RaceCenter NW News

Oregon's Max King named USATF Athlete of the Week

2009-11-11T21:12:00.000-08:00

(11-11-09) From USATF Press Release - Max King has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after winning the USA Marathon Trail Championships on Saturday in Ashland, Ore.

Only six days after finishing 18th in the ING NYC Marathon, King won his first national title in completing the Lithia Loop Marathon in 2 hours 40 minutes 23 seconds. His time broke Jeff Caba's course record by two minutes. King's finishing time in New York City was 2:19:11.

Now in its eighth year, USATF's Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

Winners: January 6, Mason Finley; January 13, Amber Campbell; January 20, Josh Cox; January 27, German Fernandez; February 3, Ashton Eaton; February 10, Shalane Flanagan; February 17, Galen Rupp; February 24, Dexter Faulk; March 3, Terrence Trammell; March 10, Diana Pickler; March 17, Galen Rupp; March 24, Sumi Onodera-Leonard; March 31, German Fernandez; April 7, Cyrus Hostetler; April 14, Curtis Beach; April 21, Kara Goucher; April 28, Mason Finley; May 5, Chris Derrick; May 12, Natalie Willer; May 19, Will Claye; May 26, Nadine O'Connor; June 2, Tyson Gay; June 9, Dwight Phillips; June 16, Galen Rupp; June 23, Kami Semick; June 30, Dawn Harper; July 7, Raevyn Rogers; July 14, Ryan Crouser; July 28, Anton Krupicka; August 11, Rita Hanscom; August 19, Christian Cantwell; August 26, Trey Hardee; September 1, Dathan Ritzenhein; September 9, Sanya Richards; September 15, Carmelita Jeter; September 23, Tyson Gay; Jamie Donaldson; October 7, Meb Keflezighi; October 14, Dathan Ritzenhein; October 21, Amy Palmiero-Winters; October 27, Sean Quigley; November 3 Meb Keflezighi; November 11, Max King.

Meb Wins ING New York City Marathon, Leads Six Americans in Top 10

2009-11-01T20:44:00.000-08:00

(11-1-09) From USATF Press Release - Proudly pointing to the bold "USA" written across his singlet and giving thumbs up to the Central Park crowd, Meb Keflezighi on Sunday became the first American man since 1982 to cross the finish line first at the ING New York City Marathon. He was joined by five additional American men in the top 10 in a banner day for US. men's distance running.

The 2004 Olympic silver medalist ran a brilliant strategic race, pulling away from four-time Boston Marathon Champion Robert Cheruiyot of Kenya in the final two miles to win in a personal-best time of 2:09:15. After finishing, he dropped down for a push-up and broke into tears before being greeted by his mother, wife and two daughters. "The memory of Ryan Shay is what I cried for," Meb said, referring to his American teammate who died in Central Park while running the Olympic Trials two years ago, the last time Meb ran in New York.

The win gave Keflezighi the USA marathon championship and his fourth national title of 2009, and he became the first American man to win in New York since Alberto Salazar's 1982 victory in 2:09:29. He earned a total prize-money payday of $170,000, including $130,000 for the overall win and an additional $40,000 for the U.S. title. He also finished atop the USA Running Series rankings for 2009, earning an additional $6,000.

In one of the strongest men's fields ever in New York, Cheruiyot placed second, 41 seconds back in 2:09:56, with Olympic silver medalist and two-time world champion Jaouad Gharib of Morocco third in 2:10:25. In total, Sunday's field included 14 men with personal bests under 2:10, including two-time New York champion Marilson Gomes dos Santos and 2004 champion Hendrick Ramaala.

Ryan Hall placed fourth overall in 2:10:36 to take second in the USA championship race, with Jorge Torres 7th overall in his marathon debut, in 2:13:00. Among Americans, Nick Arciniaga was eighth overall in 2:13:46, Abdi Abdirahman ninth in 2:14:00 and Jason Lehmkuhle 10th in 2:14:39, putting six Americans in the top 10 for the first time since 1979.

"It's a great day for American running and for USA Track & Field," said USATF CEO Doug Logan. "Based on the consistent upswing in our long-distance performances, we knew it would only be a matter of time until our men won another major marathon. We applaud Meb, and all our athletes today, for a great race. I promise that we will not have to wait 27 years for another victory."

Late-race surge
The men's lead pack went out at a modest pace, running a roughly 5:10 per mile for the first two miles. As the pace gradually quickened, five Americans stayed with the lead pack - Meb, Hall, Torres, Abdirahman and Bolota Asmerom. Meb and Hall led the pack through 11 miles in 54:38 as Abderrahime Bouramdane of Morocco, the 2008 Boston Marathon runner-up, threw in periodic surges that eventually were covered by the pack.

Coming onto Manhattan's First Avenue, at 16 miles, Ramaala led a break of four men that quickly returned to a 10-man pack. Abdirahman briefly took the lead in the 17th mile, after which point the lead pack began to string out.

A 4:37 split for mile 18 whittled the lead group to six, with Meb the lone American as Abdi, Hall and Torres fell back to eighth, ninth and 10th. Past 30 km, it became a four-man race, with Cheruiyot, Bouramdane, Meb and James Kwambai of Kenya, Cheruiyot's training partner and a past runner-up at Berlin, Boston and Rotterdam.

Meb made his move at 35 km, covered in 1:47:20, with only Cheruiyuot following him. The two men first ran shoulder-to-shoulder before Meb tucked in behind the tall Kenyan. A few minutes later, Cheruiyot motioned for Meb to take leading duties, but the experienced American wasn't having it.

Having placed second in New York in 2004 and third in 2005, Meb was running for the win.
When he moved to the lead at mile 24, reached in 1:58:23, he intended not to relinquish it. He had four seconds on Cheruiyot, and that margin only increased as the finish neared.

Running alone for the final stretch in Central Park, Keflezighi celebrated his first career victory at the marathon distance, paid tribute to Shay, and celebrated the return of Americans to the top of the podium.

Tulu wins women's race
In a race that was expected to be little more than another coronation for world record holder Paula Radcliffe, Ethiopia's Derartu Tulu emerged a surprise winner. With a conservative pace from the gun, the women's lead pack eventually whittled down to Christelle Daunay of France, Ludmila Petrova of Russia, Radcliffe and Tulu. It was a quartet of experience, with all four women over 34: Daunay is 34, Radcliffe 35, Tulu 37 and Petrova 41.

Struggling with tendonitis behind her knee , Radcliffe began to flag in the final miles, and it came down to a two-woman race between Petrova and Tulu, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and one-time bronze medalist at 10,000 meters. Shortly before turning into Central Park, with about 600 meters remaining, Tulu pulled away to win in 2:28:52, with Petrova second in 2:29:00 and Daunay third in 2:19:16. Radcliffe was fourth in 2:29:27. Magdalena Lewy Boulet was the top American woman, placing sixth in 2:32:17.

Joan Benoit Samuelson on Sunday became the fastest female marathoner over age 50, finishing in 2:49:09. The 52-year-old's performance came 25 years after she became the first women's Olympic marathon gold medalist at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.

For complete results from the ING New York City Marathon, visit www.nycmarathon.org.

For more on USATF and the USA Running Circuit, visit www.usatf.org.

About the USA Running Circuit
The USA Men's Marathon Championships was the final race on the 2009 USA Running Circuit (USARC). The USARC is a USA Track & Field road series, featuring USA Championships from 5 km to the marathon and attracts the best U.S. distance runners.

The USARC is a USA Track & Field road series featuring USA Championships from one mile to the marathon, which attracts the best U.S. distance runners. The 2009 USARC has ten events each for men and women. The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USARC race (15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1), with a final $12,500 grand prix purse ($6,000, $4,000, and $2,500) for the top three men and women point scorers overall. The USARC points at the USA Marathon Championships were doubled.

The mission of the USA Running Circuit is to showcase, support, and promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USARC and its races have provided over $6 million dollars to U.S. distance runners.

Preliminary 2009 TRI NorthWest Triathlon and Duathlon Rankings Now Posted

2009-10-30T11:12:00.000-07:00

(10-30-09) The preliminary TRI NorthWest Triathlon and Duathlon rankings for the 2009 season are now posted online. Congratulations to the athletes from across the Pacific Northwest who competed in this year's rankings.

