Women's American Field Explodes at the 2002 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon
Virginia Beach, VA - (August 22, 2002) - Deena Drossin, Jen Rhines, Kim Fitchen and Sylvia Mosqueda together generate one of the strongest American women's field ever at the 2002 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon on September 1, 2002.
Posted Friday, 23 August, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Audra Hoffmeyer, (800) 311-1255
Women's American Field Explodes at the 2002 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon
Virginia Beach, VA - (August 22, 2002) - Deena Drossin, Jen Rhines, Kim Fitchen and Sylvia Mosqueda together generate one of the strongest American women's field ever at the 2002 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon on September 1, 2002, announced Elite Racing, Inc., producer of the event. All four American women have become all-time greats in women's running making this year's American field one of the best ever.
As reigning American distance queen, Drossin has up held a record-breaking season following last year's Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon win. Her 7th place finish, 2:26:58 and American debut-record at the 2001 New York City Marathon catapulted her to the top of the road racing community as an international elite. The Team USA California athlete and U.S. Olympian continued her sovereignty by setting a world record (14:54) at the 2002 Carlsbad 5000 and winning a silver medal at the 2002 World Cross Country Championships in Dublin.
In addition to Drossin, Team USA California teammate Jen Rhines makes her debut at this year's Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon. Rhines, also a 2000 Olympian, won the 2002 USA 10,000m national title and took 4th at the 2002 U.S. 8K Cross Country Championships. She is joined by Kim Fitchen, who took 4th in the 2002 USA 10,000m Championship.
Fitchen debuted at the 2002 San Diego Half Marathon (72:32), ranking her 2nd in the U.S. She finished 2001-ranked 2nd in the 10,000m and competed for the U.S. at the Goodwill Games.
Rounding out this strong American field is Sylvia Mosqueda. Mosqueda, who has been running for over 20 years, recently won the 2002 America's Finest City Half Marathon with a time of 72:34.
"Having four of the top American women amongst the competing elites is truly exciting," said Mike Long, Elite Athlete Coordinator for the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon. "All women are preparing for fall marathons and should give great performances right to the finish."
Drossin, Rhines and Fitchen are all running the Chicago Marathon on October 13, with both Rhines and Fitchen debuting, while Mosqueda runs the New York City Marathon a few weeks later. "With all the women right in the thick of things, competition should be intense," stated Mike Long.
For optimal television coverage and spectator viewing, the women's invitational field will start at 6:45 a.m., 15 minutes prior to the official start. This is rarely seen at major U.S. road races. The sold-out event will be televised locally on WAVY-TV 10 and nationally on Fox Sports Net. The Elite Invitational runners will vie for more than $80,000 in cash and bonuses-the largest half marathon purse in the U.S.
The Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon will host 15,000 runners and feature more than 20 live bands along its 13.1-mile course. In addition, 14 energetic high school cheerleading squads will root for the runners in a "Spirit on the Course" competition. The post-race evening concert on the boardwalk, featuring Live, is free to all participants and volunteers.
For information on the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon visit www.RnRHalf.com, or call (800) 311-1255 or contact the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon c/o Elite Racing, 5452 Oberlin Drive, Suite B, San Diego, CA 92121.
