FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Deena Kastor Partners With MetroPCS Dallas Marathon as Elite Ambassador
Kastor to Pace Half Marathon as She Teams With
Dallas Marathon and Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation
DALLAS (Dec. 4, 2014) - American record holder and Olympic medalist Deena
Kastor will make one lucky participant's run at the 2014 MetroPCS Dallas
Half Marathon that much more memorable on Dec. 14. Kastor, who recently
signed a multiyear partnership agreement with the MetroPCS Dallas Marathon
to serve as an elite ambassador, will pace 18-year-old high school senior
and just keep livin Foundation participant Nick Figuroa in his second
half-marathon attempt. Figuroa aims to run a 1:32, with Kastor leading him
for the full 13.1 miles. Joining the pace group with Kastor and Figuroa
will be local celebrity Mark "Hawkeye" Rybczyk of KSCS's morning show.
In 2011, the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation teamed up with Matthew
McConaughey's just keep livin Foundation to create an after-school program
promoting exercise, nutrition and wellness for students in Dallas,
Arlington and Fort Worth. Running is a common exercise choice for many
participants, as they complete 5K runs and half marathons in the local
community. The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation is a community partner of
the MetroPCS Dallas Marathon.
"We're excited to have one of our participants run the MetroPCS Dallas Half
Marathon alongside such an inspirational figure as Deena Kastor," said just
keep livin Foundation executive director Shannon Mabrey Rotenberg. "This
once-in-a-lifetime experience reinforces all of our organization's goals."
Figuroa attends Pinkston High School and is enrolled in dual-credit courses
at El Centro College in Dallas. Currently ranked among the top 10 percent
of his high school class, he will be the first in his family to graduate
from high school. In addition to just keep livin Foundation, the
goal-driven Figuroa is active in student council, JROTC and cross country.
Kastor is the overall U.S. record holder in the marathon and half marathon,
posting times of 2:19:36 and 1:07:34, respectively, in 2006. In 2014, she
continued her decorated competitive career, breaking U.S. Masters records
in both the 10-mile and 20K distances. The 25-time U.S. champion earned a
bronze medal in the marathon at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens with a
time of 2:27:20. Today, she trains with and serves as president of the
board of directors for Mammoth Track Club, which counts many of the
nation's top distance runners among its members.
In addition to pacing Figuroa in his half-marathon run, Kastor will hand
out finisher medals in her role as a MetroPCS Dallas Marathon elite
ambassador. She will also appear in future promotional campaigns for the
event.
"Dallas is a great city to run in, and I'm excited to see the new MetroPCS
Dallas Half Marathon course," said Kastor. "I've always been impressed with
the passion and commitment to health and fitness evident in the Dallas
running community and look forward to an entertaining and memorable day
supporting the race on Dec. 14."
"We're very excited to partner with Deena Kastor, one of the true great
heroes of American distance running, in a truly unique way this December,"
said Patrick Byerly, president of the Dallas Marathon. "Deena is a
phenomenal competitor with a passion for the sport of running, and having
her pacing Nick for the entire half-marathon course will add a new level of
excitement and entertainment for all our participants and spectators."
The MetroPCS Dallas Marathon, Half Marathon and Behringer Relay is Sunday,
Dec. 14. All evens are sold out. To learn more about MetroPCS Dallas
Marathon race weekend, visit dallasmarathon.com.
About the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation
Dedicated to improving the lives of children in need within our community,
the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation provides funding for youth in crisis,
youth health initiatives, youth baseball programs and youth education.
Celebrating its 23rd year, the foundation has given back more than $13
million to help children in need.
About the Dallas Marathon
The Dallas Marathon is a nonprofit organization with a focus on promoting
health and physical fitness through running events and related activities.
Dating back to 1971, the organization hosts year-round events culminating
with Dallas's largest and Texas's oldest running marathon: the MetroPCS
Dallas Marathon. Now in its 44th running, the marquee property attracts
runners from across the globe and hundreds of thousands of spectators to
Dallas's largest single-day sporting event. The MetroPCS Dallas Marathon
race course highlights iconic Dallas landmarks and is recognized as the
official marathon of the city of Dallas. Since naming a primary beneficiary
in 1997, the Dallas Marathon has donated more than $3.5 million to Texas
Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. For more information, visit
dallasmarathon.com.
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