If you have any questions or feel that your overall rankings score is incorrect, please email jon@racecenter.com prior to November 20. Once all revisions have been made, the final rankings will be posted. The complete 2009 rankings, as well as a lineup of all of the 2010 events included in the rankings will appear in the February/March 2010 EVENT GUIDE issue of RaceCenter Northwest Magazine. Subscribe by December 31, 2009 to ensure you get your copy in the mail in January.

2009 Oregon Fall XC Ski Camp Set for December

2009-10-23T15:04:00.000-07:00

(10-23-09) From Press Release - The ninth annual edition of the Oregon Fall XC Ski Camp is enjoying steady advance registration and is ready to go for 2009 featuring an expanded schedule stretching from Friday, December 4 until Sunday, December 13.

As with the past eight seasons, the Oregon Fall Camp features on-snow morning sessions at the Mt Bachelor Nordic Center -- a short, all-weather drive away from beautiful Bend, Oregon. Selected afternoon and evening programs such as training plan workshops, XC ski strength demos, wax clinics, and social events will be added as the 2009 schedule is finalized in early November. Also returning in 2009 is the option to include full ski-specific physiology testing at the Central Oregon Community College Physiology Lab (a very popular camp add-on suitable for all abilities and interests).

The focus of each Fall Camp session is on a progression of skill development developed specifically for high beginner thru advanced adult skiers. Both classic and freestyle technique sessions are available with video analysis offered as often as snow/weather conditions allow. Past campers have raved about the innovative and fun-filled approach of the Oregon Fall Camp with specific attention to individual needs.

Camp Director/Founder J.D. Downing says that the new expanded schedule should only improve what has proved to be one of the most popular camps for master XC skiers found anywhere. "The new schedule allows folks to select from two consecutive weekend options plus any number of weekday combinations in between. Campers can choose any number of days to attend and skiers within easy driving distance can even arrange a non-consecutive schedule if they wish. We are going to set the schedule as of November 6 based on enrollment to that point. So, literally, our early-bird campers will actively determine how exactly the schedule shapes up!"

Downing adds that it is possible that certain dates will completely fill by November 6 based on coach availability. Lab testing slots are also very limited. Thus, early camp registration is strongly encouraged.

Staff for 2009 will once again include Camp Director J.D. Downing (National Director of the American XC Skiers U.S. masters association as well as Coach/Director of the XC Oregon elite race team) joined by members of the XC Oregon team plus talented guest coaches from the Central Oregon ski community.

Mt Bachelor offers spectacularly reliable early December ski conditions with 30-56km of trails open at an modest elevation of 6,300ft groomed daily (trail fee required). For skiers and families that need more than XC trails, Mt Bachelor offers great riding on the alpine side with plentiful back-country options available towards the amazing Three Sisters Wilderness.

Most campers stay in Bend which is reached by daily flights (Bend/Redmond airport, RDM) from six major western hubs. By car, Bend is 7-9 hours from the Sacramento/Bay Area, 5-7 hours from Seattle, 5-6 hours from Boise, and 10-12 hours from the SLC region. Bend is a major regional tourist destination with an array of local attractions including shopping, dining, nightly entertainment, museums, brewery pubs, and incredible outdoor recreation options in any season. As a bonus the next two years, the National Cyclocross Championships will also be held in the heart of Bend (December 10-13 in 2009).

Full information and registration materials for the 2009 Oregon Fall Camp can be found on www.xcoregon.org. Updates will follow weekly until the camp starts.

Portland Runner Ritzenhein Named USATF Athlete of the Week

2009-10-14T14:50:00.000-07:00

(10-14-09) From USATF Press Release - Dathan Ritzenhein has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after winning the bronze medal Sunday at the 18th IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, in Birmingham, UK.

The men's 5,000 meter American record holder, Ritzenhein clocked 1 hour flat to finish in third place. It is the second fastest U.S. time in history and the first time an American male has medaled at these Championships. Ritzenhein's finish also helped lead the Team USA men to a fourth-place team finish. Ritzenhein was last named Athlete of the Week on September 1, when he broke Bob Kennedy's 13-year-old American record in the 5,000m by almost two seconds, crossing the line in 12:56.27.

Now in its eighth year, USATF's Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

Winners: January 6, Mason Finley; January 13, Amber Campbell; January 20, Josh Cox; January 27, German Fernandez; February 3, Ashton Eaton; February 10, Shalane Flanagan; February 17, Galen Rupp; February 24, Dexter Faulk; March 3, Terrence Trammell; March 10, Diana Pickler; March 17, Galen Rupp; March 24, Sumi Onodera-Leonard; March 31, German Fernandez; April 7, Cyrus Hostetler; April 14, Curtis Beach; April 21, Kara Goucher; April 28, Mason Finley; May 5, Chris Derrick; May 12, Natalie Willer; May 19, Will Claye; May 26, Nadine O'Connor; June 2, Tyson Gay; June 9, Dwight Phillips; June 16, Galen Rupp; June 23, Kami Semick; June 30, Dawn Harper; July 7, Raevyn Rogers; July 14, Ryan Crouser; July 28, Anton Krupicka; August 11, Rita Hanscom; August 19, Christian Cantwell; August 26, Trey Hardee; September 1, Dathan Ritzenhein; September 9, Sanya Richards; September 15, Carmelita Jeter; September 23, Tyson Gay; Jamie Donaldson; October 7, Meb Keflezighi; October 14, Dathan Ritzenhein.

About USA Track & Field
USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States.

For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org.

Portland's Ritzenhein Takes Bronze at World Half Marathon Championships

2009-10-11T14:53:00.000-07:00

(10-11-09) From USATF Press Release - 2008 Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein (Portland, Ore.) ran the second fastest U.S. time in history to finish third Sunday at the 18th IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, in Birmingham, UK. Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea won his fourth world title in 59:35 while Bernard Kipyego of Kenya just outkicked Ritzenhein for the runner-up position, running 59:59. Ritzenhein's 1:00:00, led the Team USA men to a fourth-place team finish.

Other Team USA finishers included a 20th-place finish by Andrew Carlson (Flagstaff, Ariz.) in 1:02:50; James Carney (Boulder, Colo.) 38th in 1:04:00; Brett Gotcher (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 64th in 1:05:43; and Scott Bauhs (Chico, Calif.) in 1:06:07.

Kenya won the team competition with a total time of 3:01:06, Eritrea was second in 3:02:39 and Ethiopia edged out the U.S. for third 3:06:42 to 3:06:50.

Amy Yoder Begley (Portland, Ore.) finished 11th in 1:10:09 to lead the Team USA women to a fifth-place team finish. Begley was followed by teammates Serena Burla (Baldwin, Mo.), who finished 17th in 1:10:55; Amy Hastings (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.) finished 33rd in 1:13:20; Heidi Westerling (Acworth, N.H.) was 38th in 1:14:22: and Elva Dryer (Gunnison, Colo.) finished 48th in 1:16:42. Mary Keitany of Kenya dominated the women's field, running 1:06:36.

Kenya also won the women's team competition with a combined time of 3:22:30.

For more information on Team USA at the 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, visit www.usatf.org.

Matthew Sheeks of Woodinville, WA Brings Home Gold at Duathlon World Championship

2009-10-07T12:23:00.000-07:00

(10-7-09) From ITU Press Release - Members of Team USA took home 49 medals from the 2009 ITU Duathlon World Championship at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Saturday, September 26.

The total includes 13 gold, 18 silver and 18 bronze medals as USA athletes swept gold, silver and bronze in five different age groups.

The weather was rainy all day, but the mist that was present for the elites early in the day turned into downpours as the age groupers took to the course in the afternoon. That didn't seem to dampen the spirits of the more than 750 competitors from across the globe, including more than 400 U.S. athletes.

Lowe's Speedway provided a unique setting for the event. Athletes started the 10k run on the track's start/finish line, made their way onto pit row and out into the streets surrounding the stadium. Portions of the 40k bike actually circled the track and cut through the infield, with the final 5k run bringing athletes back to the finish along pit row.

Two U.S. athletes produced the day's fastest times overall. Team USA veteran Suzanne Huelster (Riverton, N.J.) turned in a 1:57:09 for the women, while Matthew Sheeks (Woodinville, Wash.) led the men home in 1:43:30.

Portland Marathon Hosts Largest Event Ever, Gears Up for Half Marathon in 2010

2009-10-05T10:34:00.001-07:00

(10-5-09) Jason Finch of River Falls, WI won the 2009 Portland Marathon in a time of 2:24:13 with Yuri Yoshizumi of Osaka, Japan taking the women's crown in 2:55:59. Top Northwest finishers were Greg Mitchell (36) from McMinnville, OR in 2:26:02, and 37-year-old Danita Erickson of Tacoma, WA who clocked 2:56:08 for the 26.2-mile distance in the Rose City. Complete results from this year's event can be found HERE.

