Team Running USA Athletes Excel in 2006 – Kastor first U.S. woman under 2:20 in the marathon

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – (December 14, 2006) – Led by Deena Kastor\’s landmark sub-2:20 marathon victory at London, Team Running USA athletes produced another banner year of achievement including setting 8 national records and winning 5 national titles.

\“In 2006, our mix of veterans – Olympic medalists Deena Kastor and Meb Keflezighi and rising young stars – Ryan and Sara Hall, Ian Dobson and Lauren Fleshman with coaches Terrence Mahon, Bob Larsen and Joe Vigil continued the success of the training group. Their collective dedication, drive to be the best in the world and the special chemistry of the group have improved the status of U.S. distance running, and we look forward to more success in 2007 and beyond as the 2008 Beijing Olympics near,\“ said Basil Honikman, Executive Director of Running USA.

Team Running USA athletes also garnered plenty of media interest and coverage including features, profiles and cover shots in major publications such as the New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times and Runner\’s World.

Below is the major 2006 performance summary for the Team Running USA development program.

8 NATIONAL RECORDS
On April 2, at the Vattenfall Berlin Half-Marathon, Deena Kastor ran 1:07:34 to break her U.S. record by 19 seconds and en route the 2004 Olympic Marathon bronze medalist established U.S. road records at 12K (38:24), 10 mile (51:31) and 20K (1:04:07).

On April 23, Kastor impressively won the Flora London Marathon in a sterling 2:19:36, which broke her 2003 U.S. record (2:21:16, also at London) and made the Arkansas grad the 4th fastest woman all-time and the 8th woman to break 2:20 (and first American woman). En route Deena also set U.S. records at 25K (1:22:36) and 30K (1:39:08).

On October 8, with his even-paced 57:54, Ryan Hall shattered the U.S. 20K record at the IAAF World Road Running Championships in Debrecen, Hungary. Overall, against a world class field, he finished 11th.

4 USA CHAMPIONS, 5 NATIONAL TITLES
Lauren Fleshman, 5000 meters
Ryan Hall, 12K cross country and 20K
Sara Hall, 5K
Meb Keflezighi, 15K

5 USA NATIONAL RUNNERS-UP, 5 TIMES
Lauren Fleshman, 4K cross country
Sara Hall, 3000m indoors
Gabe Jennings, 1500 meters
Meb Keflezighi, 10,000 meters
Jen Rhines, 15K

WORLD CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM
Ian Dobson, 4K
Ryan Hall, 4K & 12K
Sara Hall, 4K

WORLD ROAD RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM
Ryan Hall, 11th (57:54, U.S. record), top American

BOLDER BOULDER INT\’L TEAM CHALLENGE TITLE
At the Bolder Boulder 10K last May, Rhines finished fifth to help the U.S. women\’s team win its third team title in four years.

About Team Running USA
Team Running USA, formerly Team USA California, is a national athlete development program created by Running USA, a national industry trade organization. The mission of Team Running USA is to support, promote and assist the development of U.S. distance runners.

Since 2001, Team Running USA athletes have won two Olympic medals, 12 World Cross Country Championship medals and two major marathons, set one world road record, 19 national records and numerous personal records, earned 49 national titles and three USARC Grand Prix titles and added to world and U.S. all-time lists. In short, they are the most accomplished training group in the United States.

Supported by the New York Road Runners, the Town of Mammoth Lakes, Chevron Houston Marathon and Atlanta Track Club, the program\’s athletes utilize the resources at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista for sea level training and Mammoth Lakes for high / low altitude training throughout the year. Renowned and Olympic coaches Joe Vigil and Bob Larsen and coach Terrence Mahon coordinate this elite group.

For more information on Team Running USA including sponsorship opportunities or to make a donation, contact:
Ryan Lamppa, (805) 696-6232,
ryan@runningusa.org or visit:
RunningUSA.org

Courtesy:
www.runningUSA.org