Johnson returns to defend title at 30th ANNUAL FREIHOFER’S RUN FOR WOMEN May 31

The 30th annual Freihofer's Run for Women is just over a month away, and organizers have begun to release details of what promises to be one of the finest fields in the storied history of this race.

Spearheading the charge on Saturday, May 31st – at a new time of 9:15 a.m. – will be Australia's Benita Johnson, the two-time defending champion who, in the weeks prior to the race, has shown herself to be in the form of her life.

"We are delighted to welcome Benita back to Albany this year," said Freihofer's Run for Women Event Director George Regan, noting that the Freihofer's Run for Women will be Johnson's only race in the U.S. prior to the Olympic Games in Beijing this August. "Benita is among the finest female distance runners in the world today and, both on and off the roads, she has shown herself to be a true champion."

When Johnson first made the trip to Albany in 2006, she recorded a blistering time of 15:27 to turn back the challenges of Natalya Berkut from the Ukraine and the much favored Lornah Kiplagat from the Netherlands. One year later, with the pressure truly on, Johnson ran even faster, recording a time of 15:22 to defeat former champion, Asmae Leghzaoui from Morocco, by 10 seconds. With this year's race on the horizon, Johnson has shown herself to be primed for yet another world-class performance.

At the World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland on March 30th, Johnson, 29, placed 11th overall in the 8 km race, leading the Aussie team to a bronze medal finish.

"I'm so excited to be returning for my third year in a row. Let's hope it is third time lucky for me!" said Johnson, whose past two Freihofer's wins were her only victories on US soil. "I love this event and to run it in an Olympic year means it's vital for my preparation for Beijing. I can't wait to hear the crowd as I run towards the finish. It's truly magic in Albany with those fans screaming!"

Event organizers also announced that the Freihofer's Run for Women is among 40 road races around the world to have earned the prestigious "silver label" designation from the IAAF Road Running Commission.

Two label levels are attributed to road races that satisfy a number of important criteria concerning the organizational standard of the race, course measurement, safety and medical standards and media services. The deciding factor for the attribution of a gold or silver label are the number of elite athletes engaged and the level of international TV coverage achieved by the participating races.

"We're honored to have received this designation," Regan added. "It speaks volumes about the quality of our event and what we've been able to accomplish over the past 29 years. We join some amazing company, including the Tokyo Marathon, MDS Nordion 10K, ING Brussels Marathon, Athens 10 KM and the Tokyo International Women's Marathon to name but a few."

Held in downtown Albany, N.Y., the Freihofer's Run for Women offers $27,000 in prize money, with the winner being awarded $10,000. This year's 30th edition will also include the USATF National Race Walk 10K Open and Junior Championships featuring some of the nation's top race walkers, several of whom will be Olympic team contenders.

A 30-minute Freihofer's Run for Women TV special will air Saturday, May 31 at 10:30 p.m. on FOX23 News. An encore presentation will be shown Sunday, June 1 at 5:30 p.m. (or at the conclusion of NASCAR's race from Dover International Speedway) on VTV – the Variety Channel on digital channel 23.2. VTV is also available to Time Warner Cable digital cable subscribers on channel 423.

To register for the Freihofer's Run for Women, or for more information about the Freihofer's Run for Women festival of events, including the Freihofer's Community Walk, Freihofer's Kids' Run and CapitalCare Health & FitnessExpo, visit www.freihofersrun.com.