For the first time in the event's history, the Portland Marathon will be holding a half marathon in conjunction with next year's event on 10-10-10. Registration for this limited-entry event opened at the Portland Marathon expo this past weekend, and the event is expected to fill quickly. Check the Portland Marathon Web site for additional information - www.portlandmarathon.org.

Olympic Swimmer/Triathlete Sheila Taormina to Headline Oct 17 Swim Clinic in Portland

2009-09-30T08:35:00.000-07:00

(9-30-09) From Press Release - SpeedSHOT Racing & Coaching Services and the Multnomah Athletic Club are proud to welcome Gold Medalist and 4-TIME OLYMPIAN Sheila Taormina to Portland, Oregon on the 17th of October. Sheila will headline a two-part event that will include a 2-hour swim clinic followed by a 1-hour presentation with ample opportunity for question and answer. Sheila brings her wealth of knowledge and experience to Portland to share what it took to succeed at the Olympic-level for triathlon and swimming.

The swim clinic, held from 1:00-3:00pm, will give local triathletes and swimmers the chance to learn skills and training techniques that Sheila used in preparation for her Gold Medal in the 1996 Olympics and her competitions in the first two Olympic Triathlons (in 2000 and 2004). The clinic will provide participants the opportunity to learn and practice drills and techniques, both on the deck and in the water, under the watchful eyes of Sheila and SpeedSHOT Racing Head Coach Mark Kendall. The swim clinic will be available to the first 25 people on a first-come basis and the cost is $20 (to be paid on site). Proceeds from the clinic will be donated to the Multnomah Athletic Foundation and used to support local youth athletes in their sport participation.

After the swim clinic, from 3:30pm-4:30pm, Sheila will discuss her experiences in training for her four Olympics. She will reveal tips that she learned competing at the pinnacle of the sport of triathlon and as a pioneer in that sport. The presentation is free and open to the public. However an RSVP is required to reserve your space and guarantee entry to the Multnomah Athletic Club.

To Register or RSVP, please go to SpeedSHOT Racing (www.speedshotracing.com) and using the provided link.

For more information or questions on the presentation and clinic, please contact Mark Kendall of SpeedSHOT Racing | Coaching Services at 503-332-8710 or by email at info@speedshotracing.com.

2010 Eugene Marathon to Finish at Historic Hayward Field

2009-09-29T12:24:00.001-07:00

(9-29-09) From Press Release - We are thrilled to announce that the 2010 Eugene Marathon and Half Marathon will culminate in a finish experience running fans cannot miss. Finally runners and walkers will feel the rush of entering historic Hayward Field through the arches of Powell Plaza and finish down the home stretch - where so many record breaking races have been decided.

"It has been a goal of ours since the initial planning in 2005 to finish on Hayward Field" says Richard Maher, Eugene Marathon Race Director, "We feel this is going to make it an even more momentous experience for the participants."

This will be the first time a major road race has finished on the country's most recognizable track and field facility since the early 1980's. Hayward Field has been host to four Olympic Trials, six USA Track Championships, nine NCAA Championships and an IAAF Diamond League event, the Prefontaine Classic.

As in years past, the marathon and half marathon will run on Sunday, May 2nd, taking runners and walkers through Eugene and Springfield, along city streets and several parks. The 2009 Eugene Marathon had a record year, attracting over 6,300 runners and walkers from 46 states and 8 countries. It received the Destination Award from Travel Lane County, for recognition of its ability to draw runners and walkers to Eugene and Springfield. The Eugene Marathon truly turned into one of the country's fastest growing destination marathons, with over 30% of all registrants from out-of-state. The Health and Fitness Expo will again be at the Hilton Eugene and Conference Center on Friday, April 30th and Saturday May 1st.

Proceeds from this event will benefit over 50 local charities, teams and partners.

2010 event sponsors include: Krusteaz, Nike, The Sports Authority, Wells Fargo, Pepsi, Gatorade, Earth2O, Nesquik, Clif, Gorilla Capital, Kool 99.1, KVAL, Register Guard, Market of Choice, Canterbury Naturals, Subway, Eugene Running Company, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and Beppe and Gianni's.

Runners can register today at www.eugenemarathon.com.

Portland Marathon and Troops Prepare for Iraq Half Marathons

2009-09-25T08:27:00.000-07:00

(9-25-09) From Press Release - This September, the Portland Marathon will host three inaugural half-marathon events to support Oregon and Washington-based troops stationed in Iraq. Over eight hundred troops will participate as runners and volunteers. These 13.1-mile events will be held in Iraq and at the following military bases:

- Victory Base Camp in Baghdad, 9/27/09. U.S. home base is Ft. Lewis, Washington.
- Warrior Unit, Iraq/Iran border, 9/27/09. U.S. home base is Ft. Riley, Kansas.
- Camp COBB/Adder at Tallil Airbase, Southern Iraq, 10/3/09. U.S. home base is ONG Salem, Oregon.

These events were created by the Oregon National Guard Brigade and the Portland Marathon. The Portland Marathon cares about the health and well-being of troops whether they are at home or abroad. The half marathons are positive ways family members and loved ones in Oregon and Washington can stay connected to their troops in Iraq, as well as ways for troops to stay connected to an annual event happening in their hometown.

The Portland Marathon event director, Les Smith, has a service background and is passionate about supporting and thanking troops. He fused this, with his love for running to create the Iraq half marathons.

"The Portland Marathon is proud to help and assist those in Iraq who are now serving, and also do so for all of those who have served," said Smith.

Friends and family members of participating troops plan to run, walk, and volunteer at the Portland Marathon events on October 4th to honor those in Iraq. Their donations, and funds donated by the Portland Marathon, will go to the Wound Warrior Project, one of the event's official charities.

For the half marathons, the Portland Marathon will provide finisher and volunteer shirts, medals, pins, and bibs. The organization also donated the time and costs associated with producing these events. There is no charge for these events to Army, Marines, Air Force, DOD Civilians, and Contractors.

The Portland Marathon will be held Sunday, Oct. 4 at 7AM in downtown Portland. The event includes a 26.2 walk/run, 5-miler walk/run, a 10k Mayor's Walk, and a kids' Marafun. The Sports and Fitness Expo will be held on Oct. 2 and 3rd at the Hilton Hotel, 921 SW 6th Ave. The Portland Marathon, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to the health and wellness of its participants and community. More than 12,000 people run, walk, or volunteer with the event each year. Proceeds from event go to help local schools, charities, and non-profits. The event has been called the "best-organized marathon in North America" and has received national attention for being one of the first eco-friendly, "green" marathons. Sponsors for the 2009 Portland Marathon include: Sports Authority, exclusive sponsor Sports & Fitness Expo sponsor; Kaiser Permanente, 5-miler title sponsor. For more information, visit www.portlandmarathon.org, call (503) 226-1111, or e-mail info@portlandmarathon.org.

Portland's Tegenkamp, Yoder Begley win USA 5 km Championships

2009-09-20T19:42:00.000-07:00

(9-20-09) From USATF Press Release - Matt Tegenkamp (Portland, Ore.) and Amy Yoder Begley (Portland, Ore.) won the respective men's and women's titles Sunday at the USA 5 km Championships in Providence, R.I. Tegenkamp, the U.S. champion at 5,000 meters on the track won his first U.S. road title in 13:57, as Begley, the 2009 USA 10,000 meter champion on the track and USA 15 km champion ran 15:27 to add the 5 km title to her collection of 2009 crowns.

As a field of more than 10,000 runners toured downtown Providence for the 20th annual CVS/Caremark Downtown 5K, the lead men's pack passed the first mile in 4:30 with Ben Bruce (Eugene, Ore.) leading defending champion Anthony Famiglietti (Knoxville, Tenn.), Tegenkamp, Bolota Asmerom (Oakland, Calif.), Jordan Horn (Flagstaff, Ariz.) and Ian Burrell (Flagstaff, Ariz.).

By two miles, the lead group had thinned to about ten men with Asmerom assuming the lead ahead of Famiglietti and Tegenkamp.

