Amy Yoder Begley and Simon Bairu Lead Largest Field in Event History to Win 32nd Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K

CHICAGO – U.S. Olympian Amy Yoder Begley and Canadian national record holder Simon Bairu,
outran the largest field in Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K history today posting wins in the 32nd
edition of the iconic Chicago road race. An event-record field of 32,427 runners followed the champions
across the finish line to officially kick off the outdoor running season to Chicago amid 70-degree
weather.

Begley, a native of Kendallville, Ind., crossed the finish line in 26:50, the fastest women's time since
2006. Shortly after her Chicago racing debut Begley said, "Rebounding from Achilles surgery last year
to win the 2011 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle in my return to the Midwest is extremely rewarding.
It's a great test for my fitness as I prepare for the USA Track & Field Championships in June."
Begley is a six-time U.S. national champion and a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team in the
10,000 meters. She was a 15-time NCAA All-American and two-time NCAA champion at the University
of Arkansas, and is currently a member of the Nike Oregon Project based in Portland, Ore., which aims
to prepare American athletes for Olympic success.

Bairu, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, broke the finish line tape in 23:38 in his
Chicago racing debut, bettering last year's men's winner (John Kemboi of Keyna) by one second.
Following his finish, Bairu reflected on his finish by saying, "I couldn't think of a better way to kick off my
competitive running season than to have won the 2011 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K. It's such
a fast, flat race course and it feels great to post a win at an event I've long admired."

Bairu was a two-time NCAA cross-country champion and three-time Big Ten cross-country champion.
Last spring, he set the Canadian national record in the 10,000 meters, making him a front-runner for the
2012 Canadian Olympic Team. He is currently a member of Nike's Oregon Track Club based in
Portland, Ore.

For the third-consecutive year, the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K featured an Elite Club
Competition for USA Track & Field (USATF)-member running clubs. Both winning teams from last year
repeated as champions. Wisconsin Runner Racing Team (Racine, WI) placed first for the men and
Runablaze Iowa (Des Moines, IA) ranked first among the women, each repeating as champions. Tyler
Sigl, Scott Mueller, Matt Thull and Eamon McKenna posted a joint time of 1:38:54. Erin Moeller, Casey
Owens and Ellen Ries posted a combined 1:26:45 finish time to place first for the women.

"Today's Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle reflected the spirit of Chicago," said Executive Race
Director Carey Pinkowski. "With a record field and two great champions in Amy and Simon, we kicked
off the outdoor running and fundraising seasons in a big way."
 
About the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K

Long recognized as an annual rite of spring and the kick-off to the outdoor running and fundraising
season in Chicago, the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K takes runners on a scenic tour of
downtown Chicago, starting and finishing in Grant Park. The race will began at the intersection of
Columbus Drive and Monroe Street at 9 a.m. and concluded with live musical entertainment at the
traditional Post-Race Party in Grant Park.

www.shamrockshuffle.com

2011 Top 5
Men
1. Simon Bairu, Portland, OR, 23:38 
2. Lukas Verzbicas, Orland Hills, IL, 23:55
3. Kyle Brady, Naperville, IL, 24:07
4. Andrew Baker, Indianapolis, IN, 24:10
5. Tyler  Sigl, Green Bay, WI, 24:14

Women
1. Amy Yoder Begley, Beaverton, OR, 26:50
2. Jean  Marinangeli, Schaumburg, IL, 28:11
3. Erin  Moeller, Mt Vernon, IA, 28:23 
4. Jessica  Monson, Powers Lake, WI, 28:25 
5. Katie  Fenstermaker, South Bend, IN, 28:38