Olympic Hopefuls to Use SunTrust National Half Marathon as Trials Tune-Up
Elite field of female athletes to enter the National Half Marathon as a training race for the upcoming 2008 Olympic Trials in Boston

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Posted Thursday, 27 March, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. - (March 26, 2008) - The 2008 SunTrust National Marathon will play host to an elite field of Olympic hopefuls on Saturday, March 29, 2008. With the 2008 U.S. Women's Olympic Marathon Trials taking place in Boston on Sunday, April 20, the half-marathon course provides the perfect tune-up race to prepare these top women athletes for their Olympic Trials run.

Six female Olympic hopefuls will be competing in the half-marathon: Samia Akbar, Abby Dean, Susan Graham-Gray, Phebe Ko, Emily LeVan and Briana Whaley. Of the six, none have yet been members of the U.S. Olympic marathon team.

Each of the six athletes has incorporated the SunTrust National Half Marathon as a part of their training preparation to gear up for the Olympic Trials. The 13.1 mile course will provide runners with some challenging inclines along with beautiful scenery and lots of community encouragement. The event also gives each a sneak peak of some of their competition for the Trials in Boston.

Half-Marathon Personal Records:
Samia Akbar (VA), 1:13:12
Abby Dean (PA), 1:18
Susan Graham-Gray (PA), 1:21
Phebe Ko (MD), 1:20:49
Emily LeVan (ME), 1:20
Briana Whaley (VA), 1:19:04

All elite athletes have been invited to attend a press conference at the SunTrust National Marathon Health and Fitness Expo on Friday, March 28, 2008, at 3:00pm at the D.C. Armory. For more information on this media opportunity or to arrange for press credentials for the SunTrust National Marathon, please contact Kate Michael at kmichael@gwsportsalliance.com or call (202) 857-5946.

For more information on the race and the Olympic Trials, go to: www.NationalMarathon.com or www.bostontrials2008.com

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