Making the final turn off Canal Street and up the only major hill on the course, Tegenkamp made his move around Famiglietti and Asmerom to kick to a one-second win over Asmerom. Famiglietti was timed in 13:59 for third as Horn and Burrell captured fourth and fifth in 13:59 and 14:01 respectively.

In the women's race, Jen Rhines (Mammoth Lakes Calif.) led a deep field of women through the first mile in 4:54. As the lead women passed two miles in 9:50, the contenders were narrowed down to Begley, Rhines, Rebecca Donaghue (State College, Pa.) and Sara Hall (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.).

With about 800 meters to go, Begley made her move but Donaghue and Rhines held on until Begley made one last push at three miles to pull clear for the title. Donaghue managed to hold off Rhines by one second for the runner-up position, running 15:30. Hall took fourth in 15:33 as Katie McGregor (Saint Louis Park, Minn.) finished fifth in 15:50.

About the USARC
The USA 5 km Championships was the eighth stop on the 2009 USA Running Circuit (USARC) and will pay $30,000 in U.S. prize money with Tegenkamp and Begley taking home $5,000 for the respective men's and women's wins.

The 2009 USARC is a USA Track & Field road series featuring USA Championships from one mile to the marathon, which attracts the best U.S. distance runners. The 2009 USARC has ten events each for men and women. Magdalena Lewy Boulet currently leads the women's standings with 49 points, while Famiglietti (Knoxville, Tenn.) leads the men with 49 points.

The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USARC race (15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1), with a final $12,500 grand prix purse ($6,000, $4,000, and $2,500) for the top three men and women point scorers overall. The USARC points at the USA Marathon Championships will be doubled.

The mission of the USA Running Circuit is to showcase, support, and promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USARC and its races have provided over $6 million dollars to U.S. distance runners.

For more information on the 2009 USA 5 km Championships visit www.usatf.org.

Oregon Olympians lead fields at USA 5 km Championships

2009-09-17T17:09:00.000-07:00

(9-17-09) From USATF Press Release - U.S. Olympians Anthony Famiglietti (Knoxville, Tenn.), Matt Tegenkamp (Portland, Ore.) and Amy Yoder Begley (Beaverton, Ore.) will headline the entries for the 2009 USA 5 km Championships Sunday in Providence, R.I.

Defending men's champion Famiglietti will be going for his second U.S. road title of 2009, but will face fierce competition from Tegenkamp who just became the fourth American ever to break 13 minutes for 5,000 meters. Also in the mix for the title will be 2004 Olympian Jonathan Riley (Portland, Ore.) and Bolota Asmerom (Oakland, Calif.), the fourth-place finisher at this year's USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships 5,000 meters.

Begley, the 2009 USA Outdoor 10,000 meter champion, leads the women's field that also includes local favorite Molly Huddle (Providence, R.I.), the 2009 champion at 7 and 10 miles. Also in the mix for the title will be Renee Metivier-Baillie (Flagstaff, Ariz.) and Katie McGregor (St. Louis Park, Minn.).

About the USARC
The USA 5 km Championships is the eighth stop on the 2009 USA Running Circuit (USARC) and will pay $30,000 in U.S. prize money with $5,000 going to the respective champions.

The 2009 USARC is a USA Track & Field road series featuring USA Championships from one mile to the marathon, which attracts the best U.S. distance runners. The 2009 USARC has ten events each for men and women. Magdalena Lewy Boulet currently leads the women's standings with 49 points, while Anthony Famiglietti leads the men with 39 points.

The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USARC race (15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1), with a final $12,500 grand prix purse ($6,000, $4,000, and $2,500) for the top three men and women point scorers overall. The USARC points at the USA Marathon Championships will be doubled.

The mission of the USA Running Circuit is to showcase, support, and promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USARC and its races have provided over $6 million dollars to U.S. distance runners.

For more information on the 2009 USA 5 km Championships visit www.usatf.org.

Strands.com Announces Inaugural Strands 5K in Corvallis

2009-09-14T08:44:00.000-07:00

(9-14-09) Courtesy Running USA Wire 75-09-09 - Strands.com will host the inaugural edition of the Strands 5K in Corvallis on Saturday, October 24. The race will feature a community 5K, a children's race, post-race party and a prize purse totaling $13,000.

All race proceeds benefit Childhelp, an organization dedicated to helping victims of child abuse and neglect. Childhelp's mission is to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of abused, neglected and at-risk children through advocacy, prevention, treatment and community outreach. Find more ways to get involved or information on how to donate directly through the Childhelp.org website.

Prize money is only available to U.S. citizens and will be distributed 6-deep as follows for the men's and women's Open field: $3000, $1500, $750, $600, $400 and $250.

The 5K race will begin at 9:00am PST on October 24. The children's race will begin at 10:00am, followed by an awards ceremony and post-race party outside Strands headquarters at Central Park in Corvallis.

Online registration is $15, while mail-in and race day registration is $20. The first 100 people to register online will receive free entry. Online registration will begin on Monday, September 14. For more information and a race registration link, visit the race website at www.strands5k.com, call the race hotline at (541) 740-5306, or email strands5k@strands.com.

King, Fleshman win XTERRA Trail Run Nationals Half-Marathon in Bend, OR

2009-09-14T08:39:00.000-07:00

(9-14-09) From XTERRA Press Release - A pair of professional runners from the Beaver State - 29-year-old Max King and 27-year-old Lauren Fleshman - dominated the men's and women's races at the XTERRA Trail Run National Championship half-marathon in Bend, Oregon on Sunday morning.

King, a Bend local, won in 1:06:46, a full six minutes ahead of runner-up Ben Bruce (1:12:58) and more than a minute faster than his own record time from last year's race. Fleshman won in 1:19:10, placed 5th overall, and finished more than two minutes ahead of the women's runner-up and last year's National Champ, Susannah Beck.

The victory is King's third straight XTERRA Trail Running Championship win (he also won Nationals and Worlds last year) and it also marks the third straight time Bruce has finished 2nd.

The race started at 9am with several hundred athletes from 25 states lined up under Bend's signature smoke stacks at the upscale Old Mill District on an incredibly beautiful, crisp and clear morning - then quickly transitioned onto the scenic trails that line the Deschutes River.

"Ben (Bruce) went out really hard from the gun so it set a good pace for me, and from there I just tried to go really hard the whole time and be smooth through the technical sections," said King, a former steeplechase All-American at Cornell University who has established himself as one of the most versatile runners in the country (he's also an accomplished ultra marathoner and will compete in the New York City Marathon on November 1).

Bruce was able to stay with King (pictured) through about the first 2.5 miles but by mile five King had put a minute on Bruce and by the 8-mile turnaround he was leading by nearly two-and-a-half minutes. That's about when the trail gets truly technical, zigzagging on narrow singletrack along the river, and where King put even more distance on his long-time rival from Eugene.

"Max was just in great form today and he pulled away from me pretty early," said Bruce, a member of the prestigious Nike Oregon Track Club Elite team. "By about mile six he was gone and I looked back and didn't see anyone behind me so I just settled in, relaxed, and had a good time out there."

Jesse Thomas, husband to the women's winner Lauren Fleshman, finished a little more than a minute behind Bruce, and was followed a minute-later by marathon specialist Andy Martin from Bend.

"I've been training pretty hard this summer and this was my first real big race back so I wanted it go really well," said King, who was enthusiastically greeted by his wife, one-month old son Micah, and dog at the finish line. "It's great that this race is in Bend and I can strap on my shoes and run down to the start line, and even better that I get to live here year-round and enjoy these trails."

Enjoying the trails and this "Central Oregon mountain town that has it all" was a common theme, especially from the large collection of out-of-state runners.

"It was an awesome course, just beautiful," said Richard Burgunder, a 30-year-old from Astoria, New York. "The venue is amazing and the river trail is epic. Plus, the people in Bend are awesome and the spectators that lined the course were so supportive. There were a couple guys on bikes that rode alongside me for a little bit and really motivated me. It was neat, a real breath of fresh air."

Scott Dunlap, an author of a popular trail running blog and winner of the 40-44 division, echoed the sentiment. "The river was so beautiful it made it kind of hard to concentrate on the course," he joked.

FLESHMAN - BECK - SEMICK ... 1, 2, 3 IN THE WOMEN'S RACE
Lauren Fleshman from Eugene (originally from California) is a bona-fide superstar - a 5-time NCAA Champion and 15-time All-American at Stanford University, 3-time Olympic trials qualifier, owner of a 14:58 5k, and a member of the Nike Oregon Track Club Elite team.

