FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ryan Lamppa
Media Correspondent
USA Track & Field
(805) 696-6232
Ryan.Lamppa@usatf.org
St. Louis celebrates 100 Years of Olympic history with
U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Women's Marathon
Race to be Held April 3 in City's Acclaimed Forest Park as Part of
Spirit of St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend Events
ST. LOUIS - (February 12, 2004) - In the Olympic summer of 1904, 32 runners
gathered on the track at Washington University's Francis Field, site of the
Games' marathon starting line. A century later, St. Louis will again
welcome the nation's greatest distance runners and be a gateway to running
glory.
The 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Women's Marathon, presented by
Anheuser-Busch, will be held April 3 as part of the Spirit of St. Louis
Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend(tm). The race will begin at 7:00 a.m. at
Washington University's Francis Field with runners entering a criterium
course in Forest Park and finishing on Government Drive, below the World's
Fair Pavilion. The route is the same one used for the 2003 Michelob Ultra
USA Women's Marathon Championship. In her debut marathon, Sara Wells of
Edina, Minn., won the national title in 2:35:37, followed by Colleen De
Reuck of Boulder, Colo. finishing at 2:37:41.
Dave McGillivray, best known for his work with the Boston Marathon, is the
U.S. Women's Olympic Marathon Trials Race Director.
As of February 1, 2004, 143 women - led by U.S. marathon record holder and
2000 Olympian Deena Kastor (nee Drossin) - were eligible to compete in the
Olympic Trials by running times of 2:48:00 or better. Fourteen of those
eligible have times below 2:37:00, the new Olympic "A" qualifying time. The
previous "A" time was 2:32:00. The new Olympic "B" standard is 2:42:00.
Prize money for the top 20 Olympic Trials finishers totals $250,000,
including $35,000 for the Trials champion and $10,000 to each woman
participating in the marathon at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
"It's an honor to host the Olympic Trials," said Nancy Lieberman,
president, Spirit of St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend. "Bringing
world-class long-distance athletes to St. Louis twice in two years is
exciting for our local community and something that makes all of us
involved very proud. These women serve as wonderful role models for all of
us striving to achieve our own dreams and goals."
The Spirit of St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend (April 3 & 4) is
designed to encourage people of all ages and athletic abilities to engage
in one of many fitness events during three days of festivities. There's
something for everyone with activities that include the St. Louis
Post-Dispatch Health & Fitness Expo, the Energizer Read, Right & Run
Marathon(tm), the CEO 5K Run//Walk, The Spirit of St. Louis Marathon, the
Blue Cross Half-Marathon and a Marathon Relay. For more information visit
www.stlouismarathon.com.
The 2004 Trials, a Celebrate 2004 event, is being hosted in partnership by
the Spirit of St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend and the St. Louis
Sports Commission. The event is a cornerstone to the region's yearlong
civic celebration highlighting revitalization accomplishments and marking
the centennial of the 1904 Olympics and World's Fair and the bicentennial
of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Contacts:
Nancy Lieberman
President, Spirit of St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend
Phone: (314) 727-0800
E-mail: nlspirit@sbcglobal.net
Diana Minardi Strauss
PR Director, Spirit of St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend
Phone: (314) 378-6641
E-Mail: dmstrauss@earthlink.net
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