Broe and De Reuck to Defend Steamboat Classic 4 Mile Titles
PEORIA, Ill. - (May 21, 2003) - The 30th annual Steamboat Classic four-mile race graces downtown Peoria on Saturday, June 7 at 7:45am, and both defending champions Colleen De Reuck and former local running star Tim Broe will defend their titles against formidable fields.

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Posted Saturday, 24 May, 2003

Contact: Philip Lockwood, (309) 657-2478

In addition, the 15K race once again joins the four-mile race to make it a truly spectacular event.

"Runners throughout the state and beyond shared that they used to come as groups to the Steamboat Classic when we had the four-mile and 15K races together. After we separated the races, these runners stopped coming altogether. Instead of getting the cross growth we had hoped, we lost participants. As part of our 30th celebration, it made sense to run the races concurrently again," says Philip Lockwood, Steamboat race director.

More than 3,000 runners and walkers are expected to follow the four-mile and 15K courses that weave from downtown Peoria, through residential neighborhoods, to the finish line along the riverfront.

The Steamboat Classic is a world-class sporting event, attracting Olympians, world champions and world record holders. It also allows fitness athletes the opportunity to compete alongside the best runners in the world.

"I'm very excited about this year's race," says Glenn Latimer, elite athlete coordinator. "This is the best and most competitive field we've had with elite runners in several years."

In the men's elite field is local favorite Tim Broe, returning to defend his 2002 first place title. He will be challenged by: Khalid Khannouchi, the current World Record Holder and U.S. Record Holder at the Marathon with a time of 2:05:38 and Steamboat Champion in 1997-1999; 2001 Champion Shadrack Hoff (South Africa); Evans Rutto (Kenya), who finished second in 2002; John Yuda (Tanzania), who placed second at the 2002 IAAF World Cross County Championships and
Shadrack Kosgei (Kenya), winner of the Penn Relays 5000m with a time of 13:16:79.

In the women's elite field, five-time champion Colleen De Reuck (1997-1999, 2000, 2002) returns. She will be challenged by Constantina Dita-Tomescu (Romania) who finished third in 2002; Sally Barsosio (Kenya), Olympian and 1997 World Champion at 10,000m and track and cross-country star Leah Malot (Kenya).

"We will introduce new technology at this year's race. First, the 15K race will be the first race in history to utilize a new system designed to automate the tracking and timing of runners. Locally developed, this system has the potential to revolutionize the sport of running and other mass participation events. Secondly, both the four-mile and 15K will introduce digital video capture that allows all participants to go on-line and view video of their finishing the race. We will also use a similar video system for on-course verification of the 15K race," says Lockwood.

This year's race will be shown on WEEK - TV 25 at 6:30 PM on Saturday, June 7
in same day tape delayed format.

For more information, call (309) 676-6378 or visit www.steamboatclassic.org.

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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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