"It was a tough course, my best distances are the mile and 5k so this is pretty long for me, and I'll run this distance for a long run once a week but I never try to run it hard and I never try to run over crazy rocks and roots too often so it was fun just letting it rip and hanging it all out there and running with some really good trail runners," said Fleshman, who missed the Olympics by one spot in 2008.

"I have great respect for the athletes that compete over these distances and any race longer than about 15-miles and I think they eat me for lunch so this is about my upper limit. For me it's a confidence booster knowing that I can compete against runners that can handle these trails really well and have a lot of experience so I'm as pleased as I can be."

Fleshman led from just about start-to-finish even though Susannah Beck, last year's champ, ran nearly two minutes faster than last year. "It was tough again and I really just tried to think about how pretty the course was," smiled Beck.

Ultra running World Champion Kami Semick was also pleased and finished 40-seconds behind Beck in third place, followed by Katie Caba of Bend and Rachel Cieslewicz of Salt Lake City.

THE CHAMPIONS
The XTERRA Trail Run National Championship was the last race in a 50-stop U.S. Tour that hosts races in 15 states ranging from 5km to 22km. There were 25 regional series champions from Southern California to Georgia, Virginia and beyond that took part in today's races, and here's a look at the 2009 XTERRA Trail Running National Champs:

Male
Division Name Hometown Time
15-19 Dmitry Ponder, Prineville, OR 1:37:40
20-24 Sean Stafford, Reno, NV 1:22:01
25-29 Max King, Bend, OR 1:06:46
30-34 Andy Martin, Bend, OR 1:15:07
35-39 Mark Robins, Aumsville, OR 1:25:12
40-44 Scott Dunlap, Woodside, CA 1:23:09
45-49 Jim Bendis, Palm Springs, CA 1:27:24
50-54 Jeff Spangler, Bend, OR 1:27:15
55-59 Dave Webster, Bend, OR 1:28:14
60-64 Kenneth Geljack, Bristol, IN 1:52:52
65-69 Jerry Graham, Spokane, WA 1:41:28
75-79 Don Hildebrand, Sisters, OR 2:56:03
80+ Charles Hoover, Bend, OR 3:57:04

Female
Division Name Hometown Time
15-19 Kristen Reichardt, Foresthill, CA 1:58:53
20-24 Kristiann Vlieger, Sunnyside, WA 1:47:41
25-29 Lauren Fleshman, Eugene, OR 1:19:10
30-34 Rachel Cieslewicz, Salt Lake City, UT 1:31:18
35-39 Katie Caba, Bend, OR 1:26:58
40-44 Susannah Beck, Brunswick, MA 1:21:37
45-49 Tawnie McDonald, Bend, OR 1:39:21
50-54 Sue Dougherty, Bend, OR 1:50:20
55-59 Suzanne Ray, Medford, OR 1:37:55
60-64 Jessie Stratton, Redding, CA 2:11:22
65-69 Amy Galbraith, Venice, CA 2:44:01

Today's trail races were a benefit for the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation, a non-profit whose guiding philosophy is to encourage academic achievement and promote the positive values of competitive Alpine, Cross Country Skiing, Snowboarding, and Cycling. Many of the young adults the foundation services showed up in costumes and made for a great atmosphere at the aid stations (check out the photo gallery - image 29).

In addition to the main event there were 5km and 10km trail runs, more than 100 kids enjoying the XTERRA Kids Zone obstacle courses, running races and agility drills, the Paul Mitchell Cut-a-thon was six stylists deep creating cool hairdo's as a benefit for the Challenged Athletes Foundation all day, and an enormous crowd of spectators, friends and family enjoyed an epic day in Bend.

BEND LOCALS DOMINATE 5KM/10KM RACES: Not to be overshadowed by the main event, the 5 and 10 kilometer races posted some blazing fast times as well. One of Bend's Mountain View High School cross country coaches, Mike Condon, 23, stole the show in the 5K with his winning time of 16:49. He was originally signed up for the 21K, but with a lingering foot injury, he wasn't even sure if he could race at all today. He came planning on a nice leisurely run this morning, however "when the gun went off, it was impossible for me not to run fast" he said. Taking second in the men's 5K was another Bend local Andrew Jensen, 20, coming in just 34 seconds later. In the women's 5K local Piper McDonald of Bend had the fastest time -19:33- which was also amazing enough to place 4th overall. At just 12-years-old, this pink and blue streaked hair running prodigy just missed her personal record by 14 seconds but was still able to edge out 36-year-old Eugene resident Nicole Teter by 27 seconds.

In the 10K, the locally loved runner Flap Jack, 36, ran without his typical pancake costume and was able to take home the overall men's title with his time of 37:22, which was good enough to best Bend's Samual Burris, 19, by 41 seconds. Julie Leasure, 38, coming down from Portland, won the women's 10K in 42:48 after a friendly back and forth battle with Bend's Lindsay Peters, 29. According to Julie, "Lindsay really pushed me, and it was great to have such a strong competitor to run against. She was ahead for the first half of the race, and I was lucky enough to lead for the second half."

The XTERRA Trail Running National Championship was presented by Paul Mitchell and XTERRA.TV. National sponsors included GU Energy Gel, Gatorade, Zorrel, John Paul Pet, Hawaiian Airlines, XTERRAGear.com, and Runner's World Magazine. The destination sponsor was Visit Bend, and local sponsors included the Old Mill District, Riverhouse Hotel, Footzone, Earth2o Water, Cafe Yumm!, Strictly Organic Coffee, and Fleet Feet Bend.

A special thanks to Doug La Placa at Visit Bend, Bend Parks and Rec, Deschutes National Forest, the great volunteers from the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation, and the entire Bend community for embracing the event and making it a world-class atmosphere for athletes from around the country.

UP NEXT: The XTERRA Trail Run World Championship is December 6 at Kualoa Ranch on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu, and many of today's runners have already signed-up to take on the world. Read more at xterratrailrun.com.

TEAM Unlimited, a Hawaii-based television events and marketing company, owns and produces XTERRA. In 2009 there are more than 150 XTERRA off-road triathlon and trail running events held in 15 countries. There are 30,000+ competitors, ages 13-71, from all 50 states and more than 40 countries competing in XTERRA events. TEAM TV also produces more than a dozen adventure TV shows each year and you can see some of them right now at www.XTERRA.tv.

Black Hills Triathlon Recap

2009-09-14T08:26:00.000-07:00

(9-14-09) Submitted by Kirk Rose - Saturday, September 12 date of this year's Black Hills Triathlon - an odd distance race consisting of a 1k swim, 30mi bike and 4.3k run - all perfectly matched to the venue in Olympia, WA.

While there certainly were some great performances, the greatest had to be the crew that made the event possible. It is my opinion that AA Sports puts on the best multi-sport events in the Northwest. How they do that is in there preparation, focus on details and making sure that everybody in the event is safe. Every triathlete should volunteer at least once to see what goes into such an event. Months of preparation in getting the database of entries set, ordering of awards, planning for the food at the event, checking the logistics to make sure there is electricity and water, getting permits for the road use and more. Then the days before are busy with setting up the transition area, measuring the course and checking for hazards, preparing the packets for the athletes, setting up packet pickup and marking the course with chalk, cones, candles, buoys in the water etc. Just the scheduling of bike support, course monitoring, course volunteers, getting fresh food to the venue and keeping the locals happy is a full time job in itself. I must say, GREAT JOB to AA Sports and to all those individuals who gave up their day to volunteer. The athletes and sportsmanship that they portrayed made this one event to remember.

Amica Insurance Seattle Marathon to Hold Shadow Run for Troops in Baghdad

2009-09-08T09:50:00.000-07:00

(9-8-09) From Press Release - As runners take their start at the Amica Insurance Seattle Marathon on November 29, a very special group will also be participating thousands of miles away on the streets of Baghdad. The Seattle Marathon Association is extremely proud to announce the Amica Insurance Seattle Marathon Shadow Run in Baghdad.

At the request of U.S. soldiers based there, the marathon is introducing its first "Shadow Run," which means soldiers will participate in the marathon from the military base in Iraq on November 29. Soldiers will be registered runners for the Amica Insurance Seattle Marathon. They will receive everything that the runners in Seattle will be given including finisher medals, filled goody bags and participant shirts. They will also have their race results posted along with other runners on the SMA Web site.

