Contact: Aldina Tracey
Avon Products, Inc.
(212) 282-5669 / 5665
aldina.tracey@avon.com
Drew Wathey
Avon Running-Phoenix
(602) 482-2738
dwathey@home.com

Avon Announces Winners of Fourth Annual
Avon Running National Championship

Top Finishers Hail from Indiana, California, New York City, Minnesota and Texas

PHOENIX, AZ - December 9, 2001 - Amy Begley, age 23, of Kendallville, Indiana, captured the Avon Running National Championship title today, with a winning time of 33:40. Nearly 1,000 women of every age and fitness level participated in the 10K race (6.2 miles) and the accompanying 5K walk/run (3.1 miles).

Avon Running is the only global circuit of its kind that provides women the opportunity to pursue elite racing, moderate running or simple fitness in unified events. The mission of Avon Running is to empower women to take charge of their health and fitness as well as provide competitive opportunities for serious women runners.

As the Avon Running National Champion, Begley won an expense paid trip to represent the U.S. at the fourth annual Avon Running Global Women's Championship, which will be held in Bangkok, Thailand on November 10, 2002. The Global Championship will feature a total prize purse of $50,000, which is the richest 10K event in the history of women's road running. Winners from the 12 countries on the Avon global circuit, as well as many of the world's elite women athletes, are expected to vie for the global title. Previous Avon global championships were held in New York City, Milan, Italy and Budapest, Hungary.

"I felt strong from the start of the race and good throughout," said Begley. "I plan on moving to Arizona and train here in the winter as I prepare for future competitions and hopefully, the Olympics."

In addition to the overall winner Begley, four additional athletes won an expense paid trip to Bangkok, Thailand and will compete with Begley at the Global Championship:

• Kristin Harper, of Santa Monica, California, finished in second place with a time of 34:05.
• Gordon Bakoulis, of New York, N.Y., finished in third place with a time of 35:09.
• Janet Robertz, of Shorewood, Minnesota, captured the Avon Running National Masters Division Champion (over age 40) title finishing 5th overall with a time of 35:42.
• Margo Braud, of Austin, Texas, won the Avon Running U.S. National Sales Representative Division Champion title, with a time of 38:57. Braud also won this title in 2000.

Winners of the Avon Running National Championship race received prize money in the following breakdown: first place - $500.00; second place - $250.00; third place - $150.00; and the first place master (over 40) winner - $100.00.

In celebration of the holiday season, the Phoenix event also featured a special race to inspire young children - the second annual "Santa's Sprint, for children under 12. The event allowed boys and girls to participate in a fitness program in a fun atmosphere. All children received a T-shirt, finisher's ribbon and holiday candy.

Avon Walking and Running participants, friends, family and spectators also had the opportunity to visit the Avon Wellness Village before and after the 10K and 5K races. This new and unique traveling "village" offers complimentary health information, beauty treatments and product sampling in a festive atmosphere to revitalize the body, mind and spirit.

Additional information and race applications for Avon Walking and Running events are available by calling (212) 282-5350 or on the Avon Running web site at www.avonrunning.com

Avon is the world's leading direct seller of beauty and related products, with $5.7 billion in annual revenues. For more than a century, Avon has provided women with economic opportunity and financial independence, and the company currently markets to women in 139 countries through 3.4 million independent Sales Representatives. Avon is committed to women through programs such as the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, the Avon Worldwide Fund for Women's Health, and Avon Global Women's Health: Walking, Running and Wellness. Product lines include such recognizable brands as Anew, Skin-So-Soft, Avon Techniques Hair Care, beComing and Avon Wellness. The company also markets an extensive line of fashion jewelry, apparel, gifts and collectibles. More information on Avon and its products can be found on the company's web site: www.avon.com.

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Race Results

Place	Name	Current Residence	Time
1	Amy Begley	Kendallville, IN	33:40
2	Kristin Harper	Santa Monica, CA	34:05
3	Gordon Bakoulis	New York, NY	35:09
4	Renee Kruse	Sioux City, NB	35:33
5	Janet Robertz	Shorewood, MN	35:42
6	Janice Posey	N/A	35:50
7	Lorilynn Bloomer	N/A	36:36
8	Anna Gullingsrud	N/A	36:48
9	Brooke Carney	Golden, CO	36:50
10	Judy Maguire	Clearwater, FL	37:04

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