FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ryan Hall to Lead Elite Field at ING Philadelphia Distance Run
Half Marathon Record Holder to Debut at Historic U.S. Road Race
Philadelphia, PA – August 12, 2009 – The only American to break one hour in
the half marathon, U.S. Olympian Ryan Hall will toe the start line at the
32nd Annual ING Philadelphia Distance Run on Sunday, September 20, 2009.
"I'm looking forward to racing my first ING Philadelphia Distance Run this
September. There have been some great U.S. performances at the race over
the years and I'm hoping to bring a performance that will add my name to
the ranks," said Hall. "The race fits perfectly into my fall schedule and
I'm excited to be part of an event with such a great tradition here on home
soil."
Hall set the U.S. half marathon record and earned a national title on
January 14, 2007, when he won the men's U.S. Half Marathon National
Championship in 59 minutes 43 seconds. He became the first and only
American to break the one-hour barrier at the distance. His time bettered
the previous U.S. record by Mark Curp that had stood for 21 years. Four of
the top five all-time half marathon performances by U.S. Men, including
Curp's record setting performance in 1985, were run in Philadelphia.
In 2005, American Deena Kastor made history in Philadelphia when she
shattered Joan Benoit's long-standing American record by 41 seconds in a
time of 1 hour, 7 minutes and 53 seconds. Four of the top five fastest U.S.
women's half marathon times have taken place at the annual Philadelphia
event.
"As the site of five World and five American records, the course in
Philadelphia is fast and flat," said Matt Turnbull, Elite Athlete
Coordinator for the event. "We have seen some great performances here in
the past and the race is held at a great time of year. Having Ryan in the
field is a great addition to this year's race and we're excited to see how
he runs."
Hall, 26, won the 2008 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in New York and went on
to finish 10th in the Beijing Olympics. Most recently, he finished third
in the 2009 Boston Marathon (2:09:40), becoming the first American to reach
the men's podium since 1985.
The ING Philadelphia Distance Run has been one of the most popular and
respected half marathons in the country for over thirty years. The 13.1
mile scenic course showcases many of the city's celebrated and historic
sites. The race will begin at 7:45 am at Eakins Oval, on the Ben Franklin
Parkway in front of the Philadelphia Art Museum. From the start line,
runners head towards Center City on the legendary Benjamin Franklin Parkway
lined with fountains, international flags and a vast array of public art.
Runners will then pass City Hall and Independence Hall. After heading back
up Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the course rolls into the serene and
picturesque Fairmount Park along the Schuylkill River before finishing back
at Eakins Oval.
Race weekend begins Thursday, September 17, when hundreds of future
marathoners are set to kickoff the ING Run for Something Better training
program at Franklin Field. ING Run For Something Better helps kids learn
that physical activity is fun, while fostering their desire to exercise
before obesity even begins. The kickoff event begins at 11:00 am.
"The ING Philadelphia Distance Run has continued to grow as one of the
city's most prestigious events," said Anton Villatoro, General Manager of
the. "This year, we're excited to expand on our partnership with ING Run
For Something Better and get more kids involved with the free school-based
running program."
For more information, visit http://philadelphia.competitor.com.
About The ING Philadelphia Distance Run
Entering its 32nd year as Philadelphia's premiere running event, the ING
Philadelphia Distance Run expects to welcome more than 15,000 runners and
walkers to Eakins Oval in 2009. The event's free two-day Health & Fitness
Expo begins Friday, September 18, at Philadelphia Convention Center. The
expo, which is open to the public, is where all participants pick up their
bib number, t-shirt and race packet. The event features interactive
displays and exhibits with samples, the latest in running apparel and a
full schedule of clinics held in the ING lounge, where expo attendees will
have the opportunity to talk informally with running celebrities and
fitness experts. To register for the race or for more information about the
ING Philadelphia Distance Run, visit http://philadelphia.competitor.com or
call 800-311-1255.
About ING
ING is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking,
investments, life insurance and retirement services to over 85 million
residential, corporate and institutional clients in more than 40 countries.
With a diverse workforce of about 115,000 people, ING is dedicated to
setting the standard in helping our clients manage their financial future.
In the U.S., the ING (NYSE: ING) family of companies offers a comprehensive
array of financial services to retail and institutional clients, which
includes life insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, managed accounts,
alternative investments, direct banking, institutional investment
management, annuities, employee benefits, financial planning, and
reinsurance. ING holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves
nearly 30 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit
www.ing.com/us.
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