Mark Piccone, a Washington state resident, Apache attack helicopter pilot and avid runner, had planned to run in this year's Amica Insurance Seattle Marathon - but then he was deployed on his second tour in Iraq. He contacted the Seattle Marathon Association and Amica to propose a "shadow run" at Camp Victory, which is located near Baghdad International Airport.

U.S. service members on the base are currently signing up to participate in the marathon (either a full or half marathon). The race in Baghdad will mirror the race events in Seattle - with a pre-race pasta party and entertainment along the route. Because of the time difference, the Baghdad race will actually finish ahead of the Seattle Marathon, so there will be video of the Baghdad race and the soldiers' results will be posted on race day in Seattle.

"Amica is extremely proud to support the Amica Insurance Seattle Marathon Shadow Run at Victory Base in Baghdad," said Bob DiMuccio, chairman, president and CEO of Amica Insurance. "Our employees countrywide are getting involved by creating care packages that contain essentials for U.S. soldiers involved in the marathon."

The Seattle Marathon Association has designed Baghdad Shadow Run shirts as a way for everyone to get involved and show their support for the troops. These shirts will celebrate the connection between Seattle runners and Baghdad soldiers. The shirts are selling for $16.50 and can be seen and purchased online here: http://www.seattlemarathon.org/marathon/baghdad.htm.

Two dollars from the sale of each shirt will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org), a nonprofit organization with headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida, that supports programs and services for injured U.S. servicemen and women.

About Amica Insurance:
Amica Mutual Insurance Company, the nation's oldest mutual insurer of automobiles, was founded in 1907. The company is a national writer of automobile, homeowners, marine, and personal umbrella liability insurance. Life coverage is available through Amica Life Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary. Amica employs more than 3,200 people in 39 offices across the country.

About the Seattle Marathon Association:
The Seattle Marathon Association (SMA) is a non profit organization governed by a ten member Board of Directors. It is proud of its commitment to providing a quality running event in the Pacific Northwest, providing our sponsors with maximum exposure in association with the event and making a positive social and economic impact on the city of Seattle. The Amica Insurance Seattle Marathon, Marathon Walk, Half Marathon and Half Marathon Walk will take place Sunday, November 29, 2009. The marathon course is USATF- and AIMS-certified and is a Boston Marathon qualifier. Visit www.seattlemarathon.org to find out more about the race and sign up as a participant.

About Wounded Warrior Project:
Wounded Warrior Project is a non-profit organization whose mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors. WWP serves to raise awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women, to help severely injured service members aid and assist each other and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. For more information, please call 877 TEAM WWP (832-6997) or visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Race Report: 2009 Scoggins Valley Triathlon

2009-09-08T08:49:00.000-07:00

(9-8-09) Submitted by Dave Campbell - Ah, the late season... you really never know what to expect. There can be great race turnouts, very light race turnouts and competitors can be flying or totally burnt out. Ironman Canada has typically had a big impact on late-August and early September races in our area but there is another factor... weather! Athletes will tolerate rain in the early season because they are so rarin' to go and get out and race. But after a long season of glorious sunshine, when we awake to darkness, cool, breezy air and showers, some of us are inclined to just crawl back under the covers

Such was the setting Saturday for the Scoggins Valley Triathlon, the final Hagg Lake Triathlon of the season and one of the last Olympic distance races in the Northwest. Thankfully, it wasn't too cold, although the fast descents on the bike course were definitely... invigorating. But for the 77 hardy souls (or long season survivors?) that came to race the Olympic distance (and 18 duathletes and 122 Sprint distance athletes) it sure was wet!

44-year-old relay swimmer Perry Bishop of Portland led a small lead group out of the warm and muddy reservoir water and up the long climb into transition in 21:27. 28-year-old Carla Shrum, also of Portland and also on a relay was the first woman and 8th overall in 24:50. Transition was the place where some, such as myself, opted to let some time tick away while we wrestled wet clothing onto our wet bodies in the hope that the added warmth on the bike was worth the seemingly mammoth amounts of time that flittered away while we struggled. Of course, others stuck to the basics and hoped the effort kept them warm in the mid-50 degree air.

The Hagg Lake bike course is well-suited to my cycling background, and despite having to stop for an apparent flat (wow, my decal that covers the valve hole on my disc wheel for aerodynamics isn't much of a time saver when the water forces it loose and I have to stop to tear it off) I posted the top time of 1:05:49. "Team Tedder's" Jeff Tedder (Bishop's biker) was about a minute back but the next cyclist was almost five minutes in arrears. The turnaround and a couple of the fast downhill sweeping turns required a bit more caution in the rain but the small field was ultimately a blessing when it came time to pass as many were a bit scared of the wet roads. 51-year-old Bridget Dawson of Portland, 4th woman out of the water, moved firmly into the women's lead with a 1:18:51 bike split (24th overall).

I injured my left hip flexor at Pacific Crest in late-June and have run very sparingly since so the run was certainly my biggest challenge. Not surprisingly, I was slow but thankfully pain-free. I survived the run in 44:12, fourth best on the day to win overall in 2:18:06, far from a fast Hagg Lake time but I was happy my hip was working again. The rain certainly slowed us all down a bit. 29-year-old Josh Speer came off the bike 5th but ran a race-best 41:35 to come up to 2nd overall in 2:22 flat with 3- year-old Trevor Yates third in 2:23:41. Dawson, as always, continue to impress with a 45:12 run, 10th best overall, crossing the line 7th overall (2:33:59) and first woman by nearly five minutes!
Cindy Toraya, 40, of Tacoma, WA put together a very consistent race (only 20 seconds slower than Dawson on the bike and only 30 seconds slower on the run) to finish second overall. Seattle's Jodie Totten, age 24, was third in 2:45:39.

Team Tedder (runner Elaine Testa) narrowly won the relay by just 22 seconds over Team Homebrew (Stephen Sutton, Gary Szalay and Kenneth McNaught) in 2:27:05. Notably, 58-year-old Michael Godfrey of Portland was a very impressive 7th overall in 2:30:09. After Dawson generously gave up her Masters trophy (the overall received one as well) Toraya took home Masters honors and I followed her lead with Joe Rozanek of Scappoose receiving Top Master in 2:25:28.

42-year-old duathlete Dave Florence of Canby, who led from the gun, "sandbagged" his final run, allowing his good friend Rui Zhu, 33, from Salem to catch him with the two crossing equal on time 1:57:38 but Zhu breaking the tape first. 31-year-old Toni Becker of Bend won the women's 5k Run-40k Bike-5k Run duathlon in 2:22:09, 18 minutes clear of second place in a very small women's field.

40-year-old Marcelo Silva of Beaverton repeated his win at Mid-Summer with overall victory here in a solid 1:09:18 ahead of a couple of very promising youngsters. 14-year-old Hayden Fawcett of Happy Valley, OR was second overall in 1:12:37 in a very impressive performance while 19-year-old James Ferris (Mulino, OR) was third in 1:15:28. Micah Ramsey, 36, of Portland topped the women's field in 1:23:45, bettering most of the men enroute to 14th overall! Only two minutes separated the next six places overall in a hotly contested women's sprint race with 28-year-old Sarah Holman of Beaverton the next across the line in 1:25:23 and Kendall Burnham, 34, another 30 seconds back for third.

So, what's next? There are still lots of fun triathlons around the Northwest most weekends. The ages of the results tell another story, too however - kids are back in school and we parents are now busy again with student activities. And then there is cyclocross! Or, a well-deserved break from competition while enjoying the fall weather with hiking, fishing, or other outdoor pursuits. Ah, yes the late season. So, stay active, enjoy the fall, and whether sooner or later I will see you at the races!

Run Like Hell Back for Lucky #7 in Portland, Bend Race Added

2009-09-04T10:11:00.000-07:00

(9-4-09) From Press Release - Last year, more than 3,000 runners and walkers crossed the finish line in all three races at the fall running of Portland's Run Like Hell Half Marathon, 10k and 5k. Run Like Hell is a Halloween-themed race that sees participants dressed in full costume for a run through Portland's urban parks and along its waterfront areas along the Willamette River. Now a running tradition in Portland, the race celebrates its 7th annual running in 2009. This year's event will be held Sunday, October 25 in Portland, OR. A half marathon, 5k and 10k will again be offered and is a benefit for P:EAR.

From the starting line near downtown's Pioneer Square, the half marathon course takes runners through the Pearl District and includes scenic views of the changing autumn leaves as well as Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Duniway Park, Terwilliger Park and Mt. Hood in the distance.

