Team Running USA Reaches More Milestones in 2008
Hall runs 2:06:17 marathon at London; four 2008 U.S. Olympic team members; four national titles

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Posted Monday, 15 December, 2008

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - (December 14, 2008) - Team Running USA - led by Ryan Hall's stellar 2:06:17 marathon at London - has again distinguished themselves as one of the best distance training groups in the country. The Mammoth Lakes, Calif. based group also put four athletes on the Beijing Olympic team - Hall, Deena Kastor, Jen Rhines and Ian Dobson; more than any other U.S. training group.

"The hard work and dedication of the Team Running USA athletes and our coaches Terrence Mahon, Bob Larsen and Joe Vigil have produced another impressive year. We admire and salute their efforts and achievements and thank our team sponsors for their support. Since 2001, this training group has been an integral part of the U.S. distance running resurgence, and we look forward to their continued development and success," said Susan Weeks, Running USA CEO.

Team Running USA athletes and coaches also attracted the attention of major media outlets with feature pieces in Sports Illustrated, The New Yorker, USA Today, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Runner's World, Boston Globe, Outside, Scripps Howard News Service and Forbes.com as well as cover shots on Runner's World and Running Times.

Below are the top 2008 achievements for the Team Running USA development program.

2008 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM (4)
Ian Dobson, 5000m
Ryan Hall, marathon
Deena Kastor, marathon (third team)
Jen Rhines, 5000m (third team, third event)

ONE NATIONAL RECORD
En route to his 2:06:17, good for fifth at the Flora London Marathon on April 13, Ryan Hall also set a U.S. 30K record in 1:28:38. For 26.2 miles, he is the second fastest American behind U.S. record holder Khalid Khannouchi. For the year, Hall also was the 9th fastest marathoner in the world.

3 USA CHAMPIONS, 4 NATIONAL TITLES
Deena Kastor, 15K, marathon (Olympic Trials)
Kate O'Neill, half-marathon (first national title)
Sara Slattery, 8K (first national title)

2 USA NATIONAL RUNNERS-UP, 4 TIMES
Dan Browne, 10K, 15K
Jen Rhines, 3000m indoors, 5000m outdoors

USA RUNNING CIRCUIT GRAND PRIX CHAMPION
Deena Kastor (defends USARC GP title)

#1 U.S. PERFORMANCES for 2008 (5)
3000m
Jen Rhines, 8:51.29
5000m
Jen Rhines, 14:54.29
15K
Deena Kastor, 49:36 (#3 world)
Half-Marathon
Kate O'Neill, 1:11:57
Marathon
Ryan Hall, 2:06:17 (#9 world)

About Team Running USA
Team Running USA, formerly Team USA California, is a national athlete development program created by Running USA, a national industry organization. The mission of Team Running USA is to support, promote and assist the development of U.S. distance runners.

Since 2001, Team Running USA athletes have won two Olympic medals, four major marathons and 12 World Cross Country Championship medals, set one world road record, 23 national records and numerous personal records, earned 61 national titles and six USARC Grand Prix titles and added to world and U.S. all-time lists. In short, they are the most accomplished training group in the United States.

Supported by the New York Road Runners, Running USA, Town of Mammoth Lakes, USA Distance Project and Atlanta Track Club, the program's athletes utilize the resources at Mammoth Lakes for high / low altitude training and the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista for sea level training throughout the year. Renowned and Olympic coaches Joe Vigil and Bob Larsen and coach Terrence Mahon coordinate this elite group.

For more information on Team Running USA including sponsorship opportunities or to make a donation, contact: Ryan Lamppa, (805) 696-6232, ryan@runningusa.org or visit: RunningUSA.org