FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
World's Best Women Come Together for
Oakley New York Mini 10K on Saturday, June 8
Oakley-sponsored athletes including 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon team member
Desiree Davila and eight-time NCAA champion Neely Spence-Gracey are part of
American contingent
International standouts include two-time Mini champion Linet Masai of
Kenya, three-time Olympian Kim Smith of New Zealand, 2013 NYC Half
runner-up Diane Nukuri-Johnson of Burundi, and 2011 ING New York City
Marathon runner-up Buzunesh Deba of Ethiopia
New York, May 30, 2013-A core group of American women will line up for the
Oakley New York Mini 10K, going head-to-head with some of the world's best
international competitors on Saturday, June 8. The Americans will be led by
2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon team member Desiree Davila and eight-time NCAA
champion Neely Spence-Gracey, while the international field includes 2010
and 2011 Mini champion Linet Masai of Kenya, three-time Olympian Kim Smith
of New Zealand, 2013 NYC Half runner-up Diane Nukuri-Johnson of Burundi,
and 2011 ING New York City Marathon runner-up Buzunesh Deba of Ethiopia, it
was announced today by New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary
Wittenberg.
"We are lucky to have such a fantastic field of powerful and inspiring
women from the U.S. and around the world in the race this year," said
Wittenberg. "The Mini has always represented the strides our female
athletes have made-not only in running, but in every sport-and the
challenges they have overcome to be who they are today. These women share
individual stories of triumph and personal achievement that make them
easily relatable to the 'everyday' runner. It's special to be able to cross
paths in such a unique way."
Davila, 29, of Rochester Hills, MI, became a member of the 2012 U.S.
Olympic marathon team by finishing second in the U.S. Trials with a time of
2:25:55. At the 2011 Boston Marathon, she battled for the lead through the
final miles, finishing only two seconds behind the winner; her time of
2:22:38 is the fastest ever run by an American woman at the Boston
Marathon. In a frustrating sequence of events, Davila was forced to drop
out of the 2012 Olympic Marathon after only about two miles, and she pulled
out of from the 2013 Boston Marathon prior to racing due to injury. This
will be her first competition since the Olympic Marathon.
"I'm excited that over the past few months my focus has shifted from
getting 100% healthy-to getting fit," said Davila. "I'm looking forward to
testing that fitness at the Oakley New York Mini 10K. NYRR is famous for
putting together incredibly strong fields. A race of this caliber is on par
with jumping in the deep end, but I'm looking forward to the challenge, and
hope to walk away with a solid starting point, and some competitive fire
for the 2013 season."
Spence-Gracey, 22, of Lake Orion, MI, was an eight-time NCAA Division II
national champion at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania. She was
coached under the experienced and familiar eye of her father, Steve Spence,
the 1991 World Championships marathon bronze medalist. Spence-Gracey was
the top American at the 2013 IAAF World Cross Country Championships,
placing 13th in 25:08.
Masai, 23, won the 2009 IAAF World Championship at 10,000 meters in Berlin
after finishing fourth in that event in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games; she
took the 10,000-meter bronze medal at the 2011 Worlds in Daegu, South
Korea. Masai won the Mini in both 2010 and 2011, her only previous
appearances at the event. Her 2010 time of 30:48 is the fourth-fastest in
the event's history.
Smith, 31, a native of New Zealand who now resides in Providence, RI, is a
three-time Olympian who is familiar with the streets and sights of New York
City. She recently shattered the 26-year-old event record at the Brooklyn
Half, finishing in 1:11:24. Smith was the runner-up at the NYC Half 2012,
running 1:08:43. She holds 12 New Zealand records at distances from the
mile to the marathon.
Nukuri-Johnson, 28, a native of Burundi who currently resides in Canada,
holds Burundian national records at 5K, 10K, the half-marathon, and the
marathon. She ran the 2012 London Olympic marathon in a personal-best time
of 2:30:13; at the 2013 NYC Half, she ran another personal best (1:09:12)
to take second place, just three seconds behind the winner.
Buzunesh Deba, 25, a native of Ethiopia who resides in the Bronx, NY, was
the 2011 ING New York City Marathon runner-up in a personal-best time of
2:23:19. In 2011, she won the Los Angeles Marathon and the Rock 'n' Roll
San Diego Marathon, at the latter of which she broke the course record.
Other top contenders in the field:
·Stephanie Rothstein Bruce, 29, was the top American in the 2012 New York
Mini 10K (33:04) and the NYC Half 2013 (1:10:53)
·Brianne Nelson, 32, placed 11th at the 2013 USA Cross Country
Championships and fourth at the USA 15K Championships
·Mattie Suver, 25, was the runner-up at the 2013 USA 25K Championships and
was a 2013 World Cross Country Championships qualifier
·Helen Clitheroe, 39, of Great Britain, was the 2011 European Indoor
Championships gold medalist at 3000 meters
For its 41st running, the New York Mini 10K has a new title sponsor,
Oakley, who will also be the official eyewear sponsor and apparel provider
for the event. The new partnership aims to further empower women to live
active and healthy lifestyles through Oakley's "Made for More" marketing
campaign.
This year, about 5,000 women are expected to participate in the race, which
takes place in Central Park. The winner will be awarded a $10,000 prize.
The Oakley New York Mini 10K will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 8,
on Central Park West at West 61st Street. For more race details, please
visit http://www.nyrr.org/races-and-events/2013/oakley-new-york-mini-10k.
About the Oakley New York Mini 10K
Founded by NYRR in 1972, the Mini got its name when race founder Fred Lebow
convinced the first sponsor to support a six-mile "mini" marathon-named for
the miniskirt, which was then in fashion-rather than a full marathon. It
was the world's first road race exclusively for women. A few weeks later,
Title IX became law, guaranteeing young women the right to participate in
school sports and creating new opportunities for generations of female
athletes. The inaugural race featured 78 participants. The event has now
had more than 150,000 total finishers and has been a model for women's road
races around the globe. The event welcomes women of all ability
levels-including the very best in the world.
About NYRR
New York Road Runners was founded in 1958 when a small group of passionate
runners vowed to bring running to the people. Over the past 55 years, NYRR
has grown from a local running club to the world's premier community
running organization. NYRR's mission is to empower everyone, of all ages
and abilities-beginners and competitive athletes, the young and the
elderly, adult professionals and underserved schoolchildren-to improve
their health and well-being through the power of running and fitness.
NYRR's races, community events, instruction and training resources, and
youth programs give hundreds of thousands of people each year the
motivation, know-how, and opportunity to start running and keep running for
life. NYRR's premier event, the famed ING New York City Marathon, attracts
the world's top pro runners and committed amateurs alike while also raising
millions of dollars annually for charity and driving economic impact for
the City. But NYRR is equally committed to the runners of tomorrow,
passionately providing youth fitness programs that educate and inspire more
than 150,000 kids in underserved communities in New York City, all 50
states, and around the world.
Headquartered in New York City, NYRR implements a unique nonprofit model
that teams contributed and earned income to make all its efforts possible.
To learn more, please visit www.nyrr.org.
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