Not up for a half marathon? Dress up in costume and come do the fast flat and fun 5k or 10k events.

Party in Pioneer Square after with the great northwest sounds of the Freak Mountain Ramblers, beer from Redhook, and food from Buffalo Wild Wings, all included in your registration!

Run Like Hell Bend Debuts in 2009
Take two great events (Run Like Hell Portland and Bridge to Brews), combine them and move them to a great location (Bend, of course!) and you get one hell of an event!

Run Like Hell is gonna take Bend by storm! So why not be a part of the first ever running? Like the Portland edition, the half marathon event has a beautiful and scenic course that incorporates both long and windy roads as well as the downtown metropolitan feel. There is lots of entertainment on the course and plenty of amenities along the way to keep you going! Don’t feel like a half marathon? Dress in costume and try the flat and fun 5k event!

The after-race party at the Deschutes Brewery has a costume contest for those who dress up, beer (from Deschutes), great food and prizes (included in registration), and much much more!

For more information about these events, visit www.terrapinevents.com.

Oregon's Ritzenhein named Athlete of the Week

2009-09-02T10:03:00.000-07:00

(9-2-09) From USATF Press Release - Dathan Ritzenhein has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after setting the American record in the men's 5,000 meters Friday at the at the Weltklasse meet in Zurich, Switzerland.

A 2008 Olympic marathoner, Ritzenhein broke Bob Kennedy's 13-year-old American record by almost two seconds, crossing the line in 12 minutes 56.27 seconds. It was an almost 20 second personal best for Ritzenhein, which makes him the fastest American in history and only the third American ever to run under 13 minutes. The previous record of 12:58.21 was set by Kennedy in Zurich in 1996.

Now in its eighth year, USATF's Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

2009 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 6, Mason Finley; January 13, Amber Campbell; January 20, Josh Cox; January 27, German Fernandez; February 3, Ashton Eaton; February 10, Shalane Flanagan; February 17, Galen Rupp; February 24, Dexter Faulk; March 3, Terrence Trammell; March 10, Diana Pickler; March 17, Galen Rupp; March 24, Sumi Onodera-Leonard; March 31, German Fernandez; April 7, Cyrus Hostetler; April 14, Curtis Beach; April 21, Kara Goucher; April 28, Mason Finley; May 5, Chris Derrick; May 12, Natalie Willer; May 19, Will Claye; May 26, Nadine O'Connor; June 2, Tyson Gay; June 9, Dwight Phillips; June 16, Galen Rupp; June 23, Kami Semick; June 30, Dawn Harper; July 7, Raevyn Rogers; July 14, Ryan Crouser; July 28, Anton Krupicka; August 11, Rita Hanscom; August 19, Christian Cantwell; August 26, Trey Hardee; September 1, Dathan Ritzenhein.

BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING AUGUST 30

MEN
100 - 9.95 Doc Patton (Nike) - Zurich, SUI 8/28
200 - 20.56 Thomas Hunter (unat) - Merksem, BEL 9/29
400 - 44.21 LaShawn Merritt (Nike) - Zurich, SUI 8/28
800 - 1:44.86 Nick Symmonds (OTC Elite) - Zurich, SUI 9/28
1500 - 3:36.94 Lopez Lomong (Nike) - Zurich, SUI 8/28
5000 - 12:56.27 Dathan Ritzenhein (Nike) - Zurich, SUI 8/28 AMERICAN RECORD
110H - 13.17 Terrence Trammell (TSA) - Zurich, SUI 8/28
400H - 49.25 Bershawn Jackson (Nike) - Padova, ITA 8/29
HJ - 2.23/7-3.75 Andra Manson (Nike) - Tallinn, EST 8/25
TJ - 17.04/55-11 Brandon Roulhac (HPC Elite) - Zurich, SUI 8/28
JT - 80.11/262-10 Mike Hazle (Nike) - Tallinn, EST 8/25

WOMEN
100 - 10.86 Carmelita Jeter (Nike) - Zurich, SUI 8/28
400 - 48.94 Sanya Richards (Nike) - Zurich, SUI 8/28 World leader
800 - 2:02.22 Morgan Uceny (Reebok) - Padova, ITA 8/29
1500 - 3:59.38 Anna Willard (Nike) - Zurich, SUI 8/28 U.S. leader
100H - 12.48 Dawn Harper (Nike) - Zurich, SUI 8/28
HJ - 1.98/6-6 Chaunte Howard (Nike) - Zurich, SUI 8/28
PV - 4.61/15-1.5 Chelsea Johnson (Nike) - Zurich, SUI 8/28
LJ - 6.72/22-0.75 Hyleas Fountain (Nike) - Tallinn, EST 8/25
HT - 67.53/221-6 Amber Campbell (Mjolnir) - Padova, ITA 8/29
JT - 55.73/182-10 Rachel Yurkovich (Oregon) - Riga, LAT 8/26

Girls on the Run (GOTR) of Deschutes County Announces Fall Lineup

2009-09-01T11:54:00.000-07:00

(9-1-09) From Press Release - GOTR of Deschutes County is one of over 150 prevention based after-school programs established throughout North America with the mission of "educating and preparing girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living." We combine the power of running with the discussion of important issues to empower participants with self-awareness, a sense of achievement and a foundation in team building. The fun and uplifting curricula were created by former teacher, counselor and triathlete, Molly Barker, to enhance the social, mental, physical and emotional health of girls 8-14 years of age.

Presently our local council is seeking athletes to participate in our SOLEMATES campaign. SOLEMATES is a charity running program where men and women who pursue individual goals, such as running a marathon, raise money to help change the lives of girls. Simply sign up for your event of choice, register for SOLEMATES and begin. The on-line process is easy and creates a customized web page for you to email to your friends a family. The fundraising commitment is only $262 - a task that is very attainable. For marathoners, just one dollar per mile from 10 people and you're there! Included upon registration is a t-shirt or technical singlet + premiums from our sponsors. On-line training programs and inspirational emails keep you motivated and there are incentive prizes for those exceeding fundraising minimums. For a limited time GOTR of Deschutes County will offer to pay for or reimburse your chosen race registration fee of up to $100 if you sign up on behalf of our council! Take advantage of this special offer & run your race for free. Email heidi@deschutescountygotr.org for details.

If you are in Central Oregon be sure to join us for two special events. On Friday, October 2 at 7pm at Summit High School we will be hosting a special screening of the award-winning running documentary The Long Green Line. Come watch legendary York X-Country Coach Joe Newton and his team in their quest to earn their 25th state title! Tickets are available at www.deschutescountygotr.org for $10 per adult & $5 per student. Come early for pizza and a raffle!

Finally, be sure to join us for the 1st Annual New Balance Girls on the Run 5K scheduled for Thanksgiving morning in the Old Mill District in Bend. Wear your turkey feathers, challenge the pilgrim and join our scavenger hunt. Families and athletes of all levels are encouraged to join us for some good healthy fun. All proceeds will benefit the local after-school program and will help to provide program scholarships for children in need. Race registration details are coming to www.deschutescountygotr.org soon. Hope to see you there!

Portland's Ritzenhein smashes Kennedy's 5,000m AR

2009-08-28T15:14:00.000-07:00

(8-28-09) From USATF Press Release - Dathan Ritzenhein set an American record in the men's 5,000 meters and Sanya Richards continued her quest to win her third Golden League crown Friday at the Weltklasse Zurich, the fifth leg of the AF Golden League 2009.

Thirteen years after Bob Kennedy set the American record of 12:58.21 in the 5,000 meters at the Weltklasse Zurich meeting , 2008 Olympic marathoner Dathan Ritzenhein smashed that record by almost 2 seconds finishing third in 12 minutes 56.27 seconds. It was an almost 20 second personal best for Ritzenhein, which makes him the second-fastest non-African in history and only the third American ever to run under 13 minutes.

2009 world champion Sanya Richards won the women's 400m in a world-leading 48.94. Even with three-time world 200m champion Allyson Felix coming after her off the turn, Richards sped away down the final straight to run her third-fastest time ever. Felix finished a distant second in 49.83. Richards is now five-for- five in Golden League meetings this season.

The women's 100m was a rematch from last week's world championships featuring seven of the eight Berlin finalists in the race. Two-time world bronze medalist Carmelita Jeter shot out of the blocks when the gun went off and powered to the finish for the win in 10.86. Jeter was the only woman to break 11 seconds. Reigning Olympic and World champion Shelly-Ann Fraser (JAM) was fourth in 11.10 and Berlin silver medalist Kerron Stewart (JAM) was once again the runner-up in 11.04.

Anna Willard became the fifth American woman ever to break the four-minute barrier in the women's 1,500m with her runner-up finish in 3:59.38. Before this year, only two Americans had ever broken that barrier. Berlin bronze medalist Shannon Rowbury was fourth in 4:00.81, and Christin Wurth-Thomas was fifth in 4:01.01.

2008 Olympic gold medalist Dawn Harper finished as the runner-up in the women's 100m hurdles, running 12.48 to reigning world champion Brigette Foster-Hylton's 12.46. Two-time USA Outdoor champion Ginnie Powell finished fifth in 12.70 and Lolo Jones was eighth in 13.06. On the men's side, three-time world silver medalist Terrence Trammell once again took runner-up honors, crossing the line in 13.17. Two-time world bronze medalist David Payne was fourth in 13.32 and Beijing bronze medalist David Oliver was fifth in 13.33.

The men's 400m finish was a mirror image of the podium at the Berlin World Championships. Reigning Olympic and World Outdoor champion LaShawn Merritt pulled away from '04 Olympic and two-time world champion Jeremy Wariner coming down the final stretch to win in 44.21. Wariner finished second in 44.62 and bronze medalist Renny Quow was third in 44.77.

For more information and complete results from the Weltklasse Zurich Golden League meeting, visit www.iaaf.org.

Rock 'n Relay Returns to Portland, Moves to Fall

2009-08-25T19:59:00.000-07:00

(8-25-09) From Press Release - This year's Rock 'n Relay will be held Saturday, September 19 at the Amnesia Brewery (corner of N. Mississippi and Beech St.) in Portland, OR. This unique event features a four-person marathon relay, as well as an individual 4.5-mile event and is a benefit for the Albina Youth Opportunity School.

Great music, a beautiful urban course starting and finishing at the Amnesia brewery, running and walking with friends, beer (at the Amnesia brewery), and food - all on a beautiful fall day - and add a dash of Music Fest Northwest and you have a recipe for one of Portland's quintessential events.

Now, in its third year, this event has expanded to include much more for the 2009 edition. With the addition of Music Fest Northwest, not only do you get a full day of healthy fun, you get a discounted bracelet into a four-day Portland music festival. Music Fest Northwest is the premier music festival in the area, attracting top musicians from all over the country. (Check out the lineup at wweek.com).

Each relay team consists of four members, each doing three 2.18-mile loops. The idea is to hand off to a new team member after every loop until all 12 loops are completed. Don't have a team of four? Come do the individual 4.5 miler!

For additional information, visit www.terrapinevents.com.

Portland's Kara Goucher Leads Team USA Women's Marathoners to Fifth-place Finish

2009-08-23T19:40:00.000-07:00

(8-23-09) From USATF Press Release - 2008 Olympic Trials 5,000m champion and 10,000m runner-up Kara Goucher (Portland, Ore.) was the top U.S. finisher at the women's World Marathon Cup competition Sunday through the streets of Berlin. The race was contested under mostly sunny skies with temperatures in the low 70's.

Goucher, who stayed with the main pack for the majority of the race, finished 10th in a season's best time of 2 hours 27 minutes 48 seconds. Goucher's finish is the highest by an American woman in the World Championships marathon since Linda Somers finished seventh in 1995.

Goucher was closely followed by 2008 Bank of America Chicago Marathon fifth-place finisher Desiree Davila (Rochester Hills, Mich.), who finished 11th in 2:27:53, which greatly improves on her previous personal best of 2:31:33 set last year in Chicago.

2008 Olympic Trials marathon fifth-place finisher Tera Moody (Boulder, Colo.) rounded out the scoring for Team USA as she placed 28th in 2:36:39 to give the U.S. its combined time of 7:32:20.

Team USA women's fifth-place finish in the World Marathon Cup at a World Outdoor Championships is its best ever. Team USA finished sixth in 1999, 2005 & 2007.

Other finishers for Team USA included 2008 USA 25 km champion Paige Higgins (Littleton, Colo.), who finished 30th in 2:37:11, and Zoila Gomez (Alamosa, Colo.), who placed 30th in 2:42:49.

Team USA quotes

Tera Moody (Colorado Springs, Colorado)--I wanted to break 2:30 today, but with the heat, I had to be a little more conservative. I felt really great, but I just didn't have the turnover.

I felt great from the get-go. I was getting a bit impatient.

Desiree Davila (Rochester Hills, Michigan)--I went out pretty even, and was able to pick it up along the way. A huge pack was sitting in front of me, and as it broke up, I was able to weave my way through. I felt great going into the last lap, and was able to pick people off.

I came in very fit, and having the confidence from the Chicago Marathon, and being able to move through the field was huge.

Kara Goucher (Portland, Oregon)--My legs felt great, and I felt really relaxed. It was great to have a loop course where my husband and coach could yell at me. The pace felt comfortable, and it felt like practice.

I had a lot of problems keeping my fluids down. After the second personal fluid station, I started throwing up what I took in. I would start taking it, then a mile later, I'd throw up.

I started to cramp with 13k to go, and then the field started to surge. It wasn't there. I just wasn't good enough today. I thought I hydrated myself well leading up to the race.

When the field made their break, my body wouldn't go.

Paige Higgins (Flagstaff, Arizona)--It went very well, but the heat got to me. Tera Moody and I pretty much buddied up together and pursued the second chase pack. We were in it to get a real good team placing.

I liked running on a criterium-style course like this. You can figure out the undulations, and you can break up the course into sections. My coach told me to do a 30k run, and a 12k race. The fans made a huge difference, and that's why I love this course. It's very runner-friendly, and even if you're not a runner, you can see us pass by four times.

Zoila Gomez (Alamosa, Colorado)--It wasn't what I had expected. The first 10k I was right on what I wanted to run, and on the second lap I was feeling th esame thing.

Shortly before the half-marathon, I started feeling some hot spots on the bottoms of my feet. The race was harder than I thought with the blisters and all. I'm glad I finished the race, but I wished I could have done better.

For complete results, quotes and Team USA reports, visit www.usatf.org.

Fans can watch Team USA on national television broadcasts on NBC and Versus, or online via live, daily Webcast at www.universalsports.com. For complete TV listings, visit http://www.usatf.org/events/2009/IAAFWorldOutdoorChampionships/mediaCoverage.asp.

For more information on Team USA at the World Outdoor Championships, visit http://www.usatf.org/events/2009/IAAFWorldOutdoorChampionships/.

Cyclocross Developmental Team Set to Launch in Portland

2009-08-20T10:52:00.000-07:00

(8-19-09) From Press Release - CycleOne CrossWorld will officially launch in the Fall of 2009. The team will be open to beginners up to intermediate level riders of all ages and gender. CycleOne will provide everything needed to get started in this exciting and rigorous sport. This developmental approach is a package deal that includes all the training and racing support you will need. The cost to join is only $100. That covers your entire 2009 cross racing season including skills clinics, equipment selection, nutrition guidelines, and a complete season long training plan. There will also be classes for hands on maintenance and repair. Each week we will meet on the westside for group training sessions. It's a great way to get in those much needed miles, while maintaining intensity and the "fun factor". The inaugural team meeting will be held the second week of September.

Fall is rapidly approaching and for many Portland area cyclists that means just one thing... Cyclocross fever! Although the roots of the sport are somewhat nebulous, modern consensus says the sport originated in France around 1900. The first organized race in the U.S. was in 1962 in San Francisco. Once defined as an off-season training venture for road and track cyclists, it is now a nationally sanctioned sport and is the fastest growing style of bike racing in the world. And Portland is at the center of that growth. The cyclocross season runs from September through November, with Nationals being held in Bend in mid-December. The equipment is pretty simple and relatively inexpensive. Although a cross bike is preferred by most riders, many novice riders and a few veterans prefer to use a mountain bike. You might even find a race worthy bike at any local swap meet. The typical race course will contain numerous obstacles along the way which force you to dismount and run while carrying the bike. Sections of the course are usually on pavement, although most of it will be on dirt or grass, and of course, there is the ever present mud! It's just a bunch of grownups out playing in the mud... It's a circus, it's a carnival, and it's a blast! And anybody can do it. Are you ready to join the hottest new team in Portland?

Check out www.cycleone.net for more information.