colleen De Reuck
and Jen Rhines - have participated in past International Team Challenges.
Three-time ITC champion Deena Kastor has decided to focus instead on her
Olympic training and not to run at Bolder this year. Colleen De Reuck - who
along with Kastor helped Team USA win the women's title the past two years
- will be jog/walking in the citizen's race this year with her 9-year-old
daughter, Tasmin, and her husband Darren. Colleen has run in every Bolder
Boulder since moving to Boulder in 1993. Both Kastor and De Reuck are
headed to Athens, Greece in August to represent the United States in the
Olympic Marathon.
The International Team Challenge, started in 1998, is the largest
international road racing team competition held annually in the United
States. International teams are made up of three runners per gender. The
teams compete for the largest non-marathon prize purse in the world. Monies
are awarded in the team and individual categories. Teams are scored
cross-country style with points awarded on the basis of finishing place.
The team with the lowest score for all three runners is the winner. Ties
are broken by the position of the third-place finishers.
About Bolder Boulder The Celestial Seasonings Bolder Boulder 10K, a Running
USA Founding Member, is one of the largest road races in the world. The
race attracts up to 50,000 runners, walkers, and wheelchair racers, and
draws professional racing teams from all over the world to compete for the
largest non-marathon prize purse in road racing. The race starts at the
north end of 30th Street in Boulder near the First National Bank of
Colorado, winds through neighborhoods with live music and entertainment at
every corner, and finishes in the University of Colorado's Folsom Field.
More than 100,000 spectators watch the festivities from inside the stadium
and along the course. Every year, the race makes donations to local
charities that provide volunteers to help stage the race. Over the years,
beneficiaries have included the Boulder Humane Society, Attention Homes,
Younglife, Boulder Optimists, local schools, and church youth groups. The
Bolder Boulder is proud to be partnered with the following primary
sponsors: Celestial Seasonings, Eldorado Natural Springs Water, Frontier
Airlines, Millennium Hotel, New Balance, Seagate Technology and CarFind
USA.
The 26th Bolder Boulder will be held on Memorial Day, May 31, 2004. For
more race information, go to: www.bolderboulder.com
CONTACTS Cliff Bosley, Race Director, (303) 444-7223, x14
cbosley@bolderboulder.com
Rich Castro, Pro Athlete Coordinator, (303) 492-8776
Richard.Castro@colorado.edu
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