FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Olympian Kim Smith Headlines Field at Rock 'n' Roll Providence
Providence resident Holds U.S. All-Comers Record for Half Marathon;
Inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Providence to debut as New England's Largest Half
Marathon on Sunday, August 7
Providence, RI – August 1, 2011 – She is the fastest woman to ever run 13.1
miles on U.S. soil, and on Sunday, August 7 Providence College grad Kim
Smith will lead the pack at the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Providence Half
Marathon.
A two-time New Zealand Olympian, Smith holds the U.S. all-comers record for
the 13.1-mile distance, with her blazing 1 hour, 7 minute and 36 second
performance at the Rock 'n' Roll Mardi Gras Half Marathon in February. She
owns six New Zealand national records, making her arguably the best female
distance runner in the country's history.
"I'm looking forward to running a Rock 'n' Roll race in my home town. It
will be great to see so many people running on the roads and through some
of the areas I train in everyday," said Smith. "I've done a few RnR races
over the years now and this is a great addition to the New England racing
calendar."
Smith followed up her sizzling performance in New Orleans by winning the
New Bedford Half Marathon in March before toeing the start line at April's
Boston Marathon. She took the lead from the start in Boston, establishing
herself in the front gaining as much as a minute over the lead pack through
the first 15 miles before a leg cramp forced her to withdraw. After racing
in Providence, she will seek redemption this fall at the Rock 'n' Roll
Philadelphia Half Marathon and then the ING New York City Marathon.
"We are delighted have Kim participate in the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll
Providence Half Marathon, I know my father was looking forward to watching
her run," said Tracy Sundlun, Senior Vice-President of event organizer
Competitor Group and son of the late Governor Bruce Sundlun. "Not only is
Kim one of the great runners in the world, but she is a Providence resident
and I can't think of any runner that we would rather have in this race."
During her years at Providence College, Smith dominated the middle
distances, finishing her college career with four NCAA titles. She holds
the record for the most NCAA individual championships by any runner at
Providence College and still trains in the city with Ray Treacy, who also
coaches American 5,000m record holder Molly Huddle.
"I really wouldn't trade my Providence College experience for anything,"
Smith said back in February. "I stayed in Providence to get coached by Ray.
I feel comfortable there now and it is home."
In its first year, the Rock 'n' Roll Providence Half Marathon will debut as
the largest half-marathon in New England, with more than 7,000 entrants
ready to tour the scenic city on foot. The race will start and finish
downtown in front of the State House on Gaspee Street and travel past many
of Providence's major landmarks and major universities. The course then
winds through the historic East Side with beautiful views of the Seekonk
River before returning downtown to the finish line near the State House.
As runners cross the finish line, they'll be welcomed into a finish line
festival to relax and celebrate at the post-race concert featuring Sugar
Ray. Popular local musician Mike Maven will open the show. The post-race
concert is free and open to the public. Race week kicks off with a Health &
Fitness Expo at the Rhode Island Convention Center on Friday and Saturday,
August 5th and 6th. More information is available online at Competitor.com.
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