FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Steven Karpas
January 14, 2004 713-957-3453
skarpas@hphoustonmarathon.com
Record-setting weekend on tap for HP Houston Marathon
13,000 participants and stellar elite field to compete in
marathon, half marathon, 5K
HOUSTON, Jan. 14, 2004 – A record-setting field of 13,000 runners has
registered to participate in the three races slated for January 18 as part
of the HP Houston Marathon weekend.
The flagship event – the 32nd annual HP Houston Marathon – expects a field
of 6,500, including 2003 defending champion Sean Wade of Houston. Other
elite males recently added to the field include Australian Kim Gillard,
Marek Jaroszewski from Poland and Dzmitry Sivou of Russia. Top females who
have committed to the race include Nicole Stevenson of Canada and Russia’s
Alena Vinitiskaya.
More than 5,000 runners registered for the third-annual Halliburton
International Half Marathon, including a strong contingent of American men,
led by U.S. half-marathon champion Dan Browne. Brad Hauser, former
Stanford and Houston area high school standout, Eddie Hellebuyck, a top
U.S. masters’ runner, Scott Strand, defending Houston half-marathon
champion, and David Morris, former U.S. marathon record holder, also will
compete. Other elite athletes joining the field include Todd Reeser, Teddy
Mitchell, Mike Franko, Ben Rosario, Carl Rundell, Bob Busquaert and Trent
Briney. Among the women, Americans Sylvia Mosqueda and Kelly Keane
recently committed and are expected to challenge Colleen De Reuck and Deeja
Youngquist for the overall half-marathon title.
A field of 1,500 is anticipated for the weekend’s third race, the Houston
Press/METRO 5K.
“The response from the running community to this year’s event has been
outstanding,” said Brant Kotch, second-year race director. “The word is
spreading that the HP Houston Marathon experience means a fast course,
supportive volunteers and fans, and unique technology to track performances
in all three races. We’re clearly on the verge of having our most
successful year ever.”
HP Houston Marathon weekend festivities begin on Friday, Jan. 16 with the
Koala Health & Fitness Expo, the nation’s third-largest fitness exposition.
On Saturday, more than 6,000 Houston-area elementary and middle-school
students will participate in the annual Texas Children’s Hospital Kids Fun
Run, making the participation nearly 19,000, an event record.
Long-range forecasts call for a morning low near 40 degrees, warming to the
high 50s by mid-day.
The HP Houston Marathon, a Running USA founding member, is the nation’s
premier winter marathon, annually attracting participants from all 50 U.S.
states and several foreign countries. In 2003, nearly 18,000 runners took
part in four marathon weekend events (marathon, half-marathon, four-mile
run and children’s run). The HP Houston Marathon offers the only closed
marathon course in Texas and is ranked among the top five in the nation by
the Ultimate Guide to Marathons for fastest course, organization and crowd
support. More than 5,000 volunteers organize the race, which is Houston’s
largest single-day sporting event.
For more information, visit www.hphoustonmarathon.com or call 713-957-3453.
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