# # #
ELITE ATHLETES FOR ROCK 'N' ROLL HALF MARATHON
Virginia Beach, VA, Sunday, September 1, 2002
As of August 21, 2002 - Subject to Change
MEN
Runner Nation Age Best Fact/Comment
Shadrack Hoff RSA 26 61:11 1st 01 RnR Half
John Gwako KEN 24 61:00 2nd 01 RnR Half
Paul Tergat KEN 33 59:17 Olympic 10,000m Silver (2), WR in HM
Mohammed AR-AR MAR 26 62:15 N/A
James Koskei KEN 33 Debut Winner of 3 top U.S. road races in '02
Fred Kiprop KEN 28 63:27 1st 99 Amsterdam Marathon (2:06:47)
Moses Kemboi KEN 25 61:11 2nd 02 Rome Half
Christopher Cheboibich KEN 25 60:49 2nd 02 Boston Marathon
Michael Aish NZL 26 Debut 5th 02 Mt. SAC 5000m
Marco Gielen NED 32 62:54 1st 01 Netherlands Half Mar. Champion
Paul Koech KEN 33 N/A 1st 98 World Half, 10,000m
Mbarak Hussein KEN 37 61:27 1st 02 AFC Half
Jaouad Gharib MAR 26 61:41 2nd in 02 World Half Championship
Sammy Korir KEN 30 60:15 3rd 2001 Rotterdam Marathon
John Kagwe KEN 33 61:18 2001 Suzuki RnR Marathon Champion
Gabriel Muchiri KEN 22 63:43 1st 02 Parkersburg Half
Peter Chebet KEN 26 N/A 1st 99 San Sebastian
Japhet Kosgei KEN 60:01 1st 00 Tokyo Marathon (2:07:09)
Eliud Lagat KEN 26 60:53 1st 00' Boston Marathon
Gilbert Koech KEN 22 63:32(ALT) 1st 01 Pitts. Great Race 10K
Martin Ndegwa KEN 25 64:30(ALT)
Jackson Koech KEN 24 62:07 2nd 01 Coahuila Half Marathon
Josh Cox USA 26 N/A 10th 00 Chicago Marathon
Joseph Kimani KEN 29 60:04 WB 10K 27:04
William Kiptum KEN 31 61:13 2nd 00 Philadelphia Half
Ryan Shay USA 23 Debut 2nd 02 NCAA 10,000m Championships
Getachew Kebede ETH 20 62:41 4th 01' Suzuki Rock 'n' Roll Marathon
WOMEN
Runner Nation Age Best Fact/Comment
Deena Drossin USA 29 70:08 1st 01 RnRHalf, 5K WR (14:54) 02
Margaret Okayo KEN 26 68:51 1st 01 Boston Marathon (CR 2:20:43)
Elana Meyer RSA 35 66:44 WR Holder in Half Marathon (1:06:44)
Asmae Leghzaoui MAR 26 69:46 WR 10K (30:29), WR 8K (24:28)
Harumi Hiroyama JPN 33 69:19 2nd 00 Osaka Ladies Marathon (2:22:56)
Pamela Chepchumba KEN 24 71:02 5th 00 World Half
Alice Chelangat KEN 25 70:05 1st 02 Suzuki RnR Marathon
Lyudmila Biktasheva RUS 28 70:31 3rd 02 European Championships 10,000m
Jen Rhines USA 28 Debut 1st 02 10,000m USA Nat'l Championships
Nuta Olaru ROM 32 69:52 6th 01 London Marathon
Bouchra Chaabi MAR 23 71:11 3rd 00' African Championships 10,000m
Kayoko Obata JPN 30 71:05 8th 01 RnR Half
Ichiyo Naganuma JPN 30 72:57 10th 01 RnR Half
Teyeba Erkesso ETH 20 71:51 2nd 02 Ethiopian 10,000 Nat'l Champ.
Tatyana Khmeleva RUS 23 Debut 2nd 01 Russian & European Champ.
5000m
Kim Fitchen USA 33 72:32 4th in USA Championship 10,000m
Luminita Talpos ROM 29 70:33 5th 01 Beach to Beacon 10K
Olivera Jevtic YUG 25 69:34 11th 00' Olympic 10,000m
Gladys Asiba KEN 25 70:05 2nd 00'- 01' Philadelphia Half
Sylvia Mosqueda USA 36 70:47 1st 02 AFC Half
Margaret Atodonyang KEN 24 70:54 4th 00' Philadelphia Half
Asha Gigi ETH 26 70:14 4th 02' African Championships 10,000
# # #
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services
USATF Road Running Information Center
5522 Camino Cerralvo
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 696-6252
http://www.runningusa.org
http://www.usaldr.org
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