World's Fastest 8K Runner for 2002 Returns to New York City for the USA Men's
8K Championships Tim Broe, 2002 USA Men's 8K Champion, will run in New York Road Runners 8000

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Posted Thursday, 13 February, 2003

Contacts: Richard Finn/Amie Fisher, Public Relations Director/ Manager
(212) 423-2222/2294

NEW YORK - (Feb. 10, 2003) - Defending champion Tim Broe and last year's runner-up Dan Browne are the first official entries for the 2003 USA Men's 8K Championships, it was announced today by New York Road Runners President and CEO Allan Steinfeld at the Track Writers Association of New York weekly luncheon. The race will be held on Saturday, April 5 in Central Park.

Broe, 25, of Ann Arbor, MI, is returning to the fast Central Park loop course where last year he recorded the best 8K time in the world for 2002 with his winning mark of 22:26. In a thrilling duel, Broe used a blistering finishing kick to hold off the quickly closing Browne (22:29) to claim the crown.

"Broe is one of the new stars in American running," Steinfeld said of the American indoor 3000m record holder (7:39:23). "He displayed his championship talents of huge heart and great speed to win last year's race and we expect to see him challenged again this year by another super field."

Browne, 27, of Portland, OR, is expected to be one of those challengers. Last year, the 1997 West Point graduate and current member of the Nike Oregon Project coached by Alberto Salazar, won two USA championships titles at the 20K (59:21, New Haven) and marathon distances. He won the marathon title at Twin Cities in September in 2:11:35 (his debut), the third fastest time by an American in 2002. At the Millrose Games on Friday, Browne finished second (8:00.91) in the 3000m.

"The USA Men's 8K Championships was an important part of a great 2002 and I return this year with all the confidence in the world that I can do even better," said Browne, who spoke to the media on a conference call.

A field of approximately 20 of the top American road racers will be assembled by NYRR to compete for a total prize money purse of $20,000. First place prize will be $5,000; second place $4,000; third place $3,000; fourth place $2,000 and fifth place $1,250. Prize money will be awarded to the top 15 finishers. A $25,000 bonus is being offered to the winner if he breaks the USA 8K record of 22:04 set by Salazar in 1981.

The USA Men's 8K Championships joins the New York Women's Mini Marathon (June 7) and the New York City Marathon (November 2) as the cornerstones of the newly named NYRR Professional Racing Series and continues the tradition of NYRR in bringing the very best runners in the world to New York City.

The national championship race will be the feature attraction of two races planned for the day. Beginning the program will be New York Road Runners 8000 open to women (9:30 a.m.) followed by the USA Men's 8K Championship and NYRR 8000 open men's race (10:30 a.m.).

The USA Men's 8K Championships is part of the USA Running Circuit, a USATF road series featuring USA Championships at distances from 5K to the marathon and offering more than $340,000 in prize money plus a $25,000 grand prix purse.

Founded in 1958 with a membership of 47, New York Road Runners (NYRR) is the world's most comprehensive running organization? NYRR is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the sport of running and walking for health, recreation, and competition, and provides full professional services related to all aspects of racing, including course certification, computer scoring, and event promotion. The organization has a full-time staff of more than 60 employees, supplemented by a network of thousands of volunteers, serving more than 38,000 members from every U.S. state and more than 100 